Oxycontin News Blog

On Wednesday in District Court in Hartford, Judge Alfred V. Covello sentenced Muska, 46, and his wife, Cheryl, 39, to federal prison terms for their parts in the conspiracy to trade guns for drugs. David Muska was sentenced to 101 months and Cheryl Muska to 21 months.

"We hope the severe terms of imprisonment imposed today send the very strong deterrent message that exchanging guns for drugs will not be tolerated," U.S. Attorney Kevin J. O'Connor said.

On Dec. 20, David Muska pleaded guilty before Covello to conspiracy to use or possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, use or possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and dealing firearms without a license. Cheryl Muska pleaded guilty to conspiracy to use or possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

David Muska has been incarcerated since his February 2006 arrest and Cheryl Muska must begin serving her sentence on May 31.

Paulding said David Muska became addicted to the prescription drug OxyContin when he sought pain relief from athletic injuries. That led to a two-year addiction to heroin, into which he drew his wife, and culminated in his arrest in February 2006 for trading guns for drugs in Hartford.

According to documents filed with the court and statements made in court, from about March 2005 to March 2006, David and Cheryl Muska agreed with others to exchange several firearms they owned for heroin and cocaine.

The Muskas were addicted to heroin and/or cocaine during this time. David Muska was the registered owner of dozens of firearms. Cheryl Muska was the registered owner of three handguns, including two handguns she purchased in December 2005, from Trader's Gun Shop, in East Windsor. Cheryl Muska knew at the time that her husband was exchanging firearms for heroin and cocaine.

Two of the firearms registered to Cheryl Muska, and one registered to David Muska, have been seized by the Hartford Police Department in unrelated criminal investigations.

"I'm very sorry for what happened," David Muska said to Covello. "This is terrible."

During the sentencing hearings Wednesday, family and friends described the Muskas as a loving couple with a successful chiropractic business, and parents of a son and daughter, who made wrong choices while suffering through their addictions.

Cheryl Muska had requested that she serve her sentence in home confinement so she could take care of their children. Covello declined, saying he felt the 21-month term was fair. She said she is embarrassed and ashamed of her actions.

"I honestly consider myself lucky to have been arrested," Cheryl Muska said to Covello. "It was a wakeup call. God only knows where I would have gone had this not occurred."

John J. Liquori, Cheryl Muska's attorney, said arrangements for the care of the Muskas' children are being made.

In addition to their sentences the Muskas must pay a combined $25,000 in fines. The Muskas previously agreed to forfeit 88 guns, several thousand rounds of ammunition and other gun parts that they owned and were seized at the time of David Muska's arrest on Feb. 3, 2006.

The Muskas have also agreed to forfeit to the government the 1999 Mercedes-Benz C280 and a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup truck they used to facilitate their crimes.

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