Tag: pj braun
PJ Braun Sentenced To 4.5 Years In Prison, Guy Cisternino Steps Up At Blackstone Labs
Image via Instagram @pjbraunfitness
After a slight delay, PJ Braun has been sentenced to 54 months in prison and announces increased role of Guy Cisternino at Blackstone Labs during his absence.
On Thursday, February 17, 2022, Blackstone Labs president PJ Braun was officially sentenced to 54 months in prison after a slight delay in the courts. A day after the sentencing, Braun made his last official announcement as president announcing that Guy Cisternino will step up in an increased role at Blackstone Labs. This news comes just under one month after Aaron Singerman’s sentencing.
Both PJ Braun and Aaron Singerman were convicted of selling illegal anabolic steroids and other unlawful controlled substances marketed as dietary supplements. During the case, both defendants pleaded guilty.
In addition to the 54 months in prison, PJ Braun also had to forfeit $3 million alongside Blackstone Labs forfeiting $1.2 million. Despite these events, Braun seems to remain confident that Blackstone Labs will continue to not only stay stable but grow during his absence.
In his last official statement as president posted to Instagram, PJ Braun also announced that Guy Cisternino will be “taking over” during his time in prison. While this does not go into exact detail of what this means – it is clear that Cisternino will take on an increased responsibility within the company. Cisternino is already a sponsored athlete of Blackstone Labs.
PJ Braun also took some time to explain his actions and the court sentencing in the video. He claimed that the two illegal substance Blackstone Labs sold were a pro hormone and SARMs. He also claims that neither he nor Aaron Singerman were aware that they should not be selling them. Despite this, he takes full responsibility for his actions and accepts the time he will serve in prison.
You can watch the full video below:
In the lead up to the sentencing, Aaron Singerman made many headlines due to some erratic actions. This included two DUIs – one in a boat and one in a car. PJ Braun’s sentencing was originally set to be the same day as Singerman’s but was postponed. Reports claim that this postponement was due to unspecified medical issues that needed to be reviewed before the final sentencing.
Both PJ Braun and Aaron Singerman had spoken with Generation Iron previously across various digital series we have produced. PJ Braun was featured in our Muscle Moguls series – which had an entire episode dedicated to the original raid of Blackstone Labs.
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Aaron Singerman also spoke with Generation Iron via our GI Exclusive interview series. In one particular segment, Singerman discussed his relationship with PJ Braun and the legal action taken against Blackstone Labs.
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At this time it is unclear if either PJ Braun or Aaron Singerman will serve the full 4.5 year sentence. It’s likely that they will be able to earn reduced sentencing for good behavior among other factors.
Regardless, at this moment PJ Braun seems optimistic that Blackstone Labs will still be flourishing upon his return. With many other employees and athletes involved in the 22 year long running business – hopefully the company will be able to survive the turmoil of the case.
For more updates on all things bodybuilding, fitness, and strength sports – make sure to stay tuned to the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
BREAKING: Aaron Singerman Sentenced To 4.5 Years In Prison
Reports indicated that Aaron Singerman and PJ Braun had pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. Singerman and Braun pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute substances and to selling unapproved new drugs. Blackstone Labs LLC had also pleaded guilty to these same charge as well as one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and to committing mail and wire fraud.
In more direct terms, this indicated that in pleading guilty, Aaron Singerman and PJ Braun have admitted to misleading customers through Blackstone Labs by marketing and selling controlled substances that were not approved by the FDA as dietary supplements. Blackstone Labs has also made these admissions while also pleading guilty to additional charges as mentioned above.
Not only were the substances marketed and sold as dietary supplements. According to the DOJ report, the substances were falsely represented as made in “FDA approved” facilities when that was not the case. FDA approved facilities are regulated to standards set by the FDA. Controlled substances, of course, would not be produced from such facilities.
Aaron Singerman’s DUI’s before sentencing
In the weeks leading up to Aaron Singerman’s sentencing, the supplement co-founder found himself running into more legal trouble while on probation. In November 2021, Singerman was arrested for boating under the influence. This resulted in the suspension of his driver’s license and a new bond condition consistent with the latter restriction.
On January 13, 2022, Aaron Singerman made headlines again, he was arrested for driving a car under the influence and causing an accident. According to the court filing, Singerman was “in flagrant violation of this court’s order and Florida law, and with total disregard for public safety, the defendant illegally drove a car, while admittedly under the influence of sleeping medication, and had a car accident.”
Federal prosecutors requested a judge revoke Aaron Singerman’s bond conditions. This came just weeks before today’s sentencing for his role in the sale of illegal products marketed as dietary supplements.
The government also requested an order that he be held without bond, pending sentencing. Singerman’s lawyer, James Durham, opposed the motion, according to prosecutors’ court filing.
Aaron Singerman and PJ Braun’s past statements on the Blackstone Labs LLC raid
Generation Iron has been following the story and interviewed PJ Braun multiple times. Generation Iron produced an original series on the life of the bodybuilding business entrepreneur. In one episode of the series, Braun detailed the experience of being raided by the federal government in 2017. You can watch that episode below:
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Aaron Singerman has also spoken with Generation Iron in previous GI Exclusive interviews. In one segment, he details his past relationship with PJ Braun and explains their fall out after the Blackstone Labs LLC raid in 2017. You can also watch that video below right here:
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This story is still developing. Generation Iron will continue to update as more information becomes available. For the latest news and updates please follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Redcon1’s Aaron Singerman Reveals All On His Falling Out With PJ Braun & Blackstone Labs
Aaron Singerman details his rise in the bodybuilding supplement world and gets honest on falling out with PJ Braun.
Aaron Singerman is a notable name in the bodybuilding industry – mostly for his success in the world of supplements. With the supplement industry so oversaturated – it’s always a major accomplishment when one succeeds to such a high degree. But that doesn’t mean Singerman’s rise didn’t come with some hurdles. Most notably, he had a very public and somewhat dramatic falling out with his former business partner PJ Braun. In our latest GI Exclusive, Aaron Singerman details his rise and also reveals the truth behind is split with PJ Braun and Blackstone Labs.
While Aarong Singerman might be best known for his supplement company Redcon1, he was also involved in the shockingly fast success of Blackstone Labs. Blackstone Labs was known as a more “hardcore” supplement company. Aarong Singerman and PJ Braun worked together to make it such a massive success.
But that success came with a hefty load of drama. Soon after Blackstone Labs cemented itself as a success, Aarong Singerman had a very public falling out with PJ Braun. Not only that, but Singerman eventually left Blackstone Labs completely.
Many rumors swirled around the web as to exactly what happened. Even beyond that, both Singerman and Braun are thought to now be bitter rivals in the public eye. But is that true? And what is the true story about the falling out between these two successful bodybuilding entrepreneurs?
During our video conversation with Aaron Singerman, he explained in honest detail exactly what happened from his perspective. While the entire falling out was surely a long story of multiple events, the broad stroke of it is that the two men started to change in opposite directions.
“As people get older, your values change,” Aaron Singerman states in our interview. He continued:
“And as money is involved, people’s personalities could change. And so, I think what really happened was – two guys were best buddies who had so much in common and then it really dramatically shifted apart. Because you know, PJ was doing what we were initially doing – having fun doing his thing. And then I had babies, more babies, another baby, you know? And my life was so much different and my values changed too. Where his were pretty much still the same and mine had dramatically shifted… The things that appealed to me before don’t appeal to me now.”
We then followed up by discussing the present. Does Singerman still have a problem with PJ Braun and vice versa? According to Singerman, not at all. He claims that he has no ill will towards Braun.
You can watch Aarong Singerman’s full comments about the rise of Redcon1, Blackstone Labs, and his falling out with PJ Braun in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
The Muscle Mogul: The Raid On Blackstone Labs
The inside story of the FDA raid on Blackstone Labs. THE MUSCLE MOGUL – is a digital series starring PJ Braun, a bodybuilder and daring business entrepreneur. Fast cars, wild animals, powerful guns, and big business are all commonplace in PJ’s life. But after his company was raided by the FDA and a nasty divorce, […]
The post The Muscle Mogul: The Raid On Blackstone Labs appeared first on Generation Iron Fitness & Bodybuilding Network.
Aaron Singerman and PJ Braun Agree To Plea Deal & Could Face Up To 13 Years In Prison
The information comes from a press release published by the United States Department of Justice. Further reports have indicated that Aaron Singerman and PJ Braun have pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. Singerman and Braun pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute substances and to selling unapproved new drugs. Blackstone Labs LLC has also pleaded guilty to these same charge as well as one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and to committing mail and wire fraud.
In more direct terms, this report is indicating that in pleading guilty, Aaron Singerman and PJ Braun have admitted to misleading customers through Blackstone Labs by marketing and selling controlled substances that were not approved by the FDA as dietary supplements. Blackstone Labs has also made these admissions while also pleading guilty to additional charges as mentioned above.
Not only were the substances marketed and sold as dietary supplements. According to the DOJ report, the substances were falsely represented as made in “FDA approved” facilities when that was not the case. FDA approved facilities are regulated to standards set by the FDA. Controlled substances, of course, would not be produced from such facilities.
The news of this plea deal comes long after first reports were revealed about the federal charges made against Aaron Singerman and PJ Braun. Reported in March of 2019, this case seemed to fade from public view until now with this reported plea deal. Singerman’s current supplement company, RedCon1, is one of the biggest supplement brands in the bodybuilding industry today. Most notably, Aaron Singerman pulled out RedCon1 from sponsoring the Arnold Classic 2021 earlier this year due to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s comments about American citizens’ freedom.
The original federal indictments were based on a raid of Blackstone Labs LLC after a warrant was issued in 2017. Authorities searched the premises of Blackstone Labs and the companies manufacturing partner Ventech Labs. Based on evidence found during the raid, the DOJ announced a 14 count grand jury indictment against Singerman, Braun, and Blackstone Labs LLC.
Aaron Singerman and PJ Braun’s past statements on the Blackstone Labs LLC raid
Generation Iron has interview PJ Braun multiple times and produced a digital series into the life of the bodybuilding business entrepreneur. In one episode of the series, Braun detailed the experience of being raided by the federal government in 2017. You can watch that episode below:
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Aaron Singerman has also spoken with Generation Iron in previous GI Exclusive interviews. In one segment, he details his past relationship with PJ Braun and explains their falling out after the Blackstone Labs LLC raid in 2017. You can also watch that video below right here:
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Aaron Singerman and PJ Braun sentencing and forfeiture
As part of the plea deal, all three defendants have agreed to forfeit proceed for the above mentioned crimes. Aaron Singerman has agreed to forfeit $2.9 million. PJ Braun has agreed to forfeit $3 million as well as an additional $233,000 of certified funds under a warrant from a bank account under Blackstone Labs. Blackstone Labs LLC has agreed to forfeit $1 million. In addition to this, both Aaron Singerman and PJ Braun could face up a maximum sentence of 13 years in prison.
Aaron Singerman’s current supplement company, RedCon1 has attempted to distance itself from the allegations and the newly announced plea agreement. The company claimed in an email statement:
“Redcon1 was founded after the conduct central to the Blackstone case concluded, and we had no involvement in the matters raised in that case.”
Aaron Singerman and PJ Braun re scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 27, 2022, in Ft. Lauderdale before U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas of the Southern District of Florida. Judge Dimitrouleas will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This story is still developing and will be updated as more information becomes available. We will also follow up on the results of the sentencing after the January 27, 2022 scheduled court date.
Blackstone Lab’s & Redcon One Owners Indicted
Blackstone Lab’s & Redcon One Owners Indicted It appears that several prominent figures in the bodybuilding and fitness industry have been named a federal case, including Blackstone Labs’ Phillip “PJ” Braun and Redcon One’s Aaron Singerman. The federal charges stem from supplement products that were deemed unsafe and knowingly mislabeled. The indictment goes on to…