HARTFORD — Jason Chickos, 46, of Bridgeport, was sentenced on Monday, January 11, by US District Judge Robert N. Chatigny to two years of probation for his role in an anabolic steroids manufacturing and distribution ring, which was headed by a former Newtown Police Department sergeant.

Judge Chatigny also ordered Chickos to perform 120 hours of community service and pay a $1,000 fine. Chickos formerly worked as a civilian dispatcher at the Newtown Emergency Communications Center, dispatching police, fire, and ambulance calls.

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 Steven Santucci, 39, of Waterbury, a former Newtown police sergeant, and others were receiving shipments of steroid ingredients from China and manufacturing and distributing wholesale quantities of steroids. The investigation also revealed that certain members of the conspiracy were distributing prescription pills, including oxycodone, as well as cocaine.

Chickos, among others in the drug ring, purchased anabolic steroids from Santucci and distributed them to others, according to a statement from Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Twelve men were arrested as part of the drug ring. Chickos and Santucci were part of the initial group of eight men arrested, on April 29, 2015.

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.

On October 19, Chickos pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids.

On December 9, Santucci pleaded guilty steroid distribution and money laundering. Santucci is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3.

Another member of the drug conspiracy, Alex Kenyhercz, 29, of Ansonia, pleaded guilty on January 11 in US District Court.

Kenyhercz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Chatigny on April 14.

Mr Santucci, who is a free on bond, was initially charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids; six separate counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of anabolic steroids; and conspiracy to launder money.

According to court documents, beginning in approximately 2009, Santucci started manufacturing anabolic steroids, which he then sold to co-conspirators for further sale and distribution. Santucci kept his redistribution network small so as to limit the chance of exposure.

Among the redistributing co-conspirators was Chickos, who, on occasion, picked up orders of anabolic steroids from Santucci at Newtown Police Department.

Chickos would then sell some of the anabolic steroids to his customers for profit. Over the course of the conspiracy, Santucci instructed Chickos and his other redistributors to use a texting application called WhatsApp to impede any law enforcement scrutiny of their illegal activity.

Chickos and others used code words to further disguise the orders they placed for anabolic steroids. Chickos’s anabolic steroid orders followed a pattern, but increased in quantity and frequency in the months leading up to his arrest last April, according to court documents.