By Michaelangelo Conte
A Secaucus police officer has
been charged with obtaining a steroid gel known as Androgel testosterone and
then selling the medication online on eBay, officials announced today.
"It's a dark day for the
Secaucus Police Department,” said acting Secaucus Police Chief John Cerny of
Friday’s arrest of Officer Michael Cucciniello, 43, on the charge of obtaining
a controlled dangerous substance by fraud.
"Police officers are sworn
to uphold laws," Cerny said. "They also have to abide by those very
same laws. Wrongdoing will not be tolerated. We owe that to the public who
entrusts us, as well as the men and women of this department who come to work
every single day and do their job the right way. The Secaucus Police Department
continues to remain committed to our community."
Investigators allege that
between Feb. 24, 2013 and Oct. 30, 2013, Cucciniello obtained the steroid and
sold it online, based on the probe by Hudson County Prosecutor's Office
Internal Affairs Unit in cooperation with the Secaucus Police Department,
Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Gene Rubino said today.
Cucciniello was processed and
released on a summons complaint, which is common for third degree crimes,
Rubino said, adding that Cucciniello is scheduled to make his first court on
the charge on Friday in Central Judicial Processing court in Jersey City.
According to the FDA, Androgel
is a prescription medicine that contains testosterone and is used to treat
adult males who have low or no testosterone. Androgel is a controlled substance
because it contains testosterone that can be a target for people who abuse
prescription medicines. Selling or giving away this medicine may harm others
and is against the law.
Androgel has abuse and misuse
potential by athletes, bodybuilders, weight lifters, and young adults engaged
in sports, according to the FDA.
A third-degree charge carries a
possible sentence of three to five years in prison, although there is a
presumption of non-incarceration for first-time offenders.
Secaucus Mayor Mike Gonnelli
said Cucciniello has been suspended without pay and is being allowed to use
some of his comp time.
The medication was legally
prescribed to Cucciniello by a physician, Rubino said, adding that no one else
is being investigated in connection to the case.
