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Department of Consumer Protection

Police & Fire
Duo Nabbed In Norwalk Vape Shop Bust Duo Nabbed In Norwalk Vape Shop Bust
Duo Nabbed In Norwalk Vape Shop Bust Two vape shop employees were charged with the alleged possession of marijuana with intent to sell in Fairfield County after police seized more than seven pounds of pot at a vape shop not licensed to sell marijuana. The two employees, Nusrat Shaika, age 20, of the Bronx, and MD Shohidul Joy, age 19, of Queens, were arrested on Thursday, April 11, during the execution of a search warrant at Smoke House 1 Vape Shop in Norwalk.  According to Sgt. Ryan Evarts of the Norwalk Police, officers from the Norwalk Police, and the state Department of Consumer Protection Smoke House, the warrant was…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Online Gambling Scam: 23-Year-Old Suspect From Norwalk Charged Online Gambling Scam: 23-Year-Old Suspect From Norwalk Charged
Online Gambling Scam: 23-Year-Old Suspect From Norwalk Charged A Fairfield County man who worked as a shuffler for an online gaming company with live dealers has been charged in an alleged cheating scam in which he made more than $47,000. In January 2023, members of the statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force received a criminal referral from the Department of Consumer Protection of a cheating scam involving a dealer at live casino operator, Evolution, located in the town of Fairfield, said the Connecticut State Police. Evolution is a gaming company that hosts online casino dealer games within the DraftKings and FanDuel platforms. Platf…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
CT's First Adult-Use Recreational Marijuana Sales To Begin In January At These Dispensaries CT's First Adult-Use Recreational Marijuana Sales To Begin In January At These Dispensaries
CT's First Adult-Use Recreational Marijuana Sales To Begin In January At These Dispensaries The first recreational-use, hybrid marijuana dispensaries are set to open in Connecticut in January. The state Department of Consumer Protection said on Friday, Dec. 9, that eight licensed hybrid retailers will be allowed to open their doors at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2023, depending on local zoning hours. “I am proud of the hard work our team has done to meet the goal of opening adult-use sales in a safe, well-regulated market,” said DCP Commissioner Michelle Seagull.  Hybrid retailers were previously allowed to sell medical marijuana and now will be permitted to sell recreation…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Connecticut AG Issues Consumer Warning As Gas Prices Spike Connecticut AG Issues Consumer Warning As Gas Prices Spike
Connecticut AG Issues Consumer Warning As Gas Prices Spike With gas prices rising to record highs in Connecticut, Attorney General William Tong is cautioning consumers to be aware of potential price gouging at the pump. In Connecticut, the price of gas has risen to an average of $4.28 per gallon, the highest rate the state has recorded since May 2012. Earlier story - Here's Breakdown By County On How Much Gas Prices Have Increased In CT Since Last Week State statute requires that the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) monitor the wholesale price of gasoline in the Hartford and New Haven areas, officials noted. When the who…

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by Zak Failla
News
Online Sports Wagering, iCasino Opening In Connecticut Online Sports Wagering, iCasino Opening In Connecticut
Online Sports Wagering, iCasino Opening In Connecticut Online sports wagering and iCasino are set to make their debut in Connecticut sooner than expected. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced that as of 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 19, the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, the Mohegan Tribe, and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe can start offering online gambling to adults 21 and older. The announcement comes following a seven-day soft launch in Connecticut after receiving approval to move forward with the plan. Earlier story - CT Moves Forward In Establishing Sports Wagering, Online Gambling Officials said that more than 130 games have been approved …

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by Zak Failla
News
Here Are Four Ways To Avoid Stimulus Check Scams Here Are Four Ways To Avoid Stimulus Check Scams
Here Are Four Ways To Avoid Stimulus Check Scams Consumer protection and law enforcement agencies are warning people to be wary of scams associated with stimulus checks. To avoid scammers, the Department of Consumer Protection is circulating tips on how to identify, stop, and/or report fraudsters going after stimulus checks. The second round of stimulus checks to help Americans deal with an economy hampered by COVID-19 began arriving in people’s mailboxes and direct-deposit accounts in late December. Single people will get $600, a married couple will get $1,200, and there will be an additional $600 per child to families. Everyone who qual…

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by Kristin Palpini
News
CT Sues Exxon For 'Decades Of Deceit On Climate Change' CT Sues Exxon For 'Decades Of Deceit On Climate Change'
CT Sues Exxon For 'Decades Of Deceit On Climate Change' Connecticut is suing Exxon Mobil Corp. over alleged longterm deception about climate change as the state seeks to rake the oil and gas industry over the coals for the recent rise in the planet’s temperature. Attorney General William Tong announced he was suing under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act - which has no statute of limitations - alleging an “ongoing, systematic campaign of lies and deception to hide from the public what ExxonMobil has known for decades—that burning fossil fuels undeniably contributes to climate change.” Prosecutors allege that Exxon has knowingly burned f…

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by Zak Failla
News
AUDIT: Connecticut Prescription Monitoring Has Not Prevented A Rise In Drug Overdose Deaths AUDIT: Connecticut Prescription Monitoring Has Not Prevented A Rise In Drug Overdose Deaths
Audit: Connecticut Prescription Monitoring Has Not Prevented A Rise In Drug Overdose Deaths Despite great effort, the Connecticut Prescription Monitoring Program isn’t adequately tracking when strong drugs are prescribed or dispensed, according to a report by the state’s Auditor. The audit found that while most people made good use of the system, the program needs legal, enforcement, and data collection tweaks to be more effective.  Launched in 2008, the monitoring program seeks to reduce the number of drug overdoses by tracking controlled substances.  That hasn't happened. While Connecticut has seen a reduction in opioids dispensed over the last several years, the aud…

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by Kristin Palpini
News
Johnny Utah's In Norwalk Will Not Reopen After Underage Drinking Bust Johnny Utah's In Norwalk Will Not Reopen After Underage Drinking Bust
Johnny Utah's In Norwalk Will Not Reopen After Underage Drinking Bust Following an underage drinking bust in April at its South Norwalk location, the popular bar Johnny Utah's will not reopen. In an announcement on Monday, the state Department of Consumer Protection said it had reached a settlement with the owners for the bar to close permanently following an investigation into a large number of underage drinkers. The bust took place April 19 when the Norwalk Police Special Services Division and agents from the Connecticut Liquor Control Commission conducted liquor compliance checks within the city, Norwalk police said. According to police, when officers arr…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Scam Alert: Police Warn Of 'Storm Chasers' During CT Recovery Scam Alert: Police Warn Of 'Storm Chasers' During CT Recovery
Scam Alert: Police Warn Of 'Storm Chasers' During CT Recovery Connecticut State Police investigators are urging local residents to be wary of “storm chasers” following last week’s violent weather that sent debris flying, uprooted trees and left dozens of homes damaged. The Department of Consumer Protection is warning area residents to be on the lookout for scams as they prepare to make any repairs on their homes following the storm. “Some scammers or ‘storm chasers’ prey on families after weather emergencies because they know they need repairs done quickly,” officials from the DCP noted. “Our message to consumers: know the signs of a scam, and don’t f…

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by Zak Failla
Business
South Norwalk Bar Closed After 100-Plus Busted For Underage Drinking South Norwalk Bar Closed After 100-Plus Busted For Underage Drinking
South Norwalk Bar Closed After 100-Plus Busted For Underage Drinking The riding bull is quiet at Johnny Utah's in South Norwalk after the state pulled its license on Friday just hours after police nabbed more than 100 underage people inside the popular Washington Street bar. The Department of Consumer Protection said in a statement that the bar would remain closed until further notice.  "At DCP, we do everything we can within our jurisdiction to keep the public safe, and that means making it clear that businesses in the state must abide by the law," said Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull. "Serving alcohol to minors is a seri…

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by Kathy Reakes
Business
Records Show Large Severance Payouts, NDAs In CT State Government Records Show Large Severance Payouts, NDAs In CT State Government
Records Show Large Severance Payouts, NDAs In CT State Government Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty’s non-disclosure agreement with a former aide grabbed headlines lately, but it’s not unique to Congress or even Connecticut state government, according to this report in Connecticut News Junkie. In 2016, the Auditors of Public Accounts reported that many payments to employees who departed state service were in excess of $100,000 and included non-disparagement agreements known as NDAs. The state, according to information from the Auditors of Public Accounts, has paid out more than $5.5 million to departing employees since 2011, most of whom are associated with th…

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by Jon Craig