United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Michael J. Ferguson 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, 38, of Ansonia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 57 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking prescription narcotics.  He also was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.

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.  Costanzo and Earl were arrested on January 23, 2014.  At the time of his arrest, 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.
 
On February 27, 2015, Costanzo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, oxycodone and oxymorphone, and one count of knowingly engaging in a monetary transaction involving criminally derived property.  When he pleaded 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 has forfeited the Dwight Street property, as well as 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.  Brian Earl pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, oxycodone and oxymorphone.  On July 17, 2015, he was sentenced to 37 months of imprisonment.

This investigation was conducted by the DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, the Ansonia Police Department and the Fairfield Police Department.  The Tactical Diversion Squad includes participants from the New Haven, Hamden, Greenwich, Shelton, Bristol, Vernon and Wilton Police Departments.