The girlfriend of a Hamden man accused of orchestrating a oxycodone ring was sentenced today by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to five months of imprisonment, followed by seven years of supervised release, for her role in a New Haven-area trafficking ring.
This matter stems from “Operation Big Blue,” a year-long investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force into a New Haven-area oxycodone trafficking operation headed by Michael Marchitto, Jr. of Hamden. The investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical surveillance, and controlled purchases and seizures of oxycodone.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Marchitto and his associates were involved in the distribution of substantial quantities of oxycodone in and around New Haven. Marchitto and others regularly traveled, at Marchitto’s expense, to Florida where they obtained prescriptions for large amounts of oxycodone at unscrupulous pain clinics, commonly referred to as “pill mills.” Marchitto also arranged to have three Florida residents ship bulk quantities of oxycodone to him on a regular basis. Marchitto sold most of the pills that he and his associates were able to acquire to an established network of redistributors in Connecticut.
Jamie Peitrosimone, 27, of New Haven, of who was Marchitto’s girlfriend, assisted Marchitto’s operation by distributing oxycodone to several of Marchitto’s redistributors. She also, at Marchitto’s direction, stored drugs, and collected, stored, counted and deposited drug proceeds.
Peitrosimone was arrested on April 8, 2011. On January 17, 2012, she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone.
Sixteen individuals were charged as a result of this investigation, and all have pleaded guilty. Marchitto awaits sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the DEA New Haven Task Force, including personnel from the New Haven, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Hamden, Branford, and Wallingford Police Departments, and the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick Caruso and Douglas Morabito.
