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Former New Canaan Schools Food Service Director Latest Charged In $478,588 Embezzlement Case Former New Canaan Schools Food Service Director Latest Charged In $478,588 Embezzlement Case
Former New Canaan Schools Food Service Director Latest Charged In $478,588 Embezzlement Case A former New Canaan Schools food service director is the latest to be arrested in connection with a lunch embezzlement scheme that cost the school district almost a half million dollars in profits. Bruce Gluck, 61, of Middletown Springs, Vermont, was arrested on Monday, April 29, by New Canaan Police for allegedly stealing funds from the Saxe Middle School cafeteria and the New Canaan High School cafeteria, said Lt. Jason Ferraro. Two other suspects, sisters Joanne Pascarelli, 61, of Stratford and Marie Wilson, 67, of Wilton, were arrested last year for allegedly stealing $478,588 between 2…

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by Kathy Reakes
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Ex-Connecticut College Employee Sentenced For Embezzlement Schemes Ex-Connecticut College Employee Sentenced For Embezzlement Schemes
Ex-Connecticut College Employee Sentenced For Embezzlement Schemes A former Connecticut College employee will spend more than a year behind bars after admitting to a four-year scheme that helped him embezzle more than $150,000. Michael Kmec of Marlborough, Connecticut has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud related to an embezzlement scheme in Hartford federal court in November last year. Kmec began working at the college in New London in 2006. In 2014, he was promoted to the Director of Auxiliary Services of the college, which allowed him to oversee the print shop, …

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by Zak Failla
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Stamford Babe Ruth Softball President Arrested For Second Time In Two Weeks Stamford Babe Ruth Softball President Arrested For Second Time In Two Weeks
Stamford Babe Ruth Softball President Arrested For Second Time In Two Weeks For the second time in the last two weeks, the president of the Stamford Babe Ruth Girls Softball chapter has been arrested, this time for allegedly ripping off a local business by not paying for an event they catered for the club. On Monday, April 8, Charles Pia, 62, Stamford, was arrested for larceny after a grocery store, located on the East Side of Stamford, claims they were approached by Pia in 2015 to cater an event for the league, said Stamford Police. Pia allegedly requested a price reduction as the event was for the girls softball league. The grocery store reduced the catering pric…

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by Kathy Reakes
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Man Accused Of Embezzling $206K From Victim's Retirement Fund Man Accused Of Embezzling $206K From Victim's Retirement Fund
Man Accused Of Embezzling $206K From Victim's Retirement Fund An area man has been arrested for allegedly embezzling more than $200,000 from a victim's retirement fund. In October 2018, a complaint was made to the Milford Police Department that Travis Smith, 40, of Hamden had solicited a Milford resident to act as an investment agent for the victim between 2014- 2018, said the Milford Police Department.  The victim told police that Smith took over $206,000 of the victim’s retirement fund money promising to yield a better return on his investment, police said. Smith eventually ceased contact with the victim and it was lear…

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by Kathy Reakes
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Woman Admits to Embezzling More Than $130K From Connecticut Company Woman Admits to Embezzling More Than $130K From Connecticut Company
Woman Admits to Embezzling More Than $130K From Connecticut Company A former accounting manager at a Fairfield County company may be heading to prison after admitting to embezzling more than $100,000 from her employer. Susanna Kurus, a former Connecticut resident, has pleaded guilty in New Haven federal court to one count of wire fraud stemming from an embezzlement scheme that lasted for several years in Stratford. According to the indictment, Kurus 43, who now lives in Garner, North Carolina, the former accounting manager of the Stratford company, stole $133,870.55 through an elaborate scheme using the company’s financial accounting software. Using that s…

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by Zak Failla
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Ex-Mayor In CT Sentenced For Stealing Nearly $1M From Employer, Brother Ex-Mayor In CT Sentenced For Stealing Nearly $1M From Employer, Brother
Ex-Mayor In CT Sentenced For Stealing Nearly $1M From Employer, Brother A former mayor in Connecticut is trading city hall for a prison cell after stealing from his employer, then attempting to double down by stealing from his brother to cover up his thievery. Stephon Gionfriddo, 68, the former mayor of Middletown, has been sentenced to 46 months in prison after admitting to embezzling more than $500,000 from his former employer and proceeding to steal approximately $400,000 from his brother to pay that back. He will also serve three years of supervised release. Gionfriddo was hired as a paralegal by a law firm in Rocky Hill in August 2013. Beginning in De…

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by Zak Failla
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Former Bank Manager Who Embezzled $879K From CD Accounts Sentenced Former Bank Manager Who Embezzled $879K From CD Accounts Sentenced
Former Bank Manager Who Embezzled $879K From CD Accounts Sentenced A former bank manager has been sentenced for stealing nearly a million dollars from the CD accounts of 20 account holders at his branch without their consent. Hamden resident Stephen Carbonella, 59, has been sentenced to 21 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty in Hartford federal court to embezzling funds from his employer, Webster Bank Corporation, where he served as a bank manager of the Orange branch office. Between 2013 and 2017, Carbonella admitted to withdrawing $879,016.48 from 20 account holders’ certificate of deposit accounts at We…

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by Zak Failla
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Woman Who Embezzled $1.1M From Darien Auto Dealer Sentenced Woman Who Embezzled $1.1M From Darien Auto Dealer Sentenced
Woman Who Embezzled $1.1M From Darien Auto Dealer Sentenced A Hudson Valley woman is heading to prison after admitting to embezzling more than $1 million from a BMW dealer she worked at in Fairfield County. Vanessa Vence-Small, 50, of New Windsor in Orange County, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for embezzling $1.1 million from Continental BMW of Darien. From October 2014 to June 2017, Vence-Small made 65 unauthorized electronic fund transfers, totaling $904,659.29, from the dealership’s bank account to her personal American Express account. She also issued and signed 28 checks drawn on the d…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Woman Who Embezzled $326K From Fairfield County Business Sentenced Woman Who Embezzled $326K From Fairfield County Business Sentenced
Woman Who Embezzled $326K From Fairfield County Business Sentenced A former Fairfield County resident is heading to federal prison after admitting to embezzling more than $325,000 from her employer in Connecticut. Miriam Dubay, a former Shelton resident, has been sentenced to 33 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty in district court to one count of wire fraud related to her embezzlement of approximately $326,000 while working as a bookkeeper for a Fairfield County company. John Durham, the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that current Purcellville, Virginia, resident Mi…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Faces ID Theft Charge After Stolen Mail Found Following Westport Chase Man Faces ID Theft Charge After Stolen Mail Found Following Westport Chase
Man Faces ID Theft Charge After Stolen Mail Found Following Westport Chase A man was arrested last week in Norwalk on multiple charges surrounding an identity theft case earlier this fall, Westport Police say. The arrest occurred Tuesday, Nov. 20 after a warrant was submitted and approved due in Norwalk Superior Court due to a previous incident. A woman and man, Daisha Haynes and Jovan Boy, respectively, both of Bridgeport, were initially taken into custody on Monday, Oct. 8 after a short police pursuit. Haynes and Boyd had both exited the vehicle and fled the scene in a second vehicle. Upon searching the first vehicle, police discovered a large amount of mail tha…

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by Valerie Musson
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Son Of West Haven Mayor Allegedly Embezzled $80K From Restaurant Son Of West Haven Mayor Allegedly Embezzled $80K From Restaurant
Son Of West Haven Mayor Allegedly Embezzled $80K From Restaurant The son of West Haven's mayor Nancy Rossi has been arrested for allegedly embezzling money from two restaurants he was managing. Stephen Rossi of West Haven was arrested last week for embezzling more than $80,000 from the Sitting Duck restaurant in Trumbull and Stratford, according to the New Haven Register. Trumbull police said they received a complaint from William da Silva, co-owner of the Sitting Duck regarding the missing funds, the Register said. An audit found that between Nov. 1, 2015, and April 2, Rossi had allegedly taken cash and inflated the inventory, and then keepin…

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by Kathy Reakes
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Former Connecticut College Employee Admits To Embezzling More Than $150K Former Connecticut College Employee Admits To Embezzling More Than $150K
Former Connecticut College Employee Admits To Embezzling More Than $150K A former Connecticut College employee has admitted to a four-year scheme that helped him embezzle more than $150,000. Michael Kmec of Marlborough pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud related to an embezzlement scheme in Hartford federal court on Wednesday. Kmec began working at the college in New London in 2006. In 2014, he was promoted to the Director of Auxiliary Services of the college, which allowed him to oversee the print shop, bookstore, vending machines, transportation, laundry services and residence halls. He also oversaw the Camel Card program, which is an identificatio…

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by Zak Failla