Five From Connecticut Among Six Nabbed For Fentanyl Trafficking Ring Bust Five From Connecticut Among Six Nabbed For Fentanyl Trafficking Ring Bust
Five From Connecticut Among Six Nabbed For Fentanyl Trafficking Ring Bust Six people have been nabbed for allegedly being part of a large-scale, elaborate heroin and fentanyl trafficking organization that has been broken up, according to U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham. Durham announced that the six, five of whom are from Connecticut, were arrested on federal narcotics distribution and money laundering charges for their role in the drug distribution ring, which operated throughout the state of Connecticut. Those charged: Domingo Guzman, 43, of Waterbury; Armando Gonzalez, 38, of New Britain; David Cintron, 24, of Manchester; Daniel Estremera, 40, of …
Trio Charged In Violent Robbery Of Stamford Jeweler Trio Charged In Violent Robbery Of Stamford Jeweler
Trio Charged In Violent Robbery Of Stamford Jeweler A Westchester man was among three charged for their roles in a violent robbery of a Fairfield County jewelry store that led to the death of the store owner. White Plains resident Thomas Liberatore, Brooklyn residents Robert Rallo and Paul “Tony Pro” Prosano have been arrested and charged with federal robbery offenses following an incident last month at Marco Jewelers in Stamford. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that shortly after 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, officers from the Stamford Police Department were dispatched to the Sixth Street jewelry store, where there was a report of a robbe…
CT Husband/Wife Physicians Pay Nearly $5M To Settle False Claims Act Allegations CT Husband/Wife Physicians Pay Nearly $5M To Settle False Claims Act Allegations
CT Husband/Wife Physicians Pay Nearly $5M To Settle False Claims Act Allegations Two doctors in Connecticut will pay out nearly $5 million to settle a claim that they defrauded the Medicaid program. Middletown resident Crispin Abarientos, and his wife, Antonieta Abarientos, have reached a civil settlement with the federal and state governments in which they will pay $4,927,903 to resolve allegations that they violated the federal and state False Claims Acts. Crispin Abarientos and his wife owned and operated Middlesex Rheumatology in Middletown, which specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and related conditions, U.S.Attorney John …
CT Resident Admits Making Numerous Hoax Threats, Feds Say CT Resident Admits Making Numerous Hoax Threats, Feds Say
CT Resident Admits Making Numerous Hoax Threats, Feds Say A Connecticut man with a history of making threats has admitted to making a new round of threats that involved killing, injuring, intimidating people and exploding property. Gary Joseph Gravelle, also known as Roland Prejean, 52, of New Haven, pleaded guilty in Bridgeport federal court to seven charges related to a series of threats he made and further admitted that he violated the conditions of his supervised release following his earlier federal conviction for sending threatening communications. Specifically, Gravelle pleaded guilty to five counts of maliciously conveying false informati…
Ex-Connecticut Resident Sentenced For Tax Evasion Scheme Using 'Ghost Employees' Ex-Connecticut Resident Sentenced For Tax Evasion Scheme Using 'Ghost Employees'
Ex-Connecticut Resident Sentenced For Tax Evasion Scheme Using 'Ghost Employees' A former business owner in Fairfield County will spend time behind bars after admitting to bilking the IRS out of hundreds of thousands of dollars during a scheme involving “ghost employees.” Former Madison resident Theresa Foreman, 57, who now lives in St. Cloud, Florida, has been sentenced 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 tax evasion after failing to report $712,445.71 to the IRS over several years during her scheme, which began in 2012. Foreman, who operated Equinox Home Care in Stratford, b…
Area Attorney Admits To Federal Tax Charges Area Attorney Admits To Federal Tax Charges
Area Attorney Admits To Federal Tax Charges An attorney in the area has admitted to failing to pay more than $225,000 in taxes. Bethany resident William Palmieri, 56, pleaded guilty in Bridgeport district court to two counts of willful failure to pay income taxes, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham announced. Palmieri, an attorney with a practice specializing in civil rights law, reported to the Internal Revenue Service, but did not pay, all the income taxes he owed, between 2006 and 2014, even though he had the ability to make substantially greater tax payments during that time, Durham said. As of December 2017, Palmieri ow…
Man Guilty Of Crack, Cocaine Distribution In Fairfield County Man Guilty Of Crack, Cocaine Distribution In Fairfield County
Man Guilty Of Crack, Cocaine Distribution In Fairfield County A Fairfield County man with a lengthy criminal history has been convicted of distributing drugs in the area, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham announced. Bridgeport resident Rocky Samas, also known as “Twin,” was found guilty following a two-day trial of one count of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.  Durham said that between August and October last year, police investigators conducted three controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Samas in Bridgeport prior to his arrest. …
Incarcerated Bridgeport Man Charged With Attempting To Murder Federal Grand Jury Witness Incarcerated Bridgeport Man Charged With Attempting To Murder Federal Grand Jury Witness
Incarcerated Bridgeport Man Charged With Attempting To Murder Federal Grand Jury Witness An incarcerated Fairfield County man already behind bars for felony murder is facing new charges for allegedly plotting to murder a federal witness. Bridgeport resident Vaughn Thomas, 20, also known as “Fettiboy LV” was indicted and charged with allegedly retaliating against a federal grand jury witness while behind bars, U.S. Attorney John Durham announced. According to Durham, it is alleged that between September and November this year, while he was incarcerated in state custody, Thomas solicited other inmates to murder a federal grand jury witness. He also allegedly wrote lette…
22-Year-Old Sentenced For Role In Violent Street Gang 22-Year-Old Sentenced For Role In Violent Street Gang
22-Year-Old Sentenced For Role In Violent Street Gang A 22-year-old member of the Goodrich Street Boys gang in Connecticut has been sentenced for his role in violent gang activities. New Haven resident Michael Via, also known as “Mike Live,” was sentenced in Hartford district court to 78 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in GSB. 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 shootings committed in or around New Haven in 2016.  …
Fairfield County Urgent Care Provider Reaches ADA Settlement With US Attorney's Office Fairfield County Urgent Care Provider Reaches ADA Settlement With US Attorney's Office
Fairfield County Urgent Care Provider Reaches ADA Settlement With US Attorney's Office The government has reached a settlement with a Fairfield County urgent care provider that was facing allegations it was not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. AFC Urgent Care in Norwalk came under file after an ADA complaint was filed by the parent of a child with developmental disabilities, United States Attorney John Durham said. The complaint alleged that a doctor at AFC Urgent Care Norwalk refused to provide the child with a school physical based on the doctor’s determination that the child’s developmental disability made him too medically complex to be seen at an ur…
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…
Stamford Man With Previous Conviction Faces New Federal Firearm Charge Stamford Man With Previous Conviction Faces New Federal Firearm Charge
Stamford Man With Previous Conviction Faces New Federal Firearm Charge A Fairfield County man with a previous conviction is facing a new federal firearm charge, U.S. Attorney John Durham announced. Kevin Genis, 26, of Stamford, was indicted this week on one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. He’s been detained since his arrest in June and has pleaded not guilty to the new charge. It is alleged that on May 28, an individual working with law enforcement bought a Century Arms International 7.62 caliber AK pistol and 10 rounds of ammunition from Genis for $900. Durham noted that in November 2015, Genis was convicted in state court o…