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Ex-Bridgeport Councilman Gets 3 Weekends In Prison, Fine In Election Fraud Case: Feds
A former Bridgeport City Council member has been sentenced to three weekends in prison for a civil rights offense stemming from election fraud during his run for office, federal authorities said.
Michael DeFilippo, 38, received one year of probation, three weekends of incarceration, and a $15,000 fine, the US Attorney Connecticut said.
The charges relate to DeFilippo's campaign for the 133rd District in 2017 and 2018. According to court records, DeFilippo manipulated elections by stealing and falsifying voter registration applications and absentee ballots, forging signatures, an…
Meriden Man, 77, Admits Sexual Assault Of Minors, Receives Years Behind Bars
A Connecticut man was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual assault of a minor.
New Haven County resident Robert Bendel, age 77, of Meriden, was sentenced Wednesday, Jan. 10, by Judge Thomas O'Keefe to eight years in prison followed by 10 years of probation.
In addition, Bendel is required to register as a sex offender, maintain no contact with minors, and obey two standing criminal protective orders.
There were two victims in this case, one was under 10 when these incidents occurred and the other was under 16, Meriden Police said.
O'…
CT Woman Admits To Child Porn Possession: Has Previous Sexual Assault Conviction, Feds Say
A Connecticut woman who has already been convicted of sexually assaulting a minor faces at least a decade in prison after admitting to possessing child pornography, officials announced.
Former New London County resident Sheldon Thomson, age 35, who last resided in Norwich, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on Tuesday, Oct. 31, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced.
According to federal officials, Thomson, who now identifies as female, had been on probation following her 2007 conviction of first-degree sexual assault involvin…
Double-Fatal DUI Crash: 22-Year-Old From Stamford Admits To Manslaughter
A Fairfield County man who was 18 years old at the time of a double DUI fatal crash in 2019, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and other charges
Stamford resident Jerry Diaz, who is now age 22, pleaded guilty on Thursday, April 6, under a plea agreement to two counts of manslaughter, two counts of assault with a vehicle, DUI, and other charges.
During the Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, crash, Diaz was speeding at more than 90 mph and had a blood alcohol level six times above the legal limit for a driver under 21, when he slammed into two utility poles, killing two of his friends, said Sgt. Jeffre…
25-Year-Old Who Lied About Identity Charged In Wilton Road Rage Incident, Police Say
A Fairfield County man has been charged in an alleged road rage incident in which he lied to police about his identity because he was on probation, authorities said.
The incident took place in Wilton around 9:45 a.m., on Wednesday, Jan. 4.
According to Wilton Police Lt. Gregg Phillipson, officers responded to a report of two motorists fighting.
The two men, Jose A. Castro-Berrios, age 50, of Bridgeport, who was driving a 2016 Dodge Ram, and Jerry Ramos, age 25, of Bridgeport, who was driving a 2018 Toyota Camry, were pulled over in the parking lot of Glengate on Danbury Road, Phillipson sa…
New Haven Man Sentenced To Prison For 2019 Sexual Assault
A Connecticut man was sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting a 63-year-old woman whose home he was working on.
Carlos Mejia, age 38, of New Haven, was sentenced on Tuesday, Dec. 13, to 15 years in prison followed by 11 years of probation for the July 2019 attack, said John Doyle, Jr., New Haven State’s Attorney.
Mejia was found guilty by a jury in October of sexual assault, the CT Attorney's Office said.
According to trial testimony, the victim, who was 63 at the time, disclosed that her apartment had failed inspection and that the landlord had hired contractors to repair damage withi…
Mother, Daughter From CT Sentenced For Roles At Jan. 6 Capitol Attack
A mother and daughter from Connecticut who admitted to their roles in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the US Capitol building will avoid prison time after being sentenced.
Windham County residents Carla Krzywicki, age 20, and her mother Jean Lavin, age 57, both of Canterbury, were arrested in September last year on a criminal complaint issued by the US District Court for the District of Columbia.
Original story - Mother, Daughter From Connecticut Charged For Participating In Capitol Riot
In January, both pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating, or picketing in the US Capitol building.
Ca…
Man Accused Of Choking, Assaulting Woman At Fairfield County Train Station, Police Say
DNA from a cigarette has led to the arrest of a Fairfield County man for allegedly robbing and attempting to sexually assault a woman at an area train station.
Ivan Burgos, age 36, of Bridgeport, was arrested Saturday, Feb. 5, for the incident which took place on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.
According to MTA police, the New York woman had taken a train to visit friends in Bridgeport. While waiting for a return train later that night at the station, she went outside to have a cigarette.
As she was walking back inside the station stairwell, she was grabbed by the neck and thrown on the floor by…
Ex-emt From Fairfield County Sentenced For Crash That Killed Woman
A Fairfield County man who hit and killed a woman walking her dog before fleeing has been sentenced to prison.
Declan Kot, age 24, of Easton, Nov. 10 was sentenced to 20 years, suspended after serving seven years. Five years of probation will follow that, along with 500 hours of community service, according to the Bridgeport Superior Court.
During the first three years of his probation, Kot will be also be required to install an ignition interlock device in his car and undergo substance abuse evaluations.
Marileidy Morel-Araujo, age 32, of Pennsylvania, was hit and killed while visit…
Suspect In Fairfield County Shooting Apprehended
A Fairfield County man wanted for a shooting in March was taken into custody by US Marshals with the help of local agencies.
Eugene McKnight, age 37, was arrested on a warrant around 5:30 a.m., Thursday, May 27, in Norwalk nabbed by the Marshals, along with the Norwalk Police Department, the Bridgeport Police, and the Connecticut Department of Probation.
The warrant for McKnight’s arrest stemmed from a shooting that occurred in Bridgeport on Saturday, March 20, said Sgt. Sofia Gulino of the Norwalk Police.
McKnight has a pending 2017 case out of West Haven in which he was charged…
CT Man Admits To Stealing 17 Firearms From Gun Shop
A Connecticut man was charged and agreed to plead guilty to a variety of charges in connection with stealing 17 firearms from a Western Mass gun shop and making false statements to federal agents.
Christian Castro, age 31, of New Britain, Connecticut, was charged and agreed to plead guilty on Tuesday, May 4, for the thefts from a West Springfield, Massachusetts gunshop, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell.
In September 2020, Castro was charged with a criminal complaint with co-defendant Fernando Rivera, who is scheduled to plead guilty on Wednesday, May 5.
According to …
CT Meat Supplier Sentenced For Fabricating E. Coli Test Results
A Connecticut meat supplier has been sentenced to two years of probation for fabricating E. coli test results at his meat processing business
Matt Beqiri, 33, of Tolland, was sentenced on Tuesday, Nov. 24, and ordered to pay a $15,000 fine, said John H. Durham, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Beqiri is the owner and general manager of New England Meat Packing, located in Stafford Springs, a federally inspected business engaged in the slaughtering, processing, selling, and transporting of meat and meat food products fo…
Convicted Rapist Who Lived In CT Failed To Register As Sex Offender, Feds Say
A convicted rapist who was illegally living in Connecticut waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty in Fairfield County for failing to register as a sex offender.
Lester B. Joy, 40, formerly of Waterbury, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to failing to register as a sex offender, said John H. Durham, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2002, Joy was convicted in the State of New Jersey of sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and theft.
For those offenses, he was sentenced …
Stamford Teen, Two Minors Caught Hiding After Stealing From Vehicles In New Canaan, Police Say
Three teenagers attempted to hide from investigators in Fairfield County after being busted stealing from parked vehicles, police said.
Officers from the New Canaan Police Department responded to the intersection of Richmond Hill Road and Weed Street at approximately 11 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, where there were reports of suspects rummaging through parked vehicles.
Police said that officers located the first suspect, Stamford resident Kaymani Robinson, 19, hiding under a parked car in an Ash Tree Lane driveway.
Robinson, who is on probation, was taken into custody without incident…
Man Strangles Kitten To Death During Bridgeport Domestic Incident, Police Said
A Bridgeport man is on the run after allegedly strangling an 8-week-old kitten to death during a domestic incident with his girlfriend.
The kitten was killed around 12:45 a.m., Friday, July 12, when Charles Brookins, age unknown, arrived home on Spring Street in Bridgeport, intoxicated, and assaulted the woman and strangled the kitten to death, said Terron Jones, spokesman for the Bridgeport Police Department.
When police arrived on the scene, Brookins had already fled from the home, Jones said.
The victim told police that she and Brookins had a verbal fight that escalated into a physical …
