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US Attorney

George Santos In Talks For Plea Deal In 23-Count Federal Case, Court Filing Shows George Santos In Talks For Plea Deal In 23-Count Federal Case, Court Filing Shows
George Santos In Talks For Plea Deal In 23-Count Federal Case, Court Filing Shows Disgraced former New York Rep. George Santos may avoid leaving his fate up to a trial in his federal fraud case. The Republican ex-congressman is currently in talks with federal prosecutors for a possible plea deal in his 23-count criminal case, according to a filing in Central Islip federal court on Monday, Dec. 11. In the joint filing, US Attorney Breon Peace and Santos asked the court to schedule the next status conference in approximately 30 days, saying “the parties are presently engaged in plea negotiations with the goal of resolving this matter without the need for a trial.” Earli…
Duo Found Guilty In Connection To Fatal Fairfield County Jewelry Store Robbery Duo Found Guilty In Connection To Fatal Fairfield County Jewelry Store Robbery
Duo Found Guilty In Connection To Fatal Fairfield County Jewelry Store Robbery Two people, including one man from Westchester County, have been found guilty in connection with a jewelry store robbery in Fairfield County that left the business's owner dead. Earlier Report - Westchester Man Charged In Fatal Jewelry Store Robbery In Stamford White Plains resident Thomas Liberatore, age 65, and Brooklyn resident Paul Prosano, age 62, were both found guilty by a jury for their roles in the March 28, 2020 robbery of Marco Jewelers in Stamford, US Attorney Vanessa Avery announced on Monday, Dec. 19.  On the day of the robbery, around 2:50 p.m., police in Stamford …
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 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…
Fairfield County Gang Member Involved In Multiple Shootings Sentenced Fairfield County Gang Member Involved In Multiple Shootings Sentenced
Fairfield County Gang Member Involved In Multiple Shootings Sentenced A Fairfield County gang member known as “Spooda” will spend years in prison after being sentenced for multiple gang-related shootings. Bridgeport resident Undrea Kirkland haș been sentenced to 17 years in prison by US District Justice Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven followed by three years of post-release supervision for his role in several shootings, US Attorney Leonard Boyle announced. Kirkland has been a member of the “Greene Homes Boyz,” a gang based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport’s North End, whose members and associates distributed heroin, crack cocaine,…
Fairfield County Man Charged In Connection With Multi-Billion Dollar Scheme Fairfield County Man Charged In Connection With Multi-Billion Dollar Scheme
Fairfield County Man Charged In Connection With Multi-Billion Dollar Scheme Federal officials announced that four have been arrested and charged for their alleged roles in the multi-billion dollar collapse of Archegos Capital Management. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said that the firm’s former CFO, Long Island resident Patrick Halligan, age 45, of Syosset, and New Jersey resident of Bill Hwang of Tenafly in Bergen County, have been arrested in connection to what Williams said was a racketeering scheme to manipulate the prices of publicly traded securities and to defraud global investment banks. Also charged, according to the De…
Woman Who Operates A C-Town In Fairfield County Admits To Failure To Pay Taxes Woman Who Operates A C-Town In Fairfield County Admits To Failure To Pay Taxes
Woman Who Operates A C-Town In Fairfield County Admits To Failure To Pay Taxes The owner of a grocery store in the region admitted to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the government through a federal tax fraud scheme. Fairfield County resident Lizbel Sanchez, also known as Lizbel Diaz, age 47, of Brookfield, the co-owner of a C-Town location in Danbury, pleaded guilty to a federal tax offense. US Attorney Leonard Boyle said that Sanchez, a minority owner of Danbury Food Corp., which operates a C-Town grocery store in the city, was responsible for the company’s accounting and financial records, as well as collecting and paying federal taxes from some empl…
CT Man Sexually Assaulted Girl He Met On Snapchat, Fed Says CT Man Sexually Assaulted Girl He Met On Snapchat, Fed Says
CT Man Sexually Assaulted Girl He Met On Snapchat, Fed Says A 27-year-old Connecticut man is facing charges for allegedly soliciting teens to commit lewd acts through social media, federal authorities announced. Hartford County resident Justin McKenney, of Windsor Locks, has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with multiple child exploitation offenses following his arrest on Thursday, March 17 at his workplace in Boston. US Attorney Leonard Boyle said that beginning in October 2021, Glastonbury Police began investigating the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl by an individual she met on Snapchat.  The investigation revealed that Mc…
Fairfield County Man Sentenced For Role In Heroin-Trafficking Operation Fairfield County Man Sentenced For Role In Heroin-Trafficking Operation
Fairfield County Man Sentenced For Role In Heroin-Trafficking Operation A Fairfield County man will spend years behind bars after being sentenced for allegedly trafficking heroin in Connecticut, federal officials announced. Stratford resident Nadyar Malaka, age 35, was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 48 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin in July 2021. In addition to his prison term, US District Judge Michael Shea also ordered Malaka to pay a $50,000 fine and to forfeit $52,111.45 and a 2012 Porsche Panamera 4.…
CT Man Admits To Using Cell Phone To Record Video Of Himself Engaging In Sex With Child CT Man Admits To Using Cell Phone To Record Video Of Himself Engaging In Sex With Child
CT Man Admits To Using Cell Phone To Record Video Of Himself Engaging In Sex With Child A man may spend up to 20 years in prison after admitting to sexually assaulting a teenager, recording it, and uploading it to his Google account in Connecticut. New Haven County resident Yehudi Manzano, age 37, of Waterbury, pleaded guilty to a child exploitation charge following his 2018 arrest for sexually abusing a teen. US Attorney Leonard Boyle said that on Aug. 21, 2016, Manzano sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl in Connecticut, video recorded the assault with his cell phone, and uploaded the video to his Google account.  Manzano was identified as a suspect by investigat…
CT Man Admits Defrauding His Grandparents Of $679K CT Man Admits Defrauding His Grandparents Of $679K
CT Man Admits Defrauding His Grandparents Of $679K A Connecticut man has pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing some $679,000 from his grandparents. Leonard Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Hartford County resident Douglas Senerth, age 32 of South Windsor, plead guilty to the fraud on Wednesday, Feb. 23. According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2011 and 2019, Senerth defrauded his grandmother and his late grandfather by falsely claiming to be a college student and inducing them to give him approximately $419,000 to pay for nonexistent college tuition and other related expenses…
Woman Accused Of Embezzling $550K From Firm Located In Westchester, Fairfield Counties Woman Accused Of Embezzling $550K From Firm Located In Westchester, Fairfield Counties
Woman Accused Of Embezzling $550K From Firm Located In Westchester, Fairfield Counties A woman is facing charges for allegedly engaging in an elaborate scheme to bilk her employers’ business based in New York and Connecticut out of more than a half-million dollars to live a lavish lifestyle, authorities announced. Bronx resident Susana Rivera, age 40, the former Director of Accounting and Human Resources for a kitchen remodeling firm located in Westchester and Fairfield County, with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with her alleged embezzlement of more than $550,000 from her employer. US Attorney Damian Williams said that beginning in October 2019, River…
CT Man  Admits To Fentanyl Distribution Charge CT Man  Admits To Fentanyl Distribution Charge
CT Man Admits To Fentanyl Distribution Charge A Connecticut man has admitted to distributing fentanyl following a lengthy investigation by police in Hartford County, authorities announced. US Attorney Leonard Boyle announced that Rocky Hill resident Sean Thomas, age 32, has pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. An investigation was launched in 2020 as police in Hartford investigated Thomas and other alleged dealers for distributing fentanyl and marijuana. Prosecutors said that as part of the investigation, an undercover officer purchased marijuana from an employee at Puff Par…
Three NY Women Indicted For Assaulting Delta Airlines Security Officer At JFK Three NY Women Indicted For Assaulting Delta Airlines Security Officer At JFK
Three NY Women Indicted For Assaulting Delta Airlines Security Officer At JFK Three women from New York are facing charges for allegedly assaulting a security officer after refusing to leave a jetway at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, federal officials announced. Long Island residents Janessa Torres, age 21, Johanna Zavala, age 44, both of Central Islip, and Bay Shore resident Jordan Nixon, age 21, were charged in federal court for allegedly assaulting the officer and a second employee on Sept. 22, 2021. Prosecutors said that the three women refused to leave the jetway after they were informed that they would be denied boarding for a Delta Airlines s…
Operator Of Company In Fairfield County Admits To Tax Evasion Operator Of Company In Fairfield County Admits To Tax Evasion
Operator Of Company In Fairfield County Admits To Tax Evasion A Fairfield County company owner has pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. Robert Porzio, age 48, of Westport, plead guilty on Thursday, Dec. 16, following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, said Leonard C Boyle, acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, Porzio, who operates Bert’s Tree Service, Inc., deposited numerous customers’ checks into personal bank accounts, transferred a significant portion of the funds into a personal investment account, and kept from the corporation’s bookkeeper his receipt …
Rapper Fetty Wap Trafficked 100 Kilos Of Opioids From NY Across US, Federal Officials Say Rapper Fetty Wap Trafficked 100 Kilos Of Opioids From NY Across US, Federal Officials Say
Rapper Fetty Wap Trafficked 100 Kilos Of Opioids From NY Across US, Federal Officials Say Rapper Fetty Wap was among six men charged with running an elaborate cross-country drug distribution ring out of New York, authorities announced. The rapper, whose real name is Willie Junior Maxwell II, was arrested Thursday, Oct. 28 by FBI agents at Citi Field. An indictment was unsealed on Long Island, in Central Islip federal court, Friday, Oct. 29, charging six men with conspiring to distribute and possess controlled substances, including five of them also charged for using weapons in connection to drug trafficking. The six men distributed more than 100 kilograms of cocaine, …
Marina Owner In Fairfield County Sentenced For Scuttling Abandoned Vessels Marina Owner In Fairfield County Sentenced For Scuttling Abandoned Vessels
Marina Owner In Fairfield County Sentenced For Scuttling Abandoned Vessels The owner of a Fairfield County marina will avoid time behind bars but was hit with a heavy fine as he was sentenced for abandoning boats in the Long Island Sound. John Magness, formerly of Southbury in New Haven County, was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay a $45,000 fine for scuttling several sailboats and motorboats between Black Rock Harbor and the Pennfield Reef Lighthouse in the Long Island Sound. Magness, who now lives in Bristol, Maine, was the owner of the Bluefish Cove Marina in Bridgeport. Acting US Attorney Leonard Boyle said that while he was preparing to …
Fairfield County Man Accused Of Engaging In Sex Acts With Child He Drove To Meet In Illinois Fairfield County Man Accused Of Engaging In Sex Acts With Child He Drove To Meet In Illinois
Fairfield County Man Accused Of Engaging In Sex Acts With Child He Drove To Meet In Illinois A man from the area is facing multiple child exploitation charges in connection to an incident involving a 14-year-old girl who he transported across the country to his Fairfield County home. Danbury resident Wayne Marcell, age 35, has been accused of paying $2,000 to have the teenage victim transported from Lubbock, Texas, to Illinois, where he allegedly drove her back to his Fairfield County home and abused her. US Attorney Leonard Boyle said that in April 2021, a 14-year-old girl in Georgia met Robert Fyke, age 33, of Lubbock, on an online video/chat platform. Fyke and the teen then…
Doctor From Trumbull Accused Of Selling Prescriptions For Cash Doctor From Trumbull Accused Of Selling Prescriptions For Cash
Doctor From Trumbull Accused Of Selling Prescriptions For Cash A Fairfield County doctor has been charged by federal officials with health care fraud and selling prescriptions for cash. Dr. David Ciancimino, age 62, a resident of Trumbull, was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 23, on a federal criminal complaint charging him with health care fraud and controlled substances offenses related to the illegal distribution of prescription medication, said Leonard C Boyle, acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, Ciancimino has been a sole practitioner practicing psychiatry and neurology/ps…
CT Auto Dealer Admits To Cocaine Trafficking, Money Laundering CT Auto Dealer Admits To Cocaine Trafficking, Money Laundering
CT Auto Dealer Admits To Cocaine Trafficking, Money Laundering A Western Massachusetts man admitted to conspiring to traffic cocaine and using his Connecticut auto dealership to launder money following a yearlong investigation into a large-scale drug trafficking organization supplying narcotics to dealers in multiple states from Mexico, authorities announced. Miguel Betancourt, age 53, of Springfield, pleaded guilty to single counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine conspiracy to commit money laundering in federal court. Acting US Attorney Nathaniel Mendell said that Betancourt was indicted in November 2017 as part of a 14-month wiretap investig…
CT Man Caught With Heroin, Crack Was Carrying Loaded Gun, Feds Say CT Man Caught With Heroin, Crack Was Carrying Loaded Gun, Feds Say
CT Man Caught With Heroin, Crack Was Carrying Loaded Gun, Feds Say A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against a Connecticut man charging him with narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses. Ronnell Rogers, 27, of New Haven, was arrested on Thursday, Jan. 28, and entered a not guilty plea during a court appearance and was ordered to be held without bail, said John Durham, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. As alleged in the indictment, on Sunday, Jan. 17, Rogers possessed distribution quantities of heroin and crack cocaine, and a loaded Smith & Wesson .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. It is further alleged tha…
Owner, CEO Of Manhattan Investment Fund Among Trio Indicted For $1.8B Ponzi-Like Scheme Owner, CEO Of Manhattan Investment Fund Among Trio Indicted For $1.8B Ponzi-Like Scheme
Owner, CEO Of Manhattan Investment Fund Among Trio Indicted For $1.8B Ponzi-Like Scheme A man who was the head of a Manhattan investment fund was arrested on Thursday and is facing securities fraud charges for his role in an alleged $1.8 billion Ponzi-like scheme that saw his company paying clients with their own money.  Long Island resident David Gentile, age 54, of Manhasset, the founder, owner, and CEO of GPB Capital Holdings, was charged with two others for scheming to defraud investors by misrepresenting the source of funds used to make monthly distribution payments to them, federal officials said. Specifically, the three were charged with securities and wire fraud, …
Convicted CT Felon Admits To Possessing Firearm Convicted CT Felon Admits To Possessing Firearm
Convicted CT Felon Admits To Possessing Firearm A Connecticut man has pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Dionte Wilson, age 25, of East Hartford, was arrested last year after a review of videos on social media websites by the FBI's Gang Task Fore identified him as being in possession of several firearms, said John H. Durham, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, following the review of the videos, members of the task force conducted multiple controlled purchases of marijuana from Wilson.   On Monday, August 10, Wilson was …
CT Man Known As 'Buck' Charged For Murder Of 21-Year-Old CT Man Known As 'Buck' Charged For Murder Of 21-Year-Old
CT Man Known As 'Buck' Charged For Murder Of 21-Year-Old A 30-year-old man already behind bars for distributing heroin is facing life in prison or the death penalty after being charged with a drug-related murder of a man in Hartford nearly seven years ago. Antwane Williams-Bey, also known as “Buck,” has been charged for his role in the murder of Valentin Santos Jr., 21, in Hartford, on Aug. 12, 2013. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that on Sept. 24 last year, a federal grand jury indicted Williams-Bey with murder for the shooting death of Santos, allegedly in relation and to further his drug trafficking. Durham said that the murder was done “deli…
NY Restaurateur Sentenced For Tax Evasion Scheme NY Restaurateur Sentenced For Tax Evasion Scheme
NY Restaurateur Sentenced For Tax Evasion Scheme A Manhattan restaurateur from Long Island will spend time behind bars after he admitted to a near million dollar tax evasion scheme. Nassau County resident Adel Kellel, 63, of New Hyde Park, the former owners of Raffles Bistro in New York City, has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty in Manhattan federal court earlier this year to a $771,195 scheme, acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said. In addition to his prison term, Kellel was also ordered to pay $613,478 in restitution to the IRS and $157,717 to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Strauss s…
Tutor Charged With Transporting Child Porn To, From Fairfield County Tutor Charged With Transporting Child Porn To, From Fairfield County
Tutor Charged With Transporting Child Porn To, From Fairfield County A tutor from Westchester is facing charges for allegedly sexually exploiting a minor he was teaching, recording it on his phone, and transporting child pornography to and from Fairfield County. Tuckahoe resident John Mueser was arrested on Thursday, Nov. 19 and charged with sexual exploitation of a 7-year-old minor and with transporting child pornography. Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said that on May 1 last year, Mueser induced a 7-year-old he was tutoring to engage in sexually explicit conduct, using his iPhone to record it and then transported the images from Fairfield County to W…
CT Nurse Admits To Illegally Writing Prescriptions For Oxycodone, Xanax CT Nurse Admits To Illegally Writing Prescriptions For Oxycodone, Xanax
CT Nurse Admits To Illegally Writing Prescriptions For Oxycodone, Xanax A registered nurse in Connecticut is facing prison time for allegedly writing hundreds of illegal prescriptions that were used to obtain thousands of Oxycodone and Xanax pills. Cheshire resident Lisa Alexander, 54, pleaded guilty in New Haven district court to a charge stemming from her writing prescriptions or controlled substances that were not used for legitimate medical purposes. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that prior to her arrest, Alexander was a licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and held a DEA controlled substance registration that allowed her to prescribe Schedule II th…
CT Woman Sentenced For Embezzling More Than $580K CT Woman Sentenced For Embezzling More Than $580K
CT Woman Sentenced For Embezzling More Than $580K A Connecticut woman will spend more than three years. behind bars after embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from her former employer over the course of several years. Simsbury resident Pamela Hill, 55, was sentenced in New Haven District Court to 41 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for embezzling approximately $584,000 between 2013 and 2018. "While serving as a controller for a company, Hill wrote company checks to herself, applied signature stamps with the owner’s signature to the checks, and deposited the checks into her own bank account,” U.S. Attorn…
Man Admits Using Fake Credit Cards To Steal Thousands At 15 CT Lowe's Locations Man Admits Using Fake Credit Cards To Steal Thousands At 15 CT Lowe's Locations
Man Admits Using Fake Credit Cards To Steal Thousands At 15 CT Lowe's Locations A fraudster admitted to using fake credit cards in multiple states - specifically Connecticut - to steal thousands of dollars from Lowe’s. New York City resident Larell David, 30, of Manhattan, pleaded guilty in Bridgeport this week to a scheme through which he defrauded the home improvement store out of more than $183,000. Specifically, David was charged with one count of access device fraud. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that between July 2017 and March 2018, David produced more than 100 counterfeit credit cards in the name of “Kevin Douglas,” which were encoded with legitimate credit c…
Healthcare Provider In Fairfield County Ordered To Pay $354K For Improper Billing Healthcare Provider In Fairfield County Ordered To Pay $354K For Improper Billing
Healthcare Provider In Fairfield County Ordered To Pay $354K For Improper Billing A healthcare organization that provides substance abuse and mental health services in Fairfield County, has agreed to pay more than $350,000 in restitution for overcharging for certain services. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that Recovery Network of Programs Inc. (RNP) has entered into a civil settlement with the government to pay $354,367 to resolve allegations that it caused overpayments for urine drug testing services to be paid by the Connecticut Medicaid Program. RNP provides behavioral health and substance use disorder services to Medicaid beneficiaries. An audit by the State of Co…
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…