Former Newtown Police Sergeant Admits to Heading Steroid Ring

A former Newtown Police sergeant pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids in federal court.

Steven Santucci, 39, of Waterbury pleaded guilty to that charge plus conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

Santucci would receive shipments of steroid ingredients from China and manufacture and distribute wholesale quantities, according to the U.S. Attorney District of Connecticut office.

Some members of the conspiracy ring also distributed prescription pills and cocaine.

Santucci used $120,000 in proceeds to wire payments to foreign sellers. He also purchased drug packaging materials from domestic companies.

He was accused of completing some illicit transactions inside police headquarters. A Newtown dispatcher was also charged as part of the conspiracy.

Related:

Affidavit: Former Newtown Cop Took $30k Safari, Cruises While Selling Steroids

Affidavit: Newtown Cop Completed Illegal Drug Deals Inside Department Building

Update: Newtown Police Sergeant, Dispatcher Arrested in Alleged Steroid Ring Bust

Twelve individuals were charged as part of the intense investigation. Hundreds of vials of steroids, 600 grams of raw testosterone powder and 350 grams of cocaine were seized.

Santucci was arrested in April and was out on bond.

Investigators obatained credit card statements that showed Santucci charged more than $310,000 to two cards from April 2011 to November 2014.

Some of the charges included:

• More than $30,000 on an African safari.
• More than $25,000 on Celebrity Cruises.
• More than $111,000 on lodging expenses, including $17,000 at Four Seasons resorts, $19,000 on Hyatt and Grand Hyatt and $7,000 at the Ritz Carlton.

He also spent about $28,000 on glassware and similar supplies suspected of being used to manufacture anabolic steroids, according to an affidavit.

An anonymous letter and samples of liquid steroids from a concerned citizen prompted investigators to look deeper into Santucci’s activity, according to the affidavit.

Santucci received about $156,000 in deposits for his salary between May 2011 and November 2014. During the same time he deposited about $244,000 of cash into an account and made another $46,000 worth of deposits through an ATM, according to the affidavit. He also made smaller contributions to another account.

The 103-page affidavit is rife with details of alleged criminal activity garnered through intercepted messages through the WhatsApp messaging service, wiretapped phone calls, controlled drug purchases using confidential witnesses and other investigative methods.

Often the arrestees allegedly communicated with little or no code about illicit drugs.