Disgraced former Newtown Police Sergent Steven Santucci pleaded guilty December 9 in Hartford federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, made the announcement referring to Santucci, 39, of Waterbury, who has been described as a "ringleader" in a steroid manufacturing and distribution network that also involved a former Newtown emergency dispatcher.

Upon learning of the plea, Newtown Police Chief Michael Kehoe issued the following statement to The Newtown Bee:

"The announcement of the guilty plea for Steven Santucci, allows the agency and the fine men and women who serve the Town of Newtown to move on."

Chief Kehoe said the "sordid and illegal actions of Mr Santucci are not reflective of the highest level of professionalism shown by the employees of the Newtown Police Department each and every day."

"They have served and do serve our community needs at the highest professional levels, and they do so with highest degree of honesty and integrity," Chief Kehoe continued. "I applaud and admire each employee of this agency for their continued exemplary service to the community since Mr Santucci's criminal case became known. (His) actions cannot and should not overshadow the remarkable accomplishments of this agency."

According to court documents and statements made in court, a long-term investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations revealed that Santucci and others were receiving shipments of steroid ingredients from China and manufacturing and distributing wholesale quantities of steroids.

A release from the US Department of Justice said the investigation also revealed that certain members of the conspiracy were distributing prescription pills, including oxycodone, as well as cocaine.

According to the DOJ release, Santucci used more than $120,000 in proceeds from the sale of anabolic steroids to wire payments to foreign sellers of ingredients to make liquid anabolic steroids, and to purchase drug packaging materials from domestic companies.

Twelve individuals were charged as a result of the investigation, the release states. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement officers seized hundreds of vials of steroids, approximately 600 grams of raw testosterone powder, approximately 350 grams of powder cocaine, and four long guns.

Santucci is scheduled to be sentenced by US District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on March 3, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.

Santucci was arrested on April 29, and is released on a $100,000 bond.

On October 19,  former emergency communications dispatcher Jason Chickos, 46, of Bridgeport pleaded guilty in US District Court to one count of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids.

In pleading guilty, Mr Chickos admitted that he purchased anabolic steroids from another member of the conspiracy and distributed them to others. Chickos is also scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Chatigny on January 11, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

Two other individuals: Mark Bertanza, 34, of Shelton, and Michael Mase, 32, of Sherman also previously pleaded guilty to pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids. 

Chickos, Bertanza and Mase all originally pleaded not guilty, but eventually changed their plea.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations, worked with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorneys Rahul Kale and Robert M Spector.