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It appears that the Stamford man arrested on charges of torturing young men in Westchester County also approached people in Connecticut, police say. Westchester County Police Department detectives have located several people in the Bridgeport and New Haven areas who say they were approached by Lawrence Bottone.
These persons did not agree to participate in Mr. Bottones bogus training program, Westchesters Public Safety Commissioner George N. Longworth said in a statement. However, the fact that he was approaching people in Connecticut leads us to believe that there may be victims of this scheme there.
The 53-year-old Stamford resident is accused of targeting young men in Westchester and Rockland counties and luring them into a fictional training program. While using the name Dr. Hunter, Bottone allegedly approached the young men and said that if they participated, they would be eligible for jobs as high-salaried international security specialists, the statement says.
The investigation began after one victim complained to police. Since then, police have located four more young men who say they were tortured by Bottone. Reportedly, the men say they were subjected to forms of torture, including being whipped, having hot water or oil poured on them, having objects forced under their fingernails, and being blindfolded and bound to a table.
Bottone was arraigned Tuesday in Westchester County Court in White Plains on a 29-count indictment that charges him with multiple counts of assault, unlawful imprisonment and forcible touching. His bail was set at $250,000.
Anyone with information on this matter is encouraged to speak with Westchester County Police, who continue to investigate. The Major Case Squad can be reached at 877-220-3560.
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