A 29-year-old Ansonia man pleaded guilty in federal court Monday for his role in a scheme to sell steroids and other drugs.
Alex Kenyhercz 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 is waiting to be sentenced.
Kenyhercz will be sentenced in April. He faces a maximum 20 years behind bars.
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 released Monday from the Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s Office, Santucci had “steroid ingredients” shipped from China.
“The investigation also revealed that certain members of the conspiracy were distributing prescription pills, including oxycodone, as well as cocaine,” according to Tom Carson, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Authorities launched the case after receiving an anonymous letter detailing Santucci’s wheeling and dealing.
Kenyhercz, according to a criminal complaint written by a Drug Enforcement Agent, received steroids and counterfeit Cialis from Santucci and distributed them to Shelton resident Mark Bertanza, 33 at the time of his arrest last year.
Bertanza then sold the drugs to a person working with the DEA, according to the court documents.
In March, the feds then tapped the two Valley residents’ cell phones. That allowed investigators to pinpoint Santucci as the ringleader.
Kenyhercz and Bertanza talked about dealing the drugs as the feds listened in, building the case. The authorities continued to buy drugs off them, too.
At least one of the secret buys — when some $3,000 was exchanged — happened in a parking lot in Derby.
Santucci had been mixed up with steroids since 2011. He was processing raw steroid material from China into capsules and into a liquid form ready to be injected into bodybuilders, according to court documents.
Other locals in the crew included Jeffrey Gentile, a former judicial marshal who lives in Ansonia, and Frank Pecora of Derby.
Gentile’s case is still pending.
Pecora is considering pleading guilty, according to a document filed in federal court Jan. 11.
Jason Chickos, 46, the former Newtown dispatcher, was sentenced Monday to two years of probation for his role in the operation. He’ll have to perform 120 hours community service and pay a $1,000 fine.
