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Nesconset Mom Gets 2 Years for Dealing Oxycodone

Joanne Connelly's plea for leniency not enough to sway judge.

Despite pleas that jail time would hurt her family, Nesconset's Joanne Connelly was sentenced to 26 months in prison Wednesday for illegally dealing oxycodone, an opiate.

Connelly told U.S. District Court Judge Sandra Feuerstein that she had gotten hooked on the painkillers after she hurt her back. Prosecutors said Connelly ended up selling hundreds of the pills.

According to Newsday, Connelly was apologetic in court.

"I am so very sorry for what I have done that I cannot put into words how ashamed and saddened I feel," Joanne Connelly, 48, of 167 Southern Blvd., said in remarks that were haltingly delivered through tears and sobs. "I realize from the events reported in the newspapers every day, the very grave consequences that arise from the abuse of the these pills."

Connelly was sentenced at the U.S. District Court in Central Islip.

The issue of illegal use of opiates in the Smithtown area has been a big concern in the community, especially given . The problem has sparked the creation of , a group that hopes to raise awareness for the drug epidemic.

At the same time, officials across the state are pushing for legislation that would create better tracking systems for dangerous prescription drugs, such as oxycodone.

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KFM May 21, 2013 at 04:17 pm
How, in a period of rapidly declining enrollment, can costs be increasing so much from year to year,Read More you ask? The answer is in front of you in black and white. I urge you to READ your district’s budget: we are funding retirements when many of us cannot afford to fund our own during difficult economic times. These wheels were set in motion by contracts negotiated in times of unrealistic growth that may likely not occur again. It is time to open up these plans and relieve this unfair burden from our shoulders. Whatever other measures are pursued in order to control costs, including consolidation within and eventually with other districts, are never going to be enough if you cannot get this problem corrected. Write your congressman, for the love of God. If you need any more incentive to do so, please go to http://rocdocs.democratandchronicle.com/database/teacher-pensions-new-york and look at what Smithtown’s retirees are collecting MONTHLY. It will sicken you.
KFM May 21, 2013 at 04:12 pm
They are allowed to exclude the pension and employee benefit increases when expressing the increase.Read More
Billie B May 20, 2013 at 10:17 am
Tomorrow is the vote..vote NO NOW or our taxes are going to continue to sky rocket. Unless we doRead More something this town will continue to spiral down. More taxes aren't going to help. We need to cut expenses and get ourselves on a fiscally responsible plan.