Under federal law, the first offense of buying or selling illegal steroids is punishable by up to five years in prison and/or $250,000. A second offense is punishable by up to ten years in prison and/or $500,000. Penalties become harsher if more than five people are involved. For example, the leader of a steroid distribution ring may be sentenced up to twenty years in prison and may be fined up to two million dollars. Punishments vary for different cases and even differ state to state. All told, the United States has harsh legal consequences for dealing with illegal steroids (Rubins).
