Tag:

US Attorney for Connecticut

Guilty! Woman Smuggled Workers Into CT, Used Threats, Unpaid Debt To Exploit Them: DOJ Guilty! Woman Smuggled Workers Into CT, Used Threats, Unpaid Debt To Exploit Them: DOJ
Guilty! Woman Smuggled Workers Into CT, Used Threats, Unpaid Debt To Exploit Them: DOJ A Connecticut woman who smuggled immigrants into Connecticut and trapped them in a cycle of debt, labor, and fear has been sentenced to three years in federal prison, authorities announced. Porfiria Maribel Ramos Sanchez, 47, a Mexican national living in Vernon, pleaded guilty to her role in a human trafficking scheme that preyed on vulnerable immigrants, including minors, the US Attorney for Connecticut said. Investigators found that Ramos, her mother, and others smuggled at least 19 victims — many from Mexico — into the U.S., charging them up to $20,000 just to cross the border. Once in C…
NJ Business Admits To Polluting CT Brook, Causing Fish Kill — Fined $1M: DOJ NJ Business Admits To Polluting CT Brook, Causing Fish Kill — Fined $1M: DOJ
NJ Business Admits To Polluting CT Brook, Causing Fish Kill — Fined $1M: DOJ A New Jersey company has been ordered to pay a $1 million fine for violating the Clean Water Act after an unauthorized discharge of a hazardous material into a Connecticut waterway killed over 150 fish and contaminated the local ecosystem, federal authorities said.  National Water Main Cleaning Company (NWMCC), in Newark, New Jersey, was sentenced in federal court for knowingly releasing uncured geopolymer mortar into Cuff Brook while refurbishing a culvert pipe in Cheshire, the US Attorney for Connecticut said.  The project, which took place in July 2019, was supposed to follow s…
Sex Offender Deported in 2021 Busted Again in CT, Sentenced for Illegal Reentering US: Feds Sex Offender Deported in 2021 Busted Again in CT, Sentenced for Illegal Reentering US: Feds
Sex Offender Deported in 2021 Busted Again in CT, Sentenced for Illegal Reentering US: Feds A Honduran man convicted of sex crimes in Connecticut was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison after he illegally reentered the United States after being deported, authorities said.  Jose Pavon-Fermin, 40, was removed from the country in June 2021 after serving time for sexual assault and unlawful restraint, the US Attorney for Connecticut said.  Pavon-Fermin was accused of harassing a woman on a Norwalk bus in 2016, before taking her to a nearby apartment, where he attacked her, prosecutors said, per the Stamford Advocate.  He was ordered to register as a sex offender f…
Ex-Mass Officer Busted in $3M Fake Luxury Watch Conspiracy Gets 60 Days In Jail: Feds Ex-Mass Officer Busted in $3M Fake Luxury Watch Conspiracy Gets 60 Days In Jail: Feds
Ex-Mass Officer Busted in $3M Fake Luxury Watch Conspiracy Gets 60 Days In Jail: Feds If you bought a luxury watch from a Massachusetts police officer for a steal, you may have been duped. That’s what former cop Klevis Nako, 24, admitted to in a Connecticut federal court this week, according to federal authorities. Nako was convicted of conspiracy to sell counterfeit goods after he imported fake designer watches from China and sold them across the U.S. through Instagram and Facebook, the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut said. He has been sentenced to 60 days in federal prison, authorities said. His operation unraveled after federal agents intercepted dozens of shipments and con…
Groton Man On Parole For Child Porn Admits To Having More: Feds Groton Man On Parole For Child Porn Admits To Having More: Feds
Groton Man On Parole For Child Porn Admits To Having More: Feds A 22-year-old Connecticut man admitted to sharing nude photos of children while out on parole for another child pornography charge, authorities said.  Ryan Cameron, of Groton, pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, the US Attorney for Connecticut said.  Cameron was convicted of sharing nude photos of a 15-year-old girl in 2023, the prosecutor said. While out on parole in April 2024, Cameron had a cell phone that contained child sexual abuse material.  His parole…
Child-Like Doll Found In CT Home Of 3X Sex Offender Facing Decade In Prison, Feds Say Child-Like Doll Found In CT Home Of 3X Sex Offender Facing Decade In Prison, Feds Say
Child-Like Doll Found In CT Home Of 3X Sex Offender Facing Decade In Prison, Feds Say A Derby man will spend more than 11 years in federal prison for a disturbing child exploitation case — his third conviction involving children — and violations of his supervised release, federal authorities said. Michael Szwarc, 36, was sentenced to 134 months of imprisonment, along with 25 years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut said. Szwarc was previously convicted in 2013 in state court for possession of child sexual abuse material in the second degree, and again in 2022 in federal court for receiving such material, authorities said. ** WARNING: The following news…
Fugitive Who Used Fake Virus In Terrifying CT Home Invasion Sentenced After 15 Years On Run Fugitive Who Used Fake Virus In Terrifying CT Home Invasion Sentenced After 15 Years On Run
Fugitive Who Used Fake Virus In Terrifying CT Home Invasion Sentenced After 15 Years On Run A Romanian man involved in a terrifying 2007 Connecticut home invasion has been sentenced to seven years in prison after evading capture for 15 years, authorities said.  Stefan Alexandru Barabas, 38, was part of a group that terrorized two residents in a scheme that seemed straight out of a nightmare. Just before midnight, Barabas and his accomplices — Emanuel Nicolescu and Alexandru Lucian Nicolescu — broke into a South Kent home wearing masks and wielding knives and fake guns, the US Attorney for Connecticut said.  They tied up and blindfolded two adults, injecting them with a s…
IT Manager Who Used Low-Tech Hack to Embezzle $2M From CT Business Headed to Prison: Feds IT Manager Who Used Low-Tech Hack to Embezzle $2M From CT Business Headed to Prison: Feds
IT Manager Who Used Low-Tech Hack to Embezzle $2M From CT Business Headed to Prison: Feds A Connecticut man will spend two years in federal prison after stealing nearly $2 million from his employer and dodging hundreds of thousands in taxes over a seven-year scheme, authorities said. Evan Bobzin, 39, of Chester, was sentenced to 24 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, after admitting to embezzling $1.9 million from Hoffman’s Gun Center in Newington, where he worked as head of information technology, according to the US Attorney for Connecticut. Prosecutors said Bobzin used his insider access to methodically steal cash receipts from the store's safe …
Greenwich Investment Firm Founder Stole Millions In Clients' Cash: Feds Greenwich Investment Firm Founder Stole Millions In Clients' Cash: Feds
Greenwich Investment Firm Founder Stole Millions In Clients' Cash: Feds A 49-year-old Connecticut man faces potentially decades in prison after he allegedly defrauded and stole $3.5 million of his client's money for years, federal authorities said.  Justin C. Murphy, 49, of Stamford, is charged with 15 counts of wire fraud, five counts of money laundering, and three counts of tax evasion, the US Attorney for Connecticut announced on Tuesday, Nov. 5.  Murphy ran the Greenwich-based investment firm Mara. The company also went by Mara Investment Group, LLC, Mara Investment Management LP, and Mara Investments Global Management LLC.  Federal inv…
Businessman Gets Year In Prison For Tax Evasion, Must Pay $237K: Feds Businessman Gets Year In Prison For Tax Evasion, Must Pay $237K: Feds
Businessman Gets Year In Prison For Tax Evasion, Must Pay $237K: Feds A Connecticut businessman who admitted to hiding cash from the government for a decade was sentenced to a year and a day in prison and had to pay more than $200,000, federal authorities said.  Vishal Dhar, age 56, of New Canaan in Fairfield County, pleaded guilty to tax evasion in May and was sentenced on Monday, Oct, 7, the US Attorney for Connecticut said. He must serve two years of probation after he is released.  Dhar was accused of operating multiple entities such as Grey Brown, Inc. (a holding company for several restaurants operating under the name “Oaxaca Taqueria”), West …
CT Man Accused Of Ripping Off Amazon Workers CT Man Accused Of Ripping Off Amazon Workers
CT Man Accused Of Ripping Off Amazon Workers A Connecticut man accused of stealing dozens of high-end goods from Amazon workers faces federal charges.  Terrell Kimble, age 44, of Hartford, is charged with four counts of wire fraud, and was released after posting a $250,000 bail, the US Attorney for Connecticut said.  Kimble worked as a regional fleet specialist for Amazon and oversaw a rewards program called Coupa that would give high-performing workers high-end electronics like Apple iPads, AirPods, Apple Watches, and Nintendo Switches.  Federal prosecutors said Kimble kept those gifts for himself and had the items se…