HARTFORD — A former Newtown police sergeant and a former town emergency communications dispatcher have pleaded not guilty to all federal drug charges against them, which allege that they were part of an anabolic steroids drug trafficking ring with others.

Former sergeant Steven Santucci, 38, of Waterbury, and former civilian dispatcher Jason Chickos, 46, of Bridgeport pleaded not guilty at their arraignment before US Magistrate Judge Donna Martinez on May 14 at US District Court in Hartford.

The six other Connecticut residents who have been charged in the alleged drug trafficking ring also have pleaded not guilty to all charges pending against them, according to a spokesman for the US Attorney for Connecticut.

The judge set a July 14 jury selection date for the trials of the eight defendants.

On May 6, a federal grand jury indicted the eight men on drug charges. Federal authorities arrested Santucci and Chickos on April 29, based on the allegations in a criminal complaint.

The indictment charges Santucci and Chickos each with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids.

The indictment also charges Santucci with six separate counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of anabolic steroids. Additionally, the indictment charges Santucci with conspiracy to launder money.

The criminal investigation is ongoing.

The drug trafficking case has been assigned to US District Judge Robert Chatigny in Hartford.

The charges filed against Santucci and Chickos hold the potential for lengthy prison sentences in the event the men are convicted of the alleged crimes.

Santucci and Chickos are free on bond.

First Selectman: “Shocking And Insulting”

In statement issued on May 15 concerning the arrests of the former town employees, First Selectman Pat Llodra said, “The alleged criminal activity of Sgt Santucci and dispatcher Chickos is very concerning.

“It is bad enough that these two employees may have been involved in trafficking illegal substances, it is further shocking and insulting to think that transactions may have been executed right within our police facility,” she added.

“It should never be thought, however, that these two ‘bad apples’ are typical of our sworn police personnel or of our dispatchers. The forty-plus Newtown officers, rank-and-file and command personnel, and the ten dispatchers serve our community with honor and integrity every day, under all sorts of circumstances,” Mrs Llodra said.

“It is likely that they, too, are disheartened and angered by the behavior of their colleagues,” she said.

“I am proud of our police department and of our communications department staff. I rely on them to serve our community needs at the highest and best levels, and to do so with absolute honesty and fairness, and adherence to the law,” Mrs Llodra added.

“That two employees of these departments did not meet those standards is indicative of personal character flaws, and not flaws in the departments under which they worked,” Mrs Llodra concluded.