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Man Sentenced Role In Attempted Robbery Of CT Eatery Where Worker Was Shot
A Connecticut man has been sentenced to more than nine years in prison for his role in the attempted robbery of a restaurant in 2015, during which an employee was shot.
Tythrone Ford, age 28, of New Haven, was sentenced on Tuesday, March 15 for the April 2015 incident, said Leonard C Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, at approximately 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2015, Ford, Treizy Lopez, and another man entered the Smokin’ Wings restaurant, located on Congress Avenue in New Haven, and demanded money at gu…
Out-Of-State Man Sentenced For Traveling To CT To Have Sex With Minor
An out-of-state man was sentenced to more than three years in prison for traveling to Connecticut to attempt to have sex with a minor.
Christopher Brereton, age 35, of Fargo, North Dakota, was sentenced on Thursday, Feb. 17, to 37 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, said Leonard C Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2020, Brereton began chatting online with a minor female who had an online profile stating she was 18 years old.
In February 2020, a law enforcement offi…
Gang Member From Bridgeport Involved In Shootings Sentenced
A Fairfield County gang member has been sentenced to 8.3 years in prison for offenses from his membership in a violent street gang.
Jacquon BeneJan, also known as “Blick,” age 20, of Bridgeport, was sentenced on Wednesday, Feb. 2, followed by three years of supervised release, said Leonard C Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, US Marshals Service, and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder, and other acts…
Bridgeport Man Sentenced For Trafficking Narcotics
A 62-year-old Fairfield County man has been sentenced to 36 months in prison for trafficking narcotics.
Kevin Lucas, also known as "Dutch," of Bridgeport, was sentenced on Wednesday, Jan. 19, said Leonard C Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between May and August 2019, law enforcement made a series of controlled purchases of redistribution quantities of heroin from Lucas.
Lucas was arrested in August 2019, and a search of his residence on that date revealed additional distribution quantities of heroin,…
CT Man Sentenced For Distributing Cocaine
A Connecticut man has been sentenced to 41 months in prison for distributing cocaine and crack cocaine.
Windham County resident Andre Smith, also known as "Dre", age 42, of Woodstock, was sentenced on Thursday, Jan. 13, said Leonard C Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Smith was also sentenced to three years of supervised release following his imprisonment.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2018, the FBI, Norwich Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies began investigating a drug trafficking organization that was distributing heroin…
CT Man Sentenced For Fentanyl Distribution, Theft Of Government Property
A Connecticut man has been sentenced to 16 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for theft and narcotics offenses.
Jose Nanez-Torres, also as known as "J-Money," age 21, of Hartford, was sentenced on Monday, Jan. 10, said Leonard C Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2019, Nunez-Torres and Dominque Perry stole a 2016 Honda Accord from a residence in Newington.
The vehicle was the property of a federal law enforcement agency and contained fully loaded firearm magazines …
CT Man Sentenced For Possessing Gun, Drugs While On Federal Supervised Release
A Connecticut man has been sentenced to 4.25 years in prison for narcotics distribution and firearms possession, and for violating the terms of his prior supervised release.
Ronnell Rogers, age 28, of New Haven, was sentenced on Wednesday, Jan. 5, to prison time, as well as three years of supervised release following his time in jail, said Leonard C Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in July 2019, Rogers was released from federal prison after serving approximately 17 months for unlawful possession of ammu…
CT Residents Charged With Fabricating, Selling Numerous Ghost Guns
Two Connecticut men have been charged with federal firearms offenses related to the alleged illegal fabrication and sale of ghost guns.
John Lee Ortiz, age 28, and Audley Reeves, age 30, both of East Hartford, were charged on Wednesday, Jan. 5, said Leonard C Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in late 2021, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force learned that Ortiz and others were selling “ghost guns,” which are homemade firearms that do not contain serial numbers and can't be traced.
In December 2021,…
CT Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced To Federal Prison
A Connecticut fentanyl dealer has been sentenced to five years in prison for distributing the drug.
Johnny Ortega, also known as "Clatcho," age 39, of Hartford was sentenced on Tuesday, Dec. 28, according to Leonard C Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2018, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force began investigating Ricardo Reyes, also known as “Rick the Ruler,” a member of the Los Solidos street gang who was distributing fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and crack in the area of Park Street and Hungerford Street…
CT Resident Indicted For Alleged Child Exploitation Offenses
A Connecticut man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for receiving child pornography and the distribution of child pornography.
New Haven County resident Kevin Curley, age 40, of Naugatuck, appeared on Tuesday, Dec. 21, in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges, said Leonard C Boyle, Acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
In 2020, officials began investigating Curley for his involvement in an online community of individuals who sent and received child pornography images and videos via a hidden service website, court documents show.
In August 2020, investigators con…
Operator Of Company In Fairfield County Admits To Tax Evasion
A Fairfield County company owner has pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion.
Robert Porzio, age 48, of Westport, plead guilty on Thursday, Dec. 16, following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, said Leonard C Boyle, acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Porzio, who operates Bert’s Tree Service, Inc., deposited numerous customers’ checks into personal bank accounts, transferred a significant portion of the funds into a personal investment account, and kept from the corporation’s bookkeeper his receipt …
Duo, Including CT Man, Accused Of Using Project Fraud Scheme To Pay Personal Expenses
Two men have been charged in separate criminal complaints with conspiracy and fraud offenses stemming from their alleged involvement in construction project fraud schemes.
New Haven County resident Don Richards, age 53, of Milford, and William Sacco, age 48, of Pelham, New Hampshire, were arrested in connection with the case, said Leonard C Boyle, Acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Both men were described in a criminal complaint as senior project managers at a Massachusetts mechanical contracting company during the time of the scheme.
From June 2014 through Dece…
CT Teen Charged With Kidnapping Minor
A Connecticut teen has been charged with kidnapping a minor and sexually assaulting her before locking her in the trunk of a car.
Litchfield County resident Christopher Jesus Constanzo, age 19, of Torrington, was arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 7, said Leonard C Boyle, Acting US Attorney of the District of Connecticut.
As alleged in court documents, on Thursday, Dec. 2, Constanzo and a minor female arrived by car at the US Port of Entry at Highgate Springs in Vermont.
Just prior to their arrival, officials at the St-Armand/Philipsburg Border Crossing in Canada had refused Constanzo and the…
CT Man Admits To Enticing Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity
A Connecticut man admitted to the enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.
New Haven County resident Dennis Anthony Szantyr Jr., age 47, of Prospect, pleaded guilty on Monday, Dec. 6 in Hartford, said Leonard C Boyle, acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on multiple occasions between November 2018 and October 2019, Szantyr used smartphones, tablets, and other computer devices, to entice the victim under the age of 16 to engage in sexual acts.
At times, including during the commission of th…
CT Man Caught With Hundreds Of Images Of Sexual Abuse Of Children, Feds Say
A Connecticut man has been indicted by a grand jury for receiving hundreds of images of child pornography.
New Haven County resident Christopher Michaelson, age 37, of Guilford, pleaded not guilty to the crime during a hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 16, said Leonard C. Boyle, Acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, January 2019, the Guilford Police Department assisted Burrillville Rhode Island Police with the arrest of Michaelson at his residence in Guilford on Rhode Island state charges for child molestation, solicitation, a…
CT Man Sentenced For Fentanyl Distribution
A Connecticut man has been sentenced to 47 months in prison for distributing fentanyl, federal officials said.
Kyle Pitts, aka "Bark," age 37, of West Hartford, was sentenced on Monday, Nov. 1, to prison time followed by three years of supervised release, said Leonard C Boyle, acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in the summer of 2020, Hartford Police learned that Pitts and others were selling fentanyl and that Pitts was using his apartment on Farmington Avenue in West Hartford to store the drug.
Between A…
CT Man Sentenced For Fraud, Identity Theft Offenses
A Connecticut man has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for fraud and identity theft offenses stemming from involvement in a scheme to use stolen identities to lease and purchase vehicles and motorcycles.
Hartford County resident, Jamie Pinto, age 45, of Manchester, was sentenced Wednesday, Oct. 27 to prison time followed by three years of supervised release, said Leonard C Boyle, acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut,
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in late 2017, Pinto, Domingo St. Hilaire Rosario, and another individual conspired …
Bridgeport Gang Member Pleads Guilty In Courthouse Shooting
A Fairfield County gang member pleaded guilty to racketeering offenses stemming from murder and other violent crimes.
Tyiese Warren, also known as “Loose Screw,” age 21, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty on Monday, Oct. 25 to the crimes he committed as a member of a Bridgeport gang, said Leonard C Boyle, acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Warren was busted during a wide-ranging investigation conducted by the FBI, ATF, DEA, US Marshals Service, and Bridgeport Police into multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder, and other acts o…
Man Sentenced For Trafficking Drugs To Connecticut
An out-of-state man has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for trafficking drugs into Connecticut.
Leonard C Boyle, acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Noe Castro, age 51, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced Wednesday, Oct. 20.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in late 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force and New Haven Police Department began investigating an organization that was responsible for trafficking kilogram-quantities of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine from Mexico and Arizona to the New Haven area.…
Former Fairfield County Resident Sentenced For Fraud, Identity Theft Offenses
A former Fairfield County resident has been sentenced to 65 months in prison for fraud and identity theft offenses related to a scheme leasing and purchasing vehicles and motorcycles.
Domingo St. Hilaire Rosario, age 57, formerly of Danbury, was sentenced on Wednesday, Oct. 20 in Hartford, said Leonard C Boyle, Acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in late 2017, Rosario, Jamie Pinto, and another individual conspired to use stolen identities to obtain vehicles and motorcycles at dealerships in Connecticut…
CT Duo Admits To Child Sex Trafficking
Two Connecticut men have pleaded guilty in federal court to offenses related to the sex trafficking of a minor.
Joel Lindsay, age 23, and Joseph Pina, age 24, both of East Hartford, made the plea on Friday, Oct. 15 in Hartford, said Leonard C Boyle, Acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2019, Lindsay and Pina recruited, enticed, and transported a minor victim to engage in commercial sex acts.
Specifically, in October 2019, Lindsay, Pina, and another individual picked up the minor victim and took her t…
CT Man Sentenced For Drug Distribution, Firearm Possession
A Connecticut man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses.
Kendall Jones, age 32, of Hartford, was sentenced on Tuesday, Sept. 28, after pleading guilty to the crimes in April, said Leonard C Boyle, acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in September and October 2020, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force, along with state and local law enforcement officers, conducted an operation in response to a recent spike in drug-related violenc…
CT Man Admits To Distributing Heroin, Cocaine
A Connecticut man has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine.
James Lee, age 24, of New Haven, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Sept. 29, according to Leonard C Boyle, Acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on Wednesday, March 13, New Haven Police approached Lee as he was sitting in a car at a gas station.
The car had fled from police on Monday, March 8. A search of Lee revealed $3,815 and a search of the car turned up another $3,443.
Officers then foun…
Connecticut Man Charged With Multiple Child Exploitation Offenses
A Connecticut man has been charged by federal authorities with multiple child exploitation offenses.
Hartford County resident Michael Ferro, age 35, of Avon, surrendered to law enforcement on Wednesday, Sept. 29, according to Leonard C Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
As alleged in the complaint, on Wednesday, August 18, Ferro, using the Kik social media application, began chatting in a Kik group with an FBI covert agent who was posing as a father of a 12-year-old girl.
After Ferro determined that the fictitious father was engaged in sexual activity with his “…
Bridgeport Man Sentenced After Selling Fentanyl Involved In Overdose Death
A Fairfield County man has been sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison for selling fentanyl to a man who later died from an overdose.
John Matthews, also known as “Jay” and “Gotti,” age 36, of Bridgeport, was sentenced on Thursday, Sept. 30 to prison time in addition to three years of supervised release, said Leonard C Boyle, Acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, a 35-year-old man in Trumbull died of a drug overdose.
The investigation revealed that Matthews sold the vict…
CT Felon Caught With '.38 Special,' Feds Say
A Connecticut man pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.
Allen Evans, age 35, of Hartford, made the plea on Tuesday, Sept. 21, in New Haven, said Leonard C Boyle, Acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2020, Hartford Police stopped a car in which Evans was a passenger. Evans was arrested after a search of his person revealed a loaded Taurus Model 85 “.38 Special” handgun, and a search of the vehicle revealed additional ammunition.
At the time of his arrest, Evans w…
