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Trial for alleged steroids ring delayed until fall
By Frank Juliano
Published 11:13 am, Friday, July 10, 2015
The federal trial of 11 men including a former Newtown police sergeant and a dispatcher on drug charges has been pushed back three months.
Jury selection was to have begun on Tuesday, but the Newtown Bee reports that has been rescheduled to Oct. 13 to accommodate two of the defendants who have asked for continuances.
A Newtown police sergeant and a civilian dispatcher, a state judicial marshal and residents of Ansonia and Derby are among those arrested in May after a probe into illegal distribution of steroids and prescription drugs.
Authorities said Sgt. Steven Santucci was the leader of the drug operation, and had been getting steroids and related materials from China since 2011 and manufacturing large quantities of the muscle-boosting substances. The Waterbury resident was one of eight men charged with conspiracy to distribute, and distribution of, various controlled substances, including steroids and oxycodone.
Bridgeport resident Jason Chickos, a civilian dispatcher for Newtown police, was also arrested. Both have since resigned.
Jeffrey Gentile, a judicial marshal who lives in Ansonia, along with Alex Kenyhercz, of Ansonia, Michael D. Mase, of Sherman, Mark Bertanza, of Shelton, Frank Pecora, of Derby, and Steven Fernandes, of Southington were also arrested after the investigation by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security officers.
By Frank Juliano
Published 11:13 am, Friday, July 10, 2015
The federal trial of 11 men including a former Newtown police sergeant and a dispatcher on drug charges has been pushed back three months.
Jury selection was to have begun on Tuesday, but the Newtown Bee reports that has been rescheduled to Oct. 13 to accommodate two of the defendants who have asked for continuances.
A Newtown police sergeant and a civilian dispatcher, a state judicial marshal and residents of Ansonia and Derby are among those arrested in May after a probe into illegal distribution of steroids and prescription drugs.
Authorities said Sgt. Steven Santucci was the leader of the drug operation, and had been getting steroids and related materials from China since 2011 and manufacturing large quantities of the muscle-boosting substances. The Waterbury resident was one of eight men charged with conspiracy to distribute, and distribution of, various controlled substances, including steroids and oxycodone.
Bridgeport resident Jason Chickos, a civilian dispatcher for Newtown police, was also arrested. Both have since resigned.
Jeffrey Gentile, a judicial marshal who lives in Ansonia, along with Alex Kenyhercz, of Ansonia, Michael D. Mase, of Sherman, Mark Bertanza, of Shelton, Frank Pecora, of Derby, and Steven Fernandes, of Southington were also arrested after the investigation by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security officers.