HARTFORD — A former Newtown emergency services dispatcher is expected to plead guilty to a federal drug charge at a change-of-plea hearing scheduled for October 19 in US District Court.

The legal action stems from the man’s participation in a drug trafficking ring, which was allegedly headed by a former Newtown police sergeant.

Thomas Carson, spokesman for US Attorney Deirdre Daly, said October 9 that former dispatcher Jason Chickos, 46, of Bridgeport is expected to change his plea in court before Judge Donna Martinez.

Mr Chickos has been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids.

That offense carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000. If Mr Chickos reaches a plea agreement with the prosecutor on that charge, the sentence for a conviction would typically be much less than that.

Mr Chickos has been free on bond since his arrest by federal authorities late last April.

Former Newtown police sergeant Steven Santucci, 38, of Waterbury, who authorities allege headed a 12-man drug trafficking ring, has been 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.

Mr Santucci has pleaded not guilty to all eight charges and is awaiting jury selection on January 12 for his criminal trial. Mr Santucci is free on bond.

Other defendants in the drug trafficking case have pleaded not guilty to the drug charges lodged against them. 

Mr Santucci and Mr Chickos both resigned from their Town of Newtown jobs following their April arrests. The indictment against the men alleges that the criminal activity occurred between April 2009 and April 2015.

In another planned change-of-plea hearing, defendant Mark Bertanza 33, of Shelton is scheduled to appear in court on October 16, Mr Carson said. Mr Bertanza is expected to change his plea to guilty.

On October 6, a Sherman man pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids in the drug trafficking case.

Michael Mase, 32, pleaded guilty, reversing his earlier not guilty plea in the case.

In pleading guilty, Mr Mase, a registered nurse and a body builder, admitted that he purchased anabolic steroids from another member of the conspiracy and distributed them to others, including athletes who competed in body-building competitions.

Mr Mase is scheduled to be sentenced by US District Judge Robert Chatigny on December 23. Mr Mase is free on bond.

A Multi-Agency Investigation

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 individuals 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.

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.

There had been a total of 12 defendants in the drug trafficking case, but on September 14, defendant Steven Fernandes, 54, of Southington, died at Branford Hospice, according to his obituary.

“The [drug] investigation began with an anonymous letter that described the steroid manufacture and distribution of a drug trafficking organization, the head of which was Newtown Police Department Sergeant Steven Santucci … of Waterbury. The letter was accompanied by a sample of Santucci’s steroids,” according to a court affidavit, which was part of the criminal complaint which lead to the arrests of Mr Santucci, Mr Chickos and the ten other men.