An Ansonia man who was pulling down nearly $70,000 per year as a supervisor in the state’s Judicial Branch has pleaded guilty to trading prescription drugs for illegal steroids.
Jeffrey Gentile, 34, was part of a criminal enterprise headed by Newtown Police Sgt. Steven Santucci, who conducted illicit business at least once inside the confines of the Newtown Police Department.
Santucci pleaded guilty to dealing steroids and money laundering in December. He was sentenced to serve 16 months in prison in August.
Gentile pleaded guilty Wednesday (Oct. 5) at federal court in Hartford to one count of using a telephone to facilitate the distribution of amphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
He faces up to four years behind bars at his sentencing, scheduled for Jan. 11.
But a plea agreement in the case says federal guidelines call for him to serve between 10 and 16 months in prison.
The feds named their investigation into the steroid dealers “Operation Juice Box.” The sergeant’s helpers included a Newtown emergency dispatcher and area bodybuilders.
According to a statement from the Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s Office, Santucci had steroid ingredients shipped from China before “manufacturing and distributing wholesale quantities of steroids” in Connecticut.
“Certain members of the conspiracy also distributed prescription pills, including oxycodone, as well as cocaine,” the feds’ statement said.
According to court documents, Gentile arranged to buy steroids from another Valley man charged in the case, Ansonia’s Alex Kenyhercz, who would obtain them from Santucci.
Federal agents intercepted cell phone conversations between Gentile and Kenyhercz that they said showed Gentile arranging to trade Adderall in exchange for some of the steroids.
At the time, Gentile was working for the state’s Judicial Branch, as a juvenile detention shift supervisor in Bridgeport.
His salary was $67,724.54. He was fired the month after his arrest, after 11 years on the job.
Gentile’s lawyer, John Andreini, declined to comment on the case Friday.
Three other Valley residents were also charged in connection with the drug distribution ring.
In January Kenyhercz pleaded guilty in the case. He is awaiting sentencing.
Shelton’s Mark Bertanza was sentenced in February to perform 120 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine.
Derby’s Frank Pecora has been sentenced to 37 months behind bars.
