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$65M Ponzi Scheme: Former NY Hedge Fund Manager Admits To Lending Fraud $65M Ponzi Scheme: Former NY Hedge Fund Manager Admits To Lending Fraud
$65M Ponzi Scheme: Former NY Hedge Fund Manager Admits To Lending Fraud A former bond trader and hedge fund manager in New York could spend decades in federal prison for defrauding his friends and lending institutions out of over $65 million. Nassau County resident Jeffrey Parket, age 59, of Great Neck, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and bank fraud in federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday, Feb. 15. According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District, Parket swindled his victims out of millions of dollars between 2016 and December 2021 by lying about his financial condition and pledging fake collateral in order to obtain short-term loans. He claime…

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by Michael Mashburn
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8 NY Members Of Genovese, Bonanno Families Facing Charges, Including PD Detective, Feds Say 8 NY Members Of Genovese, Bonanno Families Facing Charges, Including PD Detective, Feds Say
8 NY Members Of Genovese, Bonanno Families Facing Charges, Including PD Detective, Feds Say Eight New York members of organized crime families, including six from Long Island, are among nine men who have been charged by federal authorities with racketeering and related offenses. The charging documents were unsealed on Tuesday, Aug. 16 in federal court in Brooklyn, naming the suspects, including a Nassau County police detective, from the Bonanno and Genovese organized crime families, said Breon Peace, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “Today’s arrests of members from two La Cosa Nostra crime families demonstrate that the Mafia continues to pollut…

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by Kathy Reakes
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Man Sentenced For Operating CT Drug Mill Man Sentenced For Operating CT Drug Mill
Man Sentenced For Operating CT Drug Mill A Connecticut man will spend more than a decade in federal prison after he admitted to running a drug mill out of his apartment. Hartford County resident Luis Ciuro, age 37, of East Hartford, was sentenced to 15 years behind bars Wednesday, Aug. 10, in federal court in Bridgeport. It follows his November 2020 guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Federal prosecutors said Ciuro was busted in October 2019, when Manchester Police were called about a woman yelling and displaying a gun outside of an apartment building on John Olds Drive …

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by Michael Mashburn
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CT Man Admits Role In Mail, Identity Theft, Bank Fraud Scheme CT Man Admits Role In Mail, Identity Theft, Bank Fraud Scheme
CT Man Admits Role In Mail, Identity Theft, Bank Fraud Scheme A Connecticut man with a lengthy criminal history admitted to his role in running an elaborate mail theft scheme that he and a co-conspirator used to steal the identities and personal information of dozens of people, federal authorities announced. New Haven resident Marquis Williams, age 45, pleaded guilty in Hartford federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud stemming from an investigation into the mail theft, identity theft, and bank fraud scheme. US Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery said that between 2018 and November 2019, Williams and his co-conspirator, New Haven resid…

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by Zak Failla
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Fairfield County Man Accused Of Sending Child Pornography On Kik Fairfield County Man Accused Of Sending Child Pornography On Kik
Fairfield County Man Accused Of Sending Child Pornography On Kik A Fairfield County man is accused of sending sexually explicit images of children using the instant messaging app Kik. Jake Flewellyn, age 24, of Norwalk, was hit with federal charges Thursday, May 12, accusing him of distributing child pornography, the US Attorney’s Office said. It came one day after he surrendered to police. Prosecutors said Flewellyn was busted in April 2022 after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) was tipped off that a Kik user was sending videos of child pornography through its service. That report came four months after Kik had deactivate…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Man Accused Of Calling In Bomb Threat To Yale New Haven Hospital Man Accused Of Calling In Bomb Threat To Yale New Haven Hospital
Man Accused Of Calling In Bomb Threat To Yale New Haven Hospital A man who police say threatened to bomb the Yale New Haven Hospital has been arrested. Alexander Bradley, age 42, of Cranston, Rhode Island, was taken into custody Thursday, April 28, on federal charges of conveying false information about explosives, according to the US Attorney’s Office. It came nearly a year after he allegedly called the hospital and told an employee he had placed a pressure cooker containing a bomb outside of the building, prosecutors said. Bradley initially called the Yale University Health Clinic and told a nurse that he had been denied care at the hospital and said…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
Here's Why Walmart Is Suing Competitor BJ's Wholesale For Theft Here's Why Walmart Is Suing Competitor BJ's Wholesale For Theft
Here's Why Walmart Is Suing Competitor BJ's Wholesale For Theft A battle is brewing between two of the country's largest big-box franchises. Walmart is suing rival BJ’s Wholesale Club claiming that the retail giant stole technology to launch a self-checkout feature similar to the ones used at the company’s subsidiary Sam's Club, which boasts nearly 600 locations in the US. Walmart alleges that the company worked for years to develop a “Scan & Go” feature that allowed Sam’s Club customers to ring up purchases on smartphones while shopping, eliminating the need for a long checkout line. The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court, alleges that inn…

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by Zak Failla
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CT Man Admits Defrauding His Grandparents Of $679K CT Man Admits Defrauding His Grandparents Of $679K
CT Man Admits Defrauding His Grandparents Of $679K A Connecticut man has pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing some $679,000 from his grandparents. Leonard Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Hartford County resident Douglas Senerth, age 32 of South Windsor, plead guilty to the fraud on Wednesday, Feb. 23. According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2011 and 2019, Senerth defrauded his grandmother and his late grandfather by falsely claiming to be a college student and inducing them to give him approximately $419,000 to pay for nonexistent college tuition and other related expenses…

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by Kathy Reakes
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CT Man Sentenced For Recording His Repeated Sexual Abuse Of Child CT Man Sentenced For Recording His Repeated Sexual Abuse Of Child
CT Man Sentenced For Recording His Repeated Sexual Abuse Of Child A Connecticut man was sentenced to decades in prison for photographing and video recording his sexual abuse of a child. New London County resident Travis Williams, age 34, of Norwich, was sentenced on Monday, Jan. 24, to 23 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release, according to Leonard Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. He pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of production of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography on Oct. 28, Boyle said. Williams engaged in sexual acts with a child who was about 9 years o…

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by Nicole Valinote
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Three NY Women Indicted For Assaulting Delta Airlines Security Officer At JFK Three NY Women Indicted For Assaulting Delta Airlines Security Officer At JFK
Three NY Women Indicted For Assaulting Delta Airlines Security Officer At JFK Three women from New York are facing charges for allegedly assaulting a security officer after refusing to leave a jetway at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, federal officials announced. Long Island residents Janessa Torres, age 21, Johanna Zavala, age 44, both of Central Islip, and Bay Shore resident Jordan Nixon, age 21, were charged in federal court for allegedly assaulting the officer and a second employee on Sept. 22, 2021. Prosecutors said that the three women refused to leave the jetway after they were informed that they would be denied boarding for a Delta Airlines s…

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by Zak Failla
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CT Resident Who Embezzled From Family Company Admits To Tax Evasion CT Resident Who Embezzled From Family Company Admits To Tax Evasion
CT Resident Who Embezzled From Family Company Admits To Tax Evasion A Connecticut man is facing prison time after admitting to embezzling from his family’s company over the course of several years, federal officials announced. New Haven County resident Matthew Blackwell, age 40, of Woodbridge, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty in federal court before US District Judge Sarah Merriam to one count of tax evasion. Acting US Attorney Leonard Boyle said that Blackwell was the Vice President of Operations at a family-owned food company based in the Town of Orange.  Between 2012 and 2016, Blackwell embezzled $927,143 from the company by crea…

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by Zak Failla
News
Fairfield County Man Known As 'Dutch' Admits To Distributing Heroin Fairfield County Man Known As 'Dutch' Admits To Distributing Heroin
Fairfield County Man Known As 'Dutch' Admits To Distributing Heroin A Fairfield County man has pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with intent to distribute in federal court. Kevin Lucas, aka "Dutch, age 61, of Bridgeport, made his plea on Tuesday, Sept. 21, said Leonard C Boyle, acting 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. A search of Lucas’ residence at the time of his arrest revealed additional distribution quant…

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by Kathy Reakes
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Fairfield County Drug Dealer Known As "Weezy' Sentenced For Distributing Heroin Fairfield County Drug Dealer Known As "Weezy' Sentenced For Distributing Heroin
Fairfield County Drug Dealer Known As "Weezy' Sentenced For Distributing Heroin A Fairfield County drug dealer who goes by the nickname “Weezy” will spend more than a decade being bars after found guilty by a federal grand jury of distributing heroin in Connecticut. Bridgeport resident Dewayne "Weezy" Joyner was sentenced to 180 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release after he was found guilty in New Haven federal court of possessing and distributing heroin in the area, U.S. Attorney John Durham announced. In the summer of 2017, members of the ATF, DEA, and Bridgeport Police Department, who were investigating narcotics trafficking in Bridgeport’s…

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by Zak Failla
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Man Sentenced For Role In Fairfield County Drug Ring Man Sentenced For Role In Fairfield County Drug Ring
Man Sentenced For Role In Fairfield County Drug Ring A Fairfield County man will spend two years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking organization in southern Connecticut. Norwalk resident Donald Lawlor, 40, was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 24 months in prison, followed by a year of supervised release after pleading guilty last year to one count of use of a telephone to facilitate a narcotics trafficking offense. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that in the summer of 2017, members of the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and Bridgeport Police Department began investigating suspects who were distributing narcotics in and…

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by Zak Failla
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Man Charged With Distributing Fentanyl Throughout Fairfield County Man Charged With Distributing Fentanyl Throughout Fairfield County
Man Charged With Distributing Fentanyl Throughout Fairfield County An alleged “large-scale distributor of fentanyl” in Fairfield County is facing federal drug charges after being busted by undercover investigators in Connecticut, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. Anthony Figueroa-Gonzalez, 27, of Bridgeport, has been charged by a federal grand jury in New Haven for distributing fentanyl throughout Fairfield County. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that in August last year, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force identified Figueroa-Gonzalez as a large-scale distributor of fentanyl.  On Sept.…

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by Zak Failla
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CT Man Charged With Threatening To Kill Congressman CT Man Charged With Threatening To Kill Congressman
CT Man Charged With Threatening To Kill Congressman A Connecticut man is facing federal charges for allegedly threatening to murder California Congressman Adam Schiff with his bare hands. Robert Phelps, 62, of Torrington, was arrested and charged in federal court with one count of threatening to assault and murder a U.S. official, U.S. Attorney John Durham announced. He was taken into custody on Friday, March 13, and charged on Monday, March 16. It is alleged that on Nov. 12, last year, the office of U.S. Representative Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who headed the House's team in impeachment proceedings of Pre…

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by Zak Failla
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Registered Sex Offender From Stamford Sentenced For Child Pornography Offense Registered Sex Offender From Stamford Sentenced For Child Pornography Offense
Registered Sex Offender From Stamford Sentenced For Child Pornography Offense A registered sex offender from Stamford will spend more than a decade in prison after admitting to possessing dozens of videos and images of child pornography, including many of which include children under the age of 12. Brien Pennell, 31, who was previously convicted of having sexual contact with a teenage girl, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty last year in Hartford federal court to one count of receipt of child pornography following his arrest on March 20, 2018. Pennell was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release for using the Internet to download and vi…

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by Zak Failla
News
Man, 21, Sentenced To Federal Prison For Role In Violent CT Street Gang Man, 21, Sentenced To Federal Prison For Role In Violent CT Street Gang
Man, 21, Sentenced To Federal Prison For Role In Violent CT Street Gang A 21-year-old member of the Goodrich Street Boys gang in Connecticut will spend more than a decade behind bars for his role in violent gang activities. Milton Westley, aka “Reese,” 21, of New Haven, was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 156 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy and racketeering charges. Local and federal investigators began investigating unsolved shootings that had occurred in New Haven and Hamden in 2016. Ballistic examination of recovered cartridge cases determined that three weapons were used in 18 shoo…

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by Zak Failla
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Bridgeport Convicted Felon Recruited Man To Purchase Firearms, Feds Say Bridgeport Convicted Felon Recruited Man To Purchase Firearms, Feds Say
Bridgeport Convicted Felon Recruited Man To Purchase Firearms, Feds Say A man with multiple felony convictions is facing more jail time after enlisting a Connecticut man to purchase guns for him. Jamar “JT” Smith, 37, of Bridgeport, and John Flannery III, 29, of East Hartford have been charged in federal court to various offenses related to the illegal purchase of firearms. U.S. Attorney John Durham noted that Smith is a convicted felon who is prohibited from purchasing or possessing guns or ammunition. It is alleged that in March, Smith had Flannery purchase weapons for him and his associates. On three occasions, Flannery purchased semiautomatic pistols in Br…

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by Zak Failla
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CT Woman Admits Role In Counterfeit Check Bank Fraud Scheme CT Woman Admits Role In Counterfeit Check Bank Fraud Scheme
CT Woman Admits Role In Counterfeit Check Bank Fraud Scheme A Connecticut woman is facing up to 30 years in prison after admitting to her role in a counterfeit check bank fraud scheme. Lilibeth Perez, 20, of New Britain, pleaded guilty this week in Hartford federal court to a conspiracy charge related to her role in the scam. Perez admitted that between December 2017 and December 2018, she and others obtained access to bank accounts in the name of other individuals, deposited counterfeit checks into those accounts, and withdrew money from the accounts before the banks discovered the checks to be counterfeit.  U.S. Attorney John Durham said th…

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by Zak Failla
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Former NYC Resident Accused Of Being High-Ranking ISIS Member Former NYC Resident Accused Of Being High-Ranking ISIS Member
Former NYC Resident Accused Of Being High-Ranking ISIS Member A naturalized American citizen who lived in New York City allegedly traveled to Syria and became a sniper and weapons instructor for ISIS is facing federal charges for supporting the terrorist organization. Ruslan Maratovich Asainov, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Kazakhstan was charged in Brooklyn federal court for allegedly providing and attempting to provide material support, including training, services, and personnel, to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham. Asainov, 42, who resided in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, traveled to Istanbul, Turkey in December 2013, which is a common transit po…

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by Zak Failla
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Syrian National Admits To Federal Stalking Offense In Connecticut Syrian National Admits To Federal Stalking Offense In Connecticut
Syrian National Admits To Federal Stalking Offense In Connecticut A Syrian national living in Connecticut has admitted to harassing, threatening and intimidating his wife amid divorce proceedings while he was detained by ICE. Alaa Hasan Qalb Allouz, a citizen of Syria last known to live in New Haven, pleaded guilty in New Haven federal court to one count of stalking in violation of a protective order. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that in July 2016, Allouz, his wife and children emigrated from Syria and settled in New Haven. In April the following year, Allouz’s wife filed a petition for a dissolution of marriage following several domestic violence incid…

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by Zak Failla
News
Man Sentenced For Stealing Bitcoins In Dark Web Phishing Scheme Man Sentenced For Stealing Bitcoins In Dark Web Phishing Scheme
Man Sentenced For Stealing Bitcoins In Dark Web Phishing Scheme An area man will spend time behind bars for fraud and money laundering offenses in connection to a scheme to steal bitcoins in an online phishing scam. Michael Richo, of New Haven, and formerly of Wallingford, has been sentenced in Hartford federal court to a term of 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of access device fraud and one count of money laundering. Richo admitted to engaging in an online phishing scheme to steal bitcoins from people on the dark web, U.S. Attorney John Durham announced. Richo carried out…

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by Zak Failla
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Greenwich Man Who Owned Norwalk Business Admits To $300K Investment Fraud Scheme Greenwich Man Who Owned Norwalk Business Admits To $300K Investment Fraud Scheme
Greenwich Man Who Owned Norwalk Business Admits To $300K Investment Fraud Scheme A local man has admitted to his role in scamming an acquaintance out of nearly $300,000 by offering a non-existent business proposal, then taking and using the provided funds for personal expenses. Greenwich resident Leonid “Lenny” Pollak, 58, has pleaded guilty in federal court in New Haven to one count of wire fraud related to an investment fraud scheme and one count of illegal monetary transactions, John Durham, the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced this week. Pollak owned a Norwalk-based company that organized trade shows and expositions throughout t…

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by Zak Failla
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Man Charged With Possessing Stolen Firearms Man Charged With Possessing Stolen Firearms
Man Charged With Possessing Stolen Firearms A Connecticut man already in custody on a state prison sentence is facing more time behind bars for allegedly being busted with illegal, potentially stolen handguns. A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging New Haven resident Abdurrahman Akhdar, 26, with one count of possession of a stolen firearm dating back to an incident in 2015. The indictment alleges that on Nov. 30, 2015, Akhdar illegally possessed, stored and disposed of a Smith & Wesson .380 caliber pistol and a Colt .45 caliber pistol, both of which had traveled in interstate commerce.  The indictment furth…

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by Zak Failla
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Norwalk Man Admits To Distributing Heroin Norwalk Man Admits To Distributing Heroin
Norwalk Man Admits To Distributing Heroin A convict who already served time behind bars for dealing crack cocaine has admitted to distributing heroin in Fairfield County and may face life in prison. Norwalk resident Joseph “Sean” Daniels, 36, pleaded guilty in New Haven district court to one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin following his arrest last year. Daniels was arrested on May 15 last year by police in Norwalk after officers made several controlled purchased of narcotics off him. On the day of his arrest, investigators seized approximately 190 grams of heroin, other drugs, paraphernali…

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by Zak Failla
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Man Admits To Pointing Gun At Undercover Officers Man Admits To Pointing Gun At Undercover Officers
Man Admits To Pointing Gun At Undercover Officers A convict in Connecticut has admitted to a federal weapons charge and is facing another decade behind bars after threatening undercover police officers investigating drug activities in the area. Hartford resident Enrique Luciano, 31, has pleaded guilty in Bridgeport federal court to one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, dated back to an incident earlier this year in Hartford. On June 4, Luciano approached a car on Cabot Street in Hartford, pointing a gun at the two occupants of the vehicle, who were undercover Hartford Police detectives investigating drug…

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by Zak Failla
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Man Sentenced For Multimillion Dollar Stranger-Originated Life Insurance Scheme Man Sentenced For Multimillion Dollar Stranger-Originated Life Insurance Scheme
Man Sentenced For Multimillion Dollar Stranger-Originated Life Insurance Scheme A Connecticut man is headed to prison after being found guilty of defrauding insurance companies into taking on policies on the lives of elderly people for his own financial benefits. Daniel Carpenter, of Simsbury, was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release after he was found guilty of 57 counts of conspiracy, mail and wire fraud.  He was also found guilty of money laundering and illegal monetary transaction offenses stemming from the scheme, also known as a stranger-oriented life insurance scheme. Carpenter, 64. contr…

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by Zak Failla
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Bridgeport Man Pleads Guilty In Connection With Stratford Woman's OD Death Bridgeport Man Pleads Guilty In Connection With Stratford Woman's OD Death
Bridgeport Man Pleads Guilty In Connection With Stratford Woman's OD Death A local drug dealer has admitted to distributing the heroin that led to the death of a 25-year-old woman who overdosed in Stratford. Talvin Hinton, 42, of Bridgeport, has pleaded guilty in Bridgeport federal court to one count of distributing heroin for his role in selling drugs that led to a fatal overdose. On Sept. 23 last year, paramedics and members from the Stratford Police Department responded to a reported overdose of the 25-year-old at a local home. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Officers collected nine bags of suspected heroin and other evid…

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by Zak Failla
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Five Connected With Connecticut Energy Cooperative Charged With Misusing Funds Five Connected With Connecticut Energy Cooperative Charged With Misusing Funds
Five Connected With Connecticut Energy Cooperative Charged With Misusing Funds Five people connected with a southeastern Connecticut energy cooperate are facing charges for allegedly misappropriating millions of federal funds to live lavish lifestyles. Two indictments were returned in New Haven federal court charging five people connected to the Connecticut Municipal Energy Corporation (CMEEC). According to U.S. Attorney John Durham, between 2010 and 2015, CMEEC received more than $9 million from the U.S. Department of Energy. Those charged with misappropriating funds include: Drew Rankin, 57, of Columbia, who was the CEO of CMEEC; James Sullivan, 52, of Norwich, wh…

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by Zak Failla
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Man Admits To Trafficking Meth, Preparing False Tax Returns Man Admits To Trafficking Meth, Preparing False Tax Returns
Man Admits To Trafficking Meth, Preparing False Tax Returns A convict in Connecticut is facing more time behind bars after admitting to drug trafficking and tax offenses in court. Middletown resident Eugene Carlin pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns.  An investigation into Carlin led to two controlled purchases of methamphetamine by law enforcement officials. It was later discovered that, for more than a year, Carlin worked with others to distribute the drug in the area. Further inve…

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by Zak Failla