Owner of dietary supplements firm admits lying about ingredients, faces 5-year prison term

Federal prosecutors say the owner of a New Jersey-based dietary supplements company has admitted his role in the sale of diluted and adulterated dietary ingredients and supplements.

Barry Steinlight pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The 69-year-old Hackettstown resident faces up to five years in prison when he's sentenced in March.

Prosecutors say Steinlight admitted the gross sales for his Flanders-based Raw Deal Inc. were between $7 million and $20 million during the scheme. He will forfeit more than $1 million in profits from the scheme.

Steinlight told employees to add fillers to the dietary ingredients and supplements packaged for and sold to Raw Deal customers from at least 2009 through November 2013. The fillers were added without customer consent or knowledge.