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Fairfield County Nursing Home Operator Admits To Embezzlement, Tax Offenses Fairfield County Nursing Home Operator Admits To Embezzlement, Tax Offenses
Fairfield County Nursing Home Operator Admits To Embezzlement, Tax Offenses A former nursing home operator in Fairfield County admitted to embezzlement and multiple tax offenses as part of a multi-million-dollar scheme. Chaim Stern, 71, of Flushing, pleaded guilty in Bridgeport federal court to embezzlement and tax offenses related to his operation of nursing homes in Bridgeport and Waterbury. Stern was the principal operator of the Bridgeport Health Care Center (BHCC), Bridgeport Manor, and the Rosegarden Health and Rehabilitation Center LLC in Waterbury, which were privately owned nursing and rehabilitation facilities.  Between 2011 and 2018, Stern stole a…

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by Zak Failla
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Danbury Man Charged In $1.1 Million Embezzlement Scheme Danbury Man Charged In $1.1 Million Embezzlement Scheme
Danbury Man Charged In $1.1 Million Embezzlement Scheme A longtime employee of a Connecticut printing company from Fairfield County is facing charges for a $1.1 million embezzlement scheme that he ran for the better part of a decade. Danbury resident Anthony Teixeira, an employee of Hartford-based Joseph Merritt & Company (JMC), was charged in a 10-count indictment for wire fraud offenses related to his embezzlement scheme. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury in New Haven on Wednesday, Dec. 11, and he was arrested the following day. Teixeira was indicted on Friday, Dec. 13. It is alleged that Teixeira, who has worked at the …

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by Zak Failla
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Ex-CEO From Area Sentenced For Embezzling $1.5 Million Ex-CEO From Area Sentenced For Embezzling $1.5 Million
Ex-ceo From Area Sentenced For Embezzling $1.5 Million A Hudson Valley man who embezzled $1.5 million from a nonprofit organization he helped found in Connecticut is going to spend more than a year in prison. Paul Gileno, 47, of Brewster, the founder and CEO of the United States Pain Foundation, was sentenced in Bridgeport district court to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for embezzlement and failing to pay federal income taxes. Gileno operated the Middletown, Connecticut-based nonprofit organization, which was designed to find support and resources for individuals with pain issues.  Between …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
CT Woman Admits Embezzling $370K From Employer CT Woman Admits Embezzling $370K From Employer
CT Woman Admits Embezzling $370K From Employer A woman in Connecticut is facing decades behind bars after admitting to embezzling $370,000 while working as a bookkeeper for a medical supply company. Southington resident Lydia Cabrera, 36, pleaded guilty in New Haven federal court to one count of bank fraud related to a two-year embezzlement scheme, while she was employed by A2Z Home Medical Supplies, where she misappropriated the funds for personal use. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that while working as a bookkeeper for the company, Cabrera was given access to A2Z’s online merchant payment system. The indictment alleged that betw…

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by Zak Failla
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Former New Haven City Employee Sentenced To Federal Prison For Embezzling $100K Former New Haven City Employee Sentenced To Federal Prison For Embezzling $100K
Former New Haven City Employee Sentenced To Federal Prison For Embezzling $100K A former City of New Haven employee will spend time behind bars for embezzling $100,000. Hamden resident Daniel Lion, 65, was sentenced to nine months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for embezzling more than $100,000 from the City of New Haven. Lion was also fined $7,500 and ordered to perform 300 hours of community service during his three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney John Durham noted that New Haven had a policy where employees can be paid in advance if they are about to take approved vacation leave. Lion, who worked for the city in the accounting de…

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by Zak Failla
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Woman Who Embezzled More Than $130K From Fairfield County Company Sentenced Woman Who Embezzled More Than $130K From Fairfield County Company Sentenced
Woman Who Embezzled More Than $130K From Fairfield County Company Sentenced A former accounting manager at a Fairfield County company will spend time behind bars after admitting to embezzling more than $130,000 from her employer. Susanna Kurus was sentenced in Hartford district court to 30 days in prison, followed by 60 days of home confinement after pleading guilty to wire fraud in March. In addition to her prison time and home confinement, Kurus will serve two years of supervised release and was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. She must also pay $133,870,55 in restitution to her former employer. Kurus 43, who now lives in Garner, North Carolina…

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by Zak Failla
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CT Woman Charged With Embezzlement, Fraud, ID Theft CT Woman Charged With Embezzlement, Fraud, ID Theft
CT Woman Charged With Embezzlement, Fraud, ID Theft A 34-year-old woman was arrested on multiple counts of alleged embezzlement and fraud targeting seniors living in Bridgeport nursing and rehabilitation centers. Melissa Meole, of North Branford, was arrested Tuesday, Sept. 17, on a federal criminal complaint charging her with embezzlement, fraud, and identity theft, said John H. Durham, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to the criminal complaint, Meole was employed by Bridgeport Health Care Center Inc., that operates a nursing and rehabilitation facility in Bridgeport known as Bridgeport Health Care Center.  Pri…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Ex-Employee Accused Of Using Company Credit Card To Make Personal Purchases, Westport PD Says Ex-Employee Accused Of Using Company Credit Card To Make Personal Purchases, Westport PD Says
Ex-Employee Accused Of Using Company Credit Card To Make Personal Purchases, Westport PD Says A former employee is facing multiple charges for allegedly buying personal items with a company credit card, said Westport Police. Police began an investigation on Wednesday, March 6 into Jaiman Shah based on a complaint made by his former employer that he allegedly used American Express points from a company credit card to make over $16,500 in personal purchases, according to the Westport Police Department. That investigation reportedly resulted in an arrest warrant being drafted and granted for Shah in which he was charged with second-degree larceny, credit card theft, and receipt of good…

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by Donna Christopher
News
Man Admits To Embezzling Funds In Connecticut Man Admits To Embezzling Funds In Connecticut
Man Admits To Embezzling Funds In Connecticut A former union leader in Connecticut has admitted to embezzling more than $37,000 while serving as its secretary and treasurer. Thomas Popillo, 61, pleaded guilty in Hartford district court this week to one count of embezzlement and theft of union funds while serving as the president of the Communications Workers of America Local 81266. From 2003 through 2017, Popillo was the president of the union, and from 2003 until 2015 he was the secretary-treasurer. While serving the union, Popillo embezzled $37,568.68 of labor union funds by receiving unauthorized checks from CWA 81266’s bank account…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Former Wilton HS Booster Club President Charged In $20K Embezzlement Scheme, Police Say Former Wilton HS Booster Club President Charged In $20K Embezzlement Scheme, Police Say
Former Wilton HS Booster Club President Charged In $20K Embezzlement Scheme, Police Say The former president of Wilton High School’s Booster Club has been arrested after his alleged involvement in an embezzlement scheme, according to police. Brian F. Colburn, 50, of Wilton was arrested on Friday, Aug. 9 after an investigation by Wilton Police showed that he was connected to the scheme that netted more than $20,000. Wilton Police say they received a complaint from the Wilton High School football program and others affiliated with the Boosters in May 2019. The parties shared their suspicion regarding the organization’s finances, according to police. Colburn became the president…

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by Valerie Musson
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Stamford Woman Sentenced For Embezzling More Than $1M From Employer Stamford Woman Sentenced For Embezzling More Than $1M From Employer
Stamford Woman Sentenced For Embezzling More Than $1M From Employer A Fairfield County woman will spend more than a year behind bars for her role in a scheme that saw her embezzle more than a million dollars from a former employer. Stamford resident Candace Rispoli, 32, was sentenced in Bridgeport district court to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for embezzling $1,098,176 from Lodestone Management Consultants. The first six months of Rispoli’s supervised release will be served in home confinement and she has also agreed to pay full restitution after pleading guilty to wire fraud in June last year. U.S. Attorn…

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by Zak Failla
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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