Woman Admits ATM Skimming Activity That Victimized CT Banks Woman Admits ATM Skimming Activity That Victimized CT Banks
Woman Admits ATM Skimming Activity That Victimized CT Banks A 61-year-old woman has admitted in federal court to her role in skimming from ATM machines in Connecticut and other states. Cleveland resident Maya Florina Luzia DeSteffano, also known as Maya-Luisa Pastorella or “Maria” pleaded guilty in Hartford federal court to conspiracy and identity theft charges stemming from ATM skimming activity that defrauded banks. Between February and June in 2017, a bank in Connecticut reported 35 incidents of ATM skimming incidents in Stratford, Monroe, Trumbull, Greenwich, Fairfield and elsewhere in Connecticut. U.S Attorney John Durham said that as part of…
Drug Distributor From Fairfield County Sentenced To Six Years In Federal Prison Drug Distributor From Fairfield County Sentenced To Six Years In Federal Prison
Drug Distributor From Fairfield County Sentenced To Six Years In Federal Prison A convicted felon in Connecticut is heading back behind bars after being sentenced for distributing synthetic drugs. Michael Young, 48, of Bridgeport, has been sentenced to six years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after admitting to importing, manufacturing and distributing synthetic cannabinoids. In August last year, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service identified a suspicious package that was shipped from a California business that marketed and sold herbal products for smoking to Young’s Bridgeport residence. A search of the package revealed a leafy plant-like su…
Trumbull Man Sentenced For Illegally Removing Asbestos Trumbull Man Sentenced For Illegally Removing Asbestos
Trumbull Man Sentenced For Illegally Removing Asbestos A property owner who illegally removed asbestos from a Connecticut will avoid prison time after being sentenced in New Haven federal court. Aleks Rakaj, 46, of Trumbull, was sentenced to a term of one-year probation and fined $9,500 after pleading guilty in May to one count of illegal asbestos removal in violation of the Clean Air Act. Rakaj and his two cousins purchased a commercial property at 206-220 Wallace St. in New Haven, U.S. Attorney John Durham said. Before purchasing the property, the trio was informed that the property contained asbestos. Shortly after purchasing the property, …
Mexican Nationals Sentenced For Drug Ring Involving Westchester, Fairfield Counties Mexican Nationals Sentenced For Drug Ring Involving Westchester, Fairfield Counties
Mexican Nationals Sentenced For Drug Ring Involving Westchester, Fairfield Counties A pair of Mexican nationals living in Fairfield County illegally have been sentenced in Bridgeport federal court for their roles in a drug trafficking operation that brought cocaine and methamphetamine to and from New York and Connecticut. Jaime Lopez, 37, and his brother, Rafael Lopez-Macias, 46, both citizens of Mexico last known to be living in Norwalk who were involved in drug trafficking have been sentenced in Bridgeport federal court, U.S. Attorney John Durham announced. Lopez-Macias received a term of 120 months in prison after pleading guilty in March to one count of possession wit…
Fentanyl Sales Rep Avoids Prison In Kickback Scheme Fentanyl Sales Rep Avoids Prison In Kickback Scheme
Fentanyl Sales Rep Avoids Prison In Kickback Scheme A 35-year-old woman avoided prison time for her role in an elaborate kickback scheme involving fentanyl spray prescriptions that were distributed in Connecticut. Natalie Levine of Scottsdale, Arizona, was sentenced in federal court in New Haven to five years probation for engaging in the kickback scheme, U.S. Attorney John Durham announced. She was also ordered to spend the first six months in home confinement and will perform 150 hours of community service after pleading guilty to violating the anti-kickback law. Levine was employed by Arizona-based Insys Therapeutics, a company that manu…
Bridgeport Man Sentenced For Heroin Distribution Bridgeport Man Sentenced For Heroin Distribution
Bridgeport Man Sentenced For Heroin Distribution A convicted felon from Fairfield County will spend more time behind bars after being busted with an illegal stolen handgun, heroin and drug paraphernalia. Ismael Mangual, 43, of Bridgeport, was sentenced in New Haven federal court to a term of 137 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, and one count of possession a firearm in furtherance of a narcotics trafficking offense in March. On Aug. 31, 2017, police in Milford stopped Mangual while he was driving on an area…
Danbury Sports Facility Reaches Settlement With US Attorney's Office Danbury Sports Facility Reaches Settlement With US Attorney's Office
Danbury Sports Facility Reaches Settlement With US Attorney's Office A sports facility in Fairfield County has reached an agreement with the U.S. District Attorney’s Office to resolve allegations that it failed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. U.S. Attorney John Durham announced that the settlement resolves a complaint that was filed by the parents of a child with “severe food allergies” that alleged the Danbury Sports Dome refused to admit the child into a summer camp program due to said allergies. Under the terms of the settlement, the Danbury Sports Dome “will implement new nondiscriminatory policies, practices, and procedures r…
14 Charged With Trafficking Heroin, Cocaine, Fentanyl In CT 14 Charged With Trafficking Heroin, Cocaine, Fentanyl In CT
14 Charged With Trafficking Heroin, Cocaine, Fentanyl In CT Fourteen people have been indicted on charges that allege they trafficked heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl as part of an elaborate scheme in Connecticut. U.S. Attorney John Durham announced the unsealing of an eight-count indictment in New Haven federal court on Tuesday, June 11, that charges the 14 alleged co-conspirators for their role in purchasing the drugs from sources in Connecticut and New Jersey and distributing them in New Haven. The charges come on the heels of an investigation launched by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and New Haven Police Department. Those…
CT Investment Adviser Found Guilty Of $1.5M Ponzi-Like Fraud Scene CT Investment Adviser Found Guilty Of $1.5M Ponzi-Like Fraud Scene
CT Investment Adviser Found Guilty Of $1.5M Ponzi-Like Fraud Scene A Connecticut jury has found a former investment adviser guilty on all counts of a 21-count indictment accusing him of running a Ponzi-like scheme to the tune of $1.5 million. Leon Vaccarelli, 42, has been found guilty in New Haven district court of numerous fraud and money laundering charges stemming from an elaborate investment scheme that saw him defraud more than a dozen victim investors. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that Vaccarelli, of Waterbury, was a registered representative of The Investment Center, and was an investment adviser with IC Advisory Services, Inc. He also was the own…
Twice-Deported Man Sentenced For Illegally Reentering US Twice-Deported Man Sentenced For Illegally Reentering US
Twice-Deported Man Sentenced For Illegally Reentering US A man already deported out of the country twice will spend nearly two years behind bars after admitting to illegally entering the United States. Hector Ovidio Diaz Garrido, a citizen of Guatemala last known to live in Norwalk, has been sentenced in Bridgeport district court to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to reentry of a removed alien. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that Diaz Garrido, 41, who has never had legal status in the country, was deported from the U.S. to Guatemala in June 2011 following a March 2010 conviction for assaulting a police officer. In April 2012, Diaz Garr…
Romanian National Sentenced For Role In CT Home Invasion, Fake Virus Threat Romanian National Sentenced For Role In CT Home Invasion, Fake Virus Threat
Romanian National Sentenced For Role In CT Home Invasion, Fake Virus Threat A Romanian national has been sentenced for his role in a Connecticut home invasion that mirrored the script of a Hollywood film. Alexandru Lucian Nicolescu has been sentenced to 121 months in prison for his role in a 2007 home invasion in South Kent, U.S. Attorney John Durham announced this week. Nicolescu pleaded guilty to one count of attempted extortion and one count of conspiracy to commit extortion. Shortly before midnight on April 15, 2007, Nicolescu, Emmanuel Nicolescu - who are not related - and a third man brandished masks, knives and guns and broke into the South Kent home. The th…
Barr Assigns US Attorney In Connecticut To Review Origins Of Russia Inquiry Barr Assigns US Attorney In Connecticut To Review Origins Of Russia Inquiry
Barr Assigns US Attorney In Connecticut To Review Origins Of Russia Inquiry United States Attorney General William Barr has appointed John Durham, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, to review the origins of the Russia investigation into interference in the 2016 presidential election and the FBI’s surveillance activities. Durham has been assigned to conduct the inquiry into allegations of misconduct and improper surveillance of President Donald Trump’s campaign during the 2016 election. The concerns were first raised in congressional testimony following the release of Robert Mueller’s report on the Russia probe. "I am not saying that improper survei…