Authorities: Former Newtown Police Sergeant Ran Drug Ring
NEWTOWN, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A former Newtown police sergeant faces federal charges of running a drug ring, sometimes from his desk at police headquarters.
Steven Santucci engaged in importing and selling high-powered drugs such as oxycodone, federal prosecutors said.
Santucci, who was sometimes quoted in media reports in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook school shootings, is also accused of buying steroids in bulk in China and reselling them to bodybuilders in local gyms, WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau reported.
At one point, the former cop amassed $300,000 in his personal bank account, authorities said. He is said to have spent much of the money traveling to exotic places overseas.
Santucci has resigned from the Newtown police force and, if convicted, faces up to 10 years in prison.
In all, federal authorities have arrested eight suspects, including another police official and a state judicial marshal, on accusations of distributing steroids and prescription pills
U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly announced Monday that the suspects are accused of conspiracy to distribute and distribution of controlled substances.
The other suspects are Mark Bertanza of Shelton; Bridgeport resident Jason Chickos, a civilian dispatcher for Newtown police; Steven Fernandes of Southington; Jeffrey Gentile of Ansonia, a judicial marshal; Alex Kenyhercz of Ansonia; Michael Mase of Sherman; and Frank Pecora of Derby.
Santucci's lawyer would not comment and lawyers for Gentile, Kenyhercz and Pecora did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Mase did not immediately return a call, and Bertanza, Fernandes and Chickos did not have listed phone numbers.
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)