HARTFORD — A federal judge on Wednesday, December 23, sentenced a Sherman man for his role in an anabolic steroids manufacturing and distribution ring, which was headed by a former Newtown police sergeant.

US District Judge Robert Chatigny sentenced Michael Mase, 32, of Sherman to three years of probation, with the first three months of that probation to be served in home confinement. Also, Mase must perform 120 hours of community service and pay a $2,000 fine, according to a statement from US Attorney Deirdre Daly.

According to court documents and statements that have been made in court, a long-term investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the 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 US Marshals Service, US Postal Inspection Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted in the investigation.

Federal authorities have said that Santucci was involved in illegal steroids activity for six years.

The investigation also revealed that certain members of the conspiracy were distributing prescription pills, including oxycodone, as well as cocaine.

Mase, who is a registered nurse and a competitive weightlifter, purchased anabolic steroids from Santucci and then distributed them to others, including athletes who competed in body-building and weight lifting competitions, according to the statement.

Mase was arrested on April 29, 2015. On October 6, 2015, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids.

Mase is the first defendant to be sentenced in the prosecution, which involved the arrests of 12 men.  

On December 9, Santucci pleaded guilty steroids distribution and money laundering offenses.

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

On October 19, Jason Chickos, a former dispatcher at Newtown Emergency Communications Center, which is located at the police station, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute steroids. Chickos is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11, at which time he faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years imprisonment.

Santucci and Chickos resigned from their jobs after they were arrested.

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 and Chickos have both been free on bail since their April arrests.