United States Drug Enforcement Administration

(NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Michael J. Ferguson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that James Costanzo, 37, of Ansonia, pleaded guilty today in Bridgeport federal court to trafficking prescription narcotics.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2013, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and the Ansonia Police Department initiated an investigation into Costanzo, who had been identified as an illegal distributor of narcotic pharmaceuticals.  The investigation, which included multiple controlled purchases of oxycodone and the use of electronic surveillance, revealed that Costanzo sold prescription narcotics to numerous customers from his Dwight Street residence.  The investigation further revealed that Brian Earl of North Haven supplied Costanzo with large quantities of oxycodone and other prescription narcotics, and also sold drugs to his own customers.

At the time of his arrest on January 23, 2014, Costanzo possessed a 9mm handgun that was loaded with hollow-point ammunition, and $439 in cash.  A subsequent search of his residence revealed approximately 600 oxycodone pills, four firearms, ammunition, approximately $5,500 in cash, and more than 50 stored-value cards.

In pleading guilty, Costanzo admitted that he used more than $72,000 in funds derived from his illegal drug enterprise to purchase a residence located at 85 Dwight Street.

Costanzo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, oxycodone and oxymorphone, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of knowingly engaging in a monetary transaction involving criminally derived property, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

As part of his plea agreement, Costanzo has agreed to forfeit the 85 Dwight Street property, a residence located at 21 Winchester Street in Waterbury, a 2005 Mercedes Benz ML350, a 2000 Ford F150, and approximately $42,613.

Costanzo has been detained since his arrest.  He is scheduled to be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Warren E. Eginton on May 22, 2015.

On February 17, 2015, Brian Earl pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, oxycodone and oxymorphone.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12, 2015.
This investigation has been conducted by the DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, the Ansonia Police Department and the Fairfield Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David X. Sullivan and Michael E. Runowicz.