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Vanessa Roberts Avery

Stamford Man Charged With Sexually Abusing 16-Year-Old Boy He Met On Snapchat Stamford Man Charged With Sexually Abusing 16-Year-Old Boy He Met On Snapchat
Stamford Man Charged With Sexually Abusing 16-Year-Old Boy He Met On Snapchat A Fairfield County man is behind bars following his arrest on child exploitation charges for allegedly sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy. Rick Marro, age 42, of Stamford was charged on Thursday, Jan. 18 following an investigation into the allegations made by the boy in August 2023, said Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Marro appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and was ordered detained, Avery said. As alleged in court documents, law enforcement began investigating Marro in August 2023 after a 16-year-old boy reported that he …
4 Bridgeport Gang Members Convicted, 8 Murders, 20 Attempted Murders Solved 4 Bridgeport Gang Members Convicted, 8 Murders, 20 Attempted Murders Solved
4 Bridgeport Gang Members Convicted, 8 Murders, 20 Attempted Murders Solved Four gang members have been found guilty of racketeering related to their involvement in a violent Connecticut street gang. Bridgeport residents found guilty on Tuesday, Dec. 5 included: Keishawn Donald, age 22 Trevon Wright, also known as “Tre,” age 22 Eric Hayes, also known as “Heavyweight Champ,” age 26 Travon Jones, also known as “Budda,” age 21 According to the evidence presented during a month-long trial, the FBI, ATF, DEA, US Marshals Service, and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder, a…
$2.7M Scheme: Greenwich Investment Advisor Admits Defrauding Dozens Of Clients $2.7M Scheme: Greenwich Investment Advisor Admits Defrauding Dozens Of Clients
$2.7M Scheme: Greenwich Investment Advisor Admits Defrauding Dozens Of Clients An investment advisor based in Fairfield County has admitted to defrauding dozens of clients of $2.7 million through a “cherry-picking” securities scheme. Jonathan Vincent Glenn, age 54, of Greenwich, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty late last week in Hartford federal court to defrauding investment clients through a “cherry-picking” securities scheme. Through this scheme, Glenn defrauded over 45 clients a total of around $2.7 million, according to federal authorities. Glenn's plea and details in the case were announced on Friday, Oct. 6 by Vanessa Roberts Avery, Unit…
$750K Fraud Case: Shelton Man Sentenced $750K Fraud Case: Shelton Man Sentenced
$750K Fraud Case: Shelton Man Sentenced A Fairfield County man has been sentenced to prison for defrauding Amazon for almost $750,000. Oshane Steward, age 31, of Shelton, was sentenced on Tuesday, Sept. 5 to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, said Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, Stewart created multiple vendor accounts with Amazon allowing him to sell merchandise through the website on a third-party basis.  He often opened the accounts using false names, email addresses, and other identifying inform…
CT Man Who Sold $150K In Stolen Catalytic Converters Sentenced To Federal Prison CT Man Who Sold $150K In Stolen Catalytic Converters Sentenced To Federal Prison
CT Man Who Sold $150K In Stolen Catalytic Converters Sentenced To Federal Prison A Connecticut man has been sentenced to federal prison for taking part in a stolen catalytic converter trafficking ring in which he made more than $150,000. New Haven County resident Francisco Ayala, age 22, of Ansonia, was sentenced to 2-and-half years in federal prison after pleading guilty last year to conspiracy, said Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.  Once released, he will serve three years of probation. According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation revealed that Ayala engaged in numerous catalytic converter thefts …
Child Sexual Abuse: CT Man Sentenced For Recordings Of Girls As Young As 2 Child Sexual Abuse: CT Man Sentenced For Recordings Of Girls As Young As 2
Child Sexual Abuse: CT Man Sentenced For Recordings Of Girls As Young As 2 A Connecticut man who has been detained since 2021 was sentenced for crimes involving homemade videos featuring the sexual abuse of a minor, according to the Department of Justice.  Hartford County resident Mark Roman, of East Windsor, was sentenced to more than 33 years in prison followed by a lifetime term of supervised release after pleading guilty to charges relating to child pornography, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery said. Roman was arrested in November 2021 after a search of his home found devices containing over 1,000 images and vid…
Sexual Exploitation: Stamford Man Charged In Connection To Incident Involving 9-Year-Old Girl Sexual Exploitation: Stamford Man Charged In Connection To Incident Involving 9-Year-Old Girl
Sexual Exploitation: Stamford Man Charged In Connection To Incident Involving 9-Year-Old Girl A Fairfield County man has been charged with child exploitation offenses following an investigation by the Stamford Police and US Homeland Security. Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced on Wednesday, May 24, that Servio Barros-Terreros, age 56, of Stamford sexually assaulted a girl when she was 9 and 10 years old. As alleged in court documents, in December 2022, a minor female victim reported that, when she was nine and 10 years old, Barros-Terreros had sexually assaulted her multiple times.  The victim reported that Barros-Terreros took sexual…
Man Who Robbed, Murdered Beloved Stamford Jeweler Sentenced Man Who Robbed, Murdered Beloved Stamford Jeweler Sentenced
Man Who Robbed, Murdered Beloved Stamford Jeweler Sentenced The man who shot and killed a beloved Fairfield County jeweler during a robbery has been sentenced to prison. Robert Rallo, age 59, of New York City, was sentenced on Wednesday, March 1, to 40 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release, for the March 2020 murder and robbery of Mark Vuono, of Marco Jewelers in Stamford, said US Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery. “We are very pleased to see these three career criminals held accountable for this senseless murder, and we want to commend the tireless, cutting-edge police work that led to this outcom…
Waterbury Drug Dealer Gets Prison For Trafficking Large Amounts Of Heroin, Cocaine Waterbury Drug Dealer Gets Prison For Trafficking Large Amounts Of Heroin, Cocaine
Waterbury Drug Dealer Gets Prison For Trafficking Large Amounts Of Heroin, Cocaine A Connecticut drug dealer has been sentenced to prison for supplying heroin to a member of a Waterbury-area drug trafficking ring. Former New Haven County resident Jesus Nieves, aka "Pop," age 38, formerly of Waterbury, and Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced Thursday, Feb. 23 to 63 months in prison, said Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2020, the DEA New Haven Task Force and Waterbury Police Department began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization that was distributing l…
Child Porn: East Hartford Man Gets 22-Year Sentence For Video Recording Sexual Assault Child Porn: East Hartford Man Gets 22-Year Sentence For Video Recording Sexual Assault
Child Porn: East Hartford Man Gets 22-Year Sentence For Video Recording Sexual Assault A Connecticut resident has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 12 for more than two years and video recording the crimes. Saeed Mustapha Moussa, age 33, a citizen of Ghana last residing in East Hartford, was sentenced on Wednesday, Feb. 8 after pleading guilty to the production of child pornography, said Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, in September 2020, East Hartford Police received a report that Moussa’s cell phone contained videos of Moussa engag…
Bank Robbery Spree: Stamford Man Accused Of 3 Heists In 2 Weeks Bank Robbery Spree: Stamford Man Accused Of 3 Heists In 2 Weeks
Bank Robbery Spree: Stamford Man Accused Of 3 Heists In 2 Weeks A 50-year-old Stamford man with a history of heists robbed three banks in two weeks in 2020, federal authorities announced.  Francesco "Frankie" Pensiiero faces decades in prison in convicted of three counts of bank robbery, the US Attorney for Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery said.  Prosecutors allege that Pensiiero walked into the Chase Bank located at 2855 Main Street in Stratford, showed the teller a gun, and handed them a note that read, "this is a robbery give me all your money." The teller gave him $1,000, and he ran off.  Later that day, police say Pensiie…
Greenwich Man Charged With Child Porn Offenses, Including Possessing Images With Infants Greenwich Man Charged With Child Porn Offenses, Including Possessing Images With Infants
Greenwich Man Charged With Child Porn Offenses, Including Possessing Images With Infants A Fairfield County man is facing charges after investigators found that his laptop contained about 1,000 images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants.  Christopher Bates Jr., age 36, of Greenwich, was arrested on a federal complaint charging him with child pornography offenses on Tuesday, Dec. 13, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Investigators found that an IP address at Bates' home was being used to access the dark web to view images that depicted the sexual abuse of children, Roberts Avery reported. …
Repeat Offender From Fairfield County Sentenced For Possessing Child Sex Abuse Images Repeat Offender From Fairfield County Sentenced For Possessing Child Sex Abuse Images
Repeat Offender From Fairfield County Sentenced For Possessing Child Sex Abuse Images A Fairfield County man who was caught possessing child pornography for a second time has been sentenced to another prison term. Former Bridgeport resident Robert Mosley, age 55, was sentenced to 121 months, or just over 10 years, in federal prison on Monday, Nov. 28 for possessing and distributing images depicting the sexual abuse of children, according to US Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery.  This is the second sentence Mosley has received for possessing child pornography, as in 2016 he was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for the crime. He was then released on parole in 2018, …
CT Man Admits To Failing To Report Nearly $1M In Income CT Man Admits To Failing To Report Nearly $1M In Income
CT Man Admits To Failing To Report Nearly $1M In Income A business owner from Connecticut has admitted he failed to report more than $900,000 in income on his personal federal tax returns. Windham County resident Mariusz Kalinowski, age 47, of Woodstock, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Nov. 29, to one count of filing a false tax return, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Kalinowski is the owner and operator of Kalinowski General Construction, Inc., which is based in the Worcester County town of Webster, Massachusetts, and provides construction services in Connecticut and Massachusetts…
Out-Of-State Man Admits To Supplying Gang Members In Fairfield County With Firearms Out-Of-State Man Admits To Supplying Gang Members In Fairfield County With Firearms
Out-Of-State Man Admits To Supplying Gang Members In Fairfield County With Firearms A former Fairfield County resident has pleaded guilty to a single count of firearms trafficking in which local gangs were supplied with guns. Stephfan Sanderson, age 24, aka  “Birdy” and “Beans," made his plea in Bridgeport on Tuesday, Nov. 15, said Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, US Marshals, and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder, and other acts of violence.  &nbs…
COVID-19: Former CT State Representative Admits Stealing $1.2M Relief Funds COVID-19: Former CT State Representative Admits Stealing $1.2M Relief Funds
Covid-19: Former CT State Representative Admits Stealing $1.2M Relief Funds A former Connecticut state representative has admitted to stealing more than $1.2 million in COVID relief funds. New Haven County resident Michael DiMassa, age 31, of West Haven, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Nov. 1 to charges stemming from his involvement in schemes that resulted in the theft of more than $1.2 million dollars in COVID relief funds and other funds from the City of West Haven, said Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, DiMassa was a Connecticut state representative who was also em…
5 Fairfield County Men Convicted Of Trafficking Heroin, Fentanyl, Crack Cocaine 5 Fairfield County Men Convicted Of Trafficking Heroin, Fentanyl, Crack Cocaine
5 Fairfield County Men Convicted Of Trafficking Heroin, Fentanyl, Crack Cocaine Five Fairfield County men have been convicted of narcotics trafficking in the area. According to Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut, a federal jury in Bridgeport found the five men guilty of narcotics trafficking offenses on Friday, Oct. 14: The five, all  of Bridgeport, are: Wallace Best, also known as “Coop,” age  55 Jeffrey Thomas, also known as “Zig,” age 49 Jason Cox, age 48, also of Savannah, Georgia as well as Bridgeport Frank Jamont Best, also known as “JB,” and “Cash,” age 49 Lamont D. Jefferies, age 55 According to court documents, in 20…
Woman Who Owns Fairfield County Grocery Store Sentenced For $400K Tax Offense Woman Who Owns Fairfield County Grocery Store Sentenced For $400K Tax Offense
Woman Who Owns Fairfield County Grocery Store Sentenced For $400K Tax Offense An owner of a Fairfield County grocery store was sentenced for a tax fraud offense that caused the IRS a loss of more than $400,000. Lizbel Sanchez, of Brookfield, was sentenced on Tuesday, Oct. 18, to two years of probation and ordered to pay a $400,000 fine, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Sanchez pleaded guilty on April 14 to one count of willful failure to collect or pay over taxes, Avery reported. Earlier report - Woman Who Operates A C-Town In Danbury Admits To Failure To Pay Taxes Sanchez is a minority owner…
Ex-Yale Med School Worker Who Stole $40 Million In Electronics Sentenced Ex-Yale Med School Worker Who Stole $40 Million In Electronics Sentenced
Ex-Yale Med School Worker Who Stole $40 Million In Electronics Sentenced A former Yale University School of Medicine employee who stole $40 million in computer and electronic hardware from the university has been sentenced. Jamie Petrone, age 43, a former resident of Naugatuck, was sentenced on Thursday, Oct. 13, to nine years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for wire fraud and filing a false tax return, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. She pleaded guilty to the charges on March 28. Earlier report - Former Yale Med School Employee Admits Stealing, Selling $40 Million In Elec…
CT Man Admits To Trafficking Fentanyl CT Man Admits To Trafficking Fentanyl
CT Man Admits To Trafficking Fentanyl A Connecticut man faces years in prison after pleading guilty to trafficking in fentanyl. Roy Reid, also known as “Jama,” age 34, of New Haven, pleaded guilty Tuesday, Sept. 27, to one count of fentanyl trafficking, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, in the fall of 2021, the New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force and New Haven Police Department began investigating a drug trafficking ring that was distributing fentanyl, heroin crack, and cocaine in and around the West Hills neighborh…
Fairfield County Man Admits To Attempting To Transfer Obscene Materials To Minor Fairfield County Man Admits To Attempting To Transfer Obscene Materials To Minor
Fairfield County Man Admits To Attempting To Transfer Obscene Materials To Minor A 63-year-old Fairfield County man admitted to sending sexual messages, pictures, and videos to an FBI agent posing as a 14-year-old girl. Michael Nastu, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty on Thursday, Sept. 22, to one count of attempted transfer of obscene materials to a minor, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Nastu used the Kik social media application in March of 2021 to initiate a conversation with an FBI Online Covert Employee who was posing as a 14-year-old girl from Connecticut, the US Attorney's Office said. Between March 3…
CT Man Admits Trafficking Cocaine Through US Mail CT Man Admits Trafficking Cocaine Through US Mail
CT Man Admits Trafficking Cocaine Through US Mail A 35-year-old Connecticut man has admitted to trafficking cocaine through the United States Mail. Jean Mangual-Castro, of West Haven, pleaded guilty on Monday, Sept. 12, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Investigators found that Mangual-Castro orchestrated shipments of cocaine from Puerto Rico through the US Mail, Avery said. Authorities identified a suspicious package that had been delivered to Mangual-Castro's …
Duo Nabbed For Trafficking Thousands Of Fentanyl Pills Into Connecticut, Feds Say Duo Nabbed For Trafficking Thousands Of Fentanyl Pills Into Connecticut, Feds Say
Duo Nabbed For Trafficking Thousands Of Fentanyl Pills Into Connecticut, Feds Say Two men are facing federal charges after they were allegedly busted selling thousands of fentanyl pills in Connecticut. Oscar Flores, age 34, of Mount Rainier, Maryland, and Severo Alelar, age 25, of Hyattsville, Maryland, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Hartford Thursday, Sept. 22, for fentanyl trafficking. The indictment came just weeks after the pair was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 8 following a sting operation in Wethersfield, the US Attorney’s Office in Connecticut said. Flores, Alelar, and others allegedly showed up to a prearranged meeting site in an SUV intending to sell a…
CT Resident Sentenced For Recruiting, Transporting Teen Girl To Engage In Commercial Sex CT Resident Sentenced For Recruiting, Transporting Teen Girl To Engage In Commercial Sex
CT Resident Sentenced For Recruiting, Transporting Teen Girl To Engage In Commercial Sex A 24-year-old man has been sentenced after he admitted to bringing a 16-year-old girl to a Connecticut hotel to engage in commercial sex acts. Joel Lindsay, who last resided in East Hartford, was sentenced on Thursday, Sept. 22, to more than 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to sex trafficking of a minor on Oct. 15, 2021, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Lindsay conspired with an associate, Joseph Pina, to recruit and transport a 16-year-old girl to engage in commercial sex acts in October of 2019, the US Attorney's Offi…
CT Man Admits To Stealing $162K From Woman's Bank Account CT Man Admits To Stealing $162K From Woman's Bank Account
CT Man Admits To Stealing $162K From Woman's Bank Account A 23-year-old Connecticut man has admitted to stealing more than $162,000 from a woman's bank account by taking checks from her checkbook and forging her signature. Gregory Ivy, of New Haven, pleaded guilty on Thursday, Sept. 15, to one count of bank fraud, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Ivy began doing various jobs for a retired woman in 2018, and he started stealing checks from her checkbook in October of 2018, Avery said. He wrote checks payable to himself, forged the woman's signature, and deposited them into his persona…
CT Man Sentenced For Scams That Defrauded Hundreds Of Victims Across US Out Of Millions CT Man Sentenced For Scams That Defrauded Hundreds Of Victims Across US Out Of Millions
CT Man Sentenced For Scams That Defrauded Hundreds Of Victims Across US Out Of Millions A Connecticut man who took part in a massive scheme defrauding elderly victims out of millions of dollars is heading to federal prison. Rodney Thomas, age 31, of New Haven, was sentenced to six years behind bars Tuesday, Aug. 23 in federal court in Bridgeport after a jury convicted him of multiple charges stemming from the scheme. Federal prosecutors said Thomas and several others bilked 200 elderly victims across the country out of more than $5 million through bogus lottery and romance scams carried out between August 2015 and March 2020. Some unsuspecting victims were duped into sendin…
Duo Nabbed For Robbing People's United Banks Inside CT Stop & Shop Supermarkets Duo Nabbed For Robbing People's United Banks Inside CT Stop & Shop Supermarkets
Duo Nabbed For Robbing People's United Banks Inside CT Stop & Shop Supermarkets Two Connecticut men have been arrested for allegedly carrying out multiple robberies this summer at People’s United Bank branches located in Stop & Shop supermarkets in the state.  Middlesex County residents, Gino Rizzo, age 28, and Jalania Pantano, age 27, both of Middletown, were arrested on Tuesday, Aug. 30 on an indictment charging them with bank robbery offenses, said Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. The indictment alleges that Rizzo robbed People’s United Bank branches located in Stop & Shop supermarkets in Glastonbury on Saturday, …
Fairfield County Men Sentenced For Trafficking Counterfeit Oxycodone Pills Containing Fentanyl Fairfield County Men Sentenced For Trafficking Counterfeit Oxycodone Pills Containing Fentanyl
Fairfield County Men Sentenced For Trafficking Counterfeit Oxycodone Pills Containing Fentanyl Two Fairfield County men were sentenced for trafficking counterfeit oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl. Stamford residents Arber Isaku and Vincent Decaro, both age 32, were sentenced on Monday, Aug. 8, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Isaku was sentenced to 51 months in prison and three years of supervised release, and Decaro was sentenced to 48 months in prison and three years of supervised release, Avery said.  Decaro pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl analogs on June 15, 2…
Fairfield County Tax Return Preparer Sentenced For Filing Fraudulent Returns For Her Clients Fairfield County Tax Return Preparer Sentenced For Filing Fraudulent Returns For Her Clients
Fairfield County Tax Return Preparer Sentenced For Filing Fraudulent Returns For Her Clients A tax return preparer from Fairfield County was sentenced for filing fraudulent tax returns for many of her clients. Torise Baker, age 39, of Bridgeport, was sentenced on Tuesday, Aug. 2, to three months in prison followed by a year of supervised release, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. She pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false and fraudulent income tax returns on March 21, Avery said. According to the announcement, Baker was also ordered to pay $112,956 in resti…
Woman From Stratford Admits Committing Fraud While Awaiting Sentencing In Other Case Woman From Stratford Admits Committing Fraud While Awaiting Sentencing In Other Case
Woman From Stratford Admits Committing Fraud While Awaiting Sentencing In Other Case A 32-year-old former Farifield County resident pleaded guilty to a health care fraud offense that she committed while waiting to be sentenced for a separate health care fraud charge. Nicole Steiner, a former Stratford resident, pleaded guilty to the charge on Friday, July 29, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Steiner, who is now a resident of Edison, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud on April 28, in relation to the operation of Helping Hands Academy, LLC in Bridgeport, which offered app…
Fairfield County Man Sentenced To 22 Years For Sexual Acts With A Child Fairfield County Man Sentenced To 22 Years For Sexual Acts With A Child
Fairfield County Man Sentenced To 22 Years For Sexual Acts With A Child A Fairfield County man who met a 14-year-old girl online and traveled to another state to bring her to his home has been sentenced to 22 years in prison. Wayne Marcell, age 36, of Danbury, was sentenced on Tuesday, July 12, to prison time, plus 10 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $30,000 fine, said Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court: In April 2021, a 14-year-old girl in Georgia met Robert Fyke, of Lubbock, Texas, on an online video/chat platform. Fyke and t…