A Newtown Police Department sergeant and a dispatcher at the town’s emergency communications center are among eight men who have been arrested by federal officials as part of an alleged drug trafficking ring.

Among those arrested are Sergeant Steven Santucci, 38, of Waterbury, and dispatcher Jason Chickos, 46, of Bridgeport.

The charges against the eight men allege that they illegally distributed steroids and prescription narcotics.

Also, among the eight charged is a state judicial marshal, Jeffrey Gentile, 33, of Ansonia.

Deirdre M. Daly, US Attorney for Connecticut, said in a statement that on April 29 and 30, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), working with the US Marshals Service and the US Postal Inspection Service, arrested the eight men.

The investigators arrested the eight men as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation dubbed “Operation Juice Box.”

In a May 4 statement, Newtown Police Chief Michael Kehoe said that Santucci and Chickos were arrested on April 29.

“The Town of Newtown or Newtown Police Department has no arrest information and no investigative information regarding this matter,” he said.

When advised of the investigation, Newtown police cooperated fully, he said.

Santucci resigned as a police officer after his arrest. His annual salary was $81,540. He was hired as a police officer on November 17, 2000. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant on January 1, 2012.

Chickos was hired as a dispatcher on April 1, 2002. His annual salary is $54,450.

Chickos has been placed on leave by the town. It remains unclear whether Chickos will be paid while on leave, according to Carole Ross, the town’s human resources administrator.

Santucci and Chickos have been released on $100,000 non-surety bonds each. They will appear in court for arraignment after they are indicted.

Investigation

Ms Daly said the arrests culminated a long-term investigation into steroid and prescription pill distribution by multiple individuals. The investigation, which included the use of wire and electronic surveillance for nearly two months, also revealed that members of the conspiracy allegedly imported steroids from China, she said.

The five other men arrested are: Alex Kenyhercz, 28, of Ansonia; Mark Bertanza, 33, of Shelton; Frank Pecora, 53, of Derby; Steven Fernandes, 54, of Southington; and Michael D. Mase, 32, of Sherman.

As alleged in , which was unsealed in court on April 30, Bertanza was a steroid distributor who obtained his steroids from Kenyhercz.the government’s complaint affidavit

Wiretap interceptions over cellular telephones used by Bertanza and Kenyhercz, along with physical surveillance of various steroid sales, revealed that Santucci was supplying steroids to Kenyhercz.

Through the investigation, agents learned that Santucci has been receiving shipments of steroids and related materials from China since 2011, and has been manufacturing and distributing wholesale quantities of steroids.

Santucci frequently used an application called WhatsApp to communicate with his customers.

Chickos, Mase, and Fernandes were Santucci’s steroid customers who, in turn, regularly distributed the steroids in smaller quantities to their own customers.

Kenyhercz distributed quantities of steroids and prescription pills, including Roxicodone, Oxycodone, Suboxone, and Opana. Gentile is alleged to be a steroid distributor, and Pecora is alleged to be a prescription pill distributor.

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, according to Ms Daly.

Serious Offense

“The international importation and sale of mass quantities of steroids in our communities is a serious offense that raises significant public health concerns,” Ms Daly said.

“I thank the agents and officers who have dedicated themselves to this difficult case. Through their hard work, they have identified and arrested the source of these steroids, thus preventing further harm to the community,” she said.

“The top criminal investigative program for the FBI is public corruption matters,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Patricia M. Ferrick.

“When law enforcement officers are involved in criminal activity, it brings a particular sense of urgency to the investigation,” she said.

“While disconcerting, this matter involving a Newtown police officer, a Connecticut judicial marshal, a Newtown public safety dispatcher, and others is not indicative of the fine work and dedication to public service exhibited by the vast majority of those individuals working within the criminal justice and law enforcement community,” she said.

“DEA and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners are committed to investigating steroid trafficking organizations. We follow these investigations wherever they lead us — and in this case to a police officer,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson.

“Wearing a shield does not give you a free pass to peddle this poison in our neighborhoods or to our families. This type of criminal behavior does not represent the fine work and dedication to public service that is exhibited by the vast majority of law enforcement officers,” he said.

Santucci, Chickos, Bertanza, Gentile, Mase, and Fernandes are charged with conspiracy to distribute steroids, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years and a fine of up to $500,000.

Pecora and Kenyhercz are charged with conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $1 million.