Former Hamden Man Pleads Guilty to Running Drug Trafficking Ring

A former Hamden man pleaded guilty to heading up a New Haven area drug ring that trafficked in oxycodone, as well as money laundering, according to federal court officials.

Michael Marchitto Jr., 28, formerly of 70 Kaye View Dr., appeared before Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford on Friday and faces up to 20 years in prison on the drug charge and up to 10 years in prison on the money laundering charge. He also faces three years to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million, according to officials.       

Marchitto was arrested on April 7, in possession of approximately 2,000 oxycodone pills, marking the culmination of a long-term investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from police departments in New Haven, Hamden, Meriden, and Branford.

That investigation found that Marchitto headed a profitable oxycodone distribution organization based in the New Haven area dubbed “Operation Big Blue” because oxycodone pills are often blue in color, according to the information released Monday.

The investigation employed various techniques, including surveillance, confidential informants and controlled purchases of oxycodone from Marchitto. The investigation also included the use of a court-authorized wiretap on Marchitto’s cell phone.        

“This case – the first of its kind in Connecticut to use a wiretap to investigate illegal distribution of prescription pills – demonstrates how serious and committed federal authorities are about targeting the distribution of prescription drugs, the abuse of which continues to increase in our region and across the country,” said David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.        

During the course of the investigation, agents learned that Marchitto, along with several of his criminal associates, traveled to Florida approximately monthly to obtain bulk quantities of oxycodone at Florida pain clinics, which are commonly referred as “pill mills” because of the unscrupulous prescription practices to which they adhere, federal officials said. 

Agents followed Marchitto and his associates to Florida and observed their activities at the Florida  “pill mills,” according to officials. Marchitto also paid at least three Florida residents to ship packages containing bulk quantities of oxycodone to him on a regular basis, officials said, and then redistributed the diverted pharmaceuticals to street-level oxycodone dealers in Connecticut, who, in turn, distributed the drugs to users.       

In court on Friday, Marchitto admitted his leadership role in the trafficking ring and acknowledged the substantial quantities of oxycodone that the organization distributed, according to federal officials. He also admitted purchasing a 2010 Acura TL with approximately $44,000 in drug proceeds, conduct which formed the basis for the money laundering charge to which he pled guilty and has forfeited the vehicle in connection with his conviction.       

Fifteen other individuals were arrested in connection with the case, all of whom face drug conspiracy charges, including Marchitto’s parents, Michael Marchitto, Sr. and Brenda Marchitto, of North Haven; Francis Martone, Jaime Pietrosimone and Kelly Pietrosimone, of New Haven; Michael Dady of Orange; Kristina Gargano and Patricia Bonanno of East Haven; Joseph Puglisi, Heidi Orkisz, and Justin Ortiz of Branford; Amber Fischer of Meriden; and Matthew Nardelli, Candace Christ and Michael DeCrescenzo of Florida. 

All face up to 20 years in prison on drug conspiracy charges.  Jury selection in the case for all remaining defendants is scheduled for November.