Nixa man admits to role in steroid-smuggling scheme

KANSAS CITY — A Nixa man has pleaded guilty to federal charges in his role in a conspiracy to smuggle anabolic steroids from China and sell them over the Internet.

Mikal Gunn Schrage, 29, pleaded guilty Friday to the charges contained in a 2007 federal indictment, said John F. Wood, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

The plea was the result of Operation Raw Deal, an international investigation targeting the illegal manufacturing and trafficking of anabolic steroids and its raw materials, mainly from China.

Schrage admitted to participating in a conspiracy to import anabolic steroids from China between Nov. 1, 2004, and Sept. 20, 2007. Schrage then sold the drugs over the Internet and shipped them to customers throughout the U.S.

He also pleaded guilty to a money-laundering charge and could face 28 years in prison, plus a fine up to $1 million. A sentencing hearing has not been set.