Tag:

FBI

Low Prices, High Buyers: Police Bust Drug Ring Run Out Of CT Car Dealership, Feds Say Low Prices, High Buyers: Police Bust Drug Ring Run Out Of CT Car Dealership, Feds Say
Low Prices, High Buyers: Police Bust Drug Ring Run Out Of CT Car Dealership, Feds Say A federal investigation dismantled a drug trafficking operation allegedly run out of a Connecticut car dealership, leading to the arrest of 13 people on narcotics distribution charges, authorities said.  Investigators seized more than 10 pounds of cocaine, over 200 grams of fentanyl, 30 grams of heroin, seven firearms, $75,000 in cash, and 26 vehicles during searches of the Supreme Automotive dealership in New Britain and locations linked to those arrested, said the United States District Attorney for Connecticut.  The investigation, led by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Tas…
Racist Texts Sent To CT Students, Kids Across Country Promises Return Of Slavery Racist Texts Sent To CT Students, Kids Across Country Promises Return Of Slavery
Racist Texts Sent To CT Students, Kids Across Country Promises Return Of Slavery Students in Connecticut were not spared a racist text message that has been received by children across the country threatening to put Black and Brown men and women into plantation slavery under the Donald Trump administration.  Authorities in Bloomfield in Hartford County posted a statement on Facebook saying the school system condemns "any and all forms of racism, prejudice, or hate within our community." Racist language, behavior, and rhetoric have no place in Bloomfield, and we are committed to ensuring that every member of our community feels safe, valued, and respected. In c…
Women Claimed Elite Hackers Made Her Life A Nightmare For Years, But She Did It All: Police Women Claimed Elite Hackers Made Her Life A Nightmare For Years, But She Did It All: Police
Women Claimed Elite Hackers Made Her Life A Nightmare For Years, But She Did It All: Police A 63-year-old Connecticut woman told police for years she and another person were the target of an ongoing online harassment campaign that lasted years by an anonymous person who made their lives miserable. But she was sending the messages and threats, police in New Haven County said.  Deborah Ann Calloutas, age 63, of Wolcott, is facing several felonies linked to the alleged faked harassment that went on for years, Connecticut State Police said.  Calloutas first reached out to police in 2021 to say she and her unnamed friend were the targets of hackers who were doctoring their ph…
Ex-Abercrombie CEO Forced Aspiring Models To Take Part In ‘Sex Events,' Feds Say Ex-Abercrombie CEO Forced Aspiring Models To Take Part In ‘Sex Events,' Feds Say
Ex-Abercrombie CEO Forced Aspiring Models To Take Part In ‘Sex Events,' Feds Say Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries preyed on aspiring models and coerced them into prostitution in order to satisfy his and others’ sexual desires, prosecutors alleged. The 80-year-old Jeffries – along with his life partner Matthew Smith and a third defendant, James Jacobson – are named in a 16-count sex trafficking indictment unsealed in Central Islip federal court on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Prosecutors said the trio relied on Jeffries’ wealth and status, along with a network of employees, contractors, and security professionals, to victimize dozens of men over a seven year peri…
Detective Out Of Coma After Brain Surgery As Community Rallies Around His Family Detective Out Of Coma After Brain Surgery As Community Rallies Around His Family
Detective Out Of Coma After Brain Surgery As Community Rallies Around His Family A fundraiser for a Connecticut police veteran who had fallen into a coma following surgery to remove a brain tumor has raised more than $100,000 to support his family.  Greenwich Police Detective Mike Rooney underwent the delicate procedure at Yale New Haven Hospital earlier this month, but, during the operation, he suffered a "tremendous amount of swelling" and fell into a coma, said Peter Schmitt, president of the Greenwich Police Silver Shield Association.  Schmitt called it the "battle of (Rooney's) life. It's a fight that the Marine veteran is beginning to win. …
Rally Rage: NY Trump Event's $1M Police Overtime Bill May Have Broken Finance Laws, Dems Argue Rally Rage: NY Trump Event's $1M Police Overtime Bill May Have Broken Finance Laws, Dems Argue
Rally Rage: NY Trump Event's $1M Police Overtime Bill May Have Broken Finance Laws, Dems Argue Who should foot the bill – taxpayers or the campaign? Democrats on Long Island are seething after learning that the extra-tight security measures around former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally at the Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, Sept. 18, cost taxpayers $1 million in police overtime alone. Ahead of the rally – which came just days after what the FBI called an apparent second assassination attempt on Trump’s life in Florida – Nassau County leaders outlined the extensive security measures that were being taken around the arena. Earlier Report: Security Top Of Mind For Trump's …
Warning Issued For Nationwide Automated 'Sextortion' Scam: Here's What To Know Warning Issued For Nationwide Automated 'Sextortion' Scam: Here's What To Know
Warning Issued For Nationwide Automated 'Sextortion' Scam: Here's What To Know Authorities are warning the public of a nationwide automated scam in which scammers use people’s email addresses to coerce payments by intimidating them with threats of embarrassment. Victims of the "sextortion" scheme, usually children and teens, are manipulated to photograph or video material for extortionists. "After receiving the sexually explicit content from the child, the offender threatens to release that compromising material unless the victim produces additional explicit material," said the FBI in issuing the warning to parents, educators, caregivers, and children. In a sepa…
Trump Rally: False Report Of Bomb Outside NY Arena Amid Heightened Security Concerns Trump Rally: False Report Of Bomb Outside NY Arena Amid Heightened Security Concerns
Trump Rally: False Report Of Bomb Outside NY Arena Amid Heightened Security Concerns Reports that explosives were found outside the New York arena where former President Donald Trump will hold a campaign rally were unfounded, police said. On Long Island, Nassau County Police responded to a report that a bomb was found inside a parked car outside the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale on Wednesday morning, Sept. 18. A short time later, Commissioner Patrick Ryder put out a statement saying detectives were questioning a person who may have been training a bomb detection dog near the site. Earlier Report: Security Top Of Mind For Trump's Nassau Coliseum Rally, First Since Att…
Suspicious White Powder Sent To Election Offices Across Country — Including CT Suspicious White Powder Sent To Election Offices Across Country — Including CT
Suspicious White Powder Sent To Election Offices Across Country — Including CT A package with a suspicious white substance was intercepted at a United States Post Office in Connecticut earlier this week and could be part of a much larger scheme to disrupt or scare election workers ahead of election day, authorities said.  The package was found at a West Hartford post office on Monday, Sept. 16, the Connecticut Secretary of State said in a news release. No one was injured, but the contents were sent to a lab for testing.  Election offices in New York, Tennessee, Wyoming, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, Massachusetts, …
Security Top Of Mind For Trump's NY Campaign Rally, First Since Attempted Shooting Security Top Of Mind For Trump's NY Campaign Rally, First Since Attempted Shooting
Security Top Of Mind For Trump's NY Campaign Rally, First Since Attempted Shooting Security will be extra tight ahead of former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in New York, his first since an apparent second assassination attempt on his life. The Republican presidential nominee, age 78, will address supporters on Long Island at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18. It will mark his first visit to Nassau County since his presidential run in 2016. Earlier Report: Trump To Hold Campaign Rally In NY: Here's Where, When For local leaders, security around the event is top of mind. The Nassau County Police Department …
Ex-Aide To 2 NY Governors Raked In Millions As Agent Of Chinese Government: Feds Ex-Aide To 2 NY Governors Raked In Millions As Agent Of Chinese Government: Feds
Ex-Aide To 2 NY Governors Raked In Millions As Agent Of Chinese Government: Feds This story has been updated. A former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is accused of acting as an agent for the Chinese government. Long Island residents Linda Sun, age 41, and her husband Chris Hu, age 40, were arrested at their Manhasset home on Tuesday morning, Sept. 3, on charges of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, money laundering, and related charges. According to federal prosecutors, Sun – who served as Hochul’s deputy chief of staff before being fired in 2023 – engaged in numerous political activities at the behest of Chinese government …
Woman Caught Sharing Child Porn In CT, Greenwich Police Assist In Bust: Feds Woman Caught Sharing Child Porn In CT, Greenwich Police Assist In Bust: Feds
Woman Caught Sharing Child Porn In CT, Greenwich Police Assist In Bust: Feds Police in Connecticut worked with federal investigators to arrest a 23-year-old woman who authorities say shared child sexual abuse material online and discussed wanting to sexually abuse kids on social media.  Westchester County resident Sasha May, of Pelham, is charged with distributing child pornography, the US Attorney for Connecticut said.  May is accused of sending the offending material to an undercover officer between December 2023 and May 2023 through the social media platforms Kik and Whisper. In conversations with the agent, May detailed her sexual interest in chil…
Adult Film Actor From NY Accused Of Distributing Child Pornography Adult Film Actor From NY Accused Of Distributing Child Pornography
Adult Film Actor From NY Accused Of Distributing Child Pornography An adult film actor who resides in New York has been accused of sending and receiving hundreds of videos of child pornography, federal authorities announced. Justin Heath Smith, who uses the stage name “Austin Wolf.” sent images depicting children as young as infants, "including a ghastly video showing a young child bound, beaten, and raped," said Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. In addition to sharing child pornography via the Telegram app, the 43-year-old Smith was also charged with possessing hundreds of additional videos conta…
CT Man Started Explicit Chat With Girl On Day Before Being Sentenced For Sexual Assault: Feds CT Man Started Explicit Chat With Girl On Day Before Being Sentenced For Sexual Assault: Feds
CT Man Started Explicit Chat With Girl On Day Before Being Sentenced For Sexual Assault: Feds Following a months-long investigation, a 26-year-old Connecticut man faces federal child pornography charges after having sexually explicit conversations over the internet with a young girl, officials announced.  Hartford resident Marvyn Escobar was arrested on Tuesday, June 25 in connection with an investigation into child pornography, according to Hartford Police Lieutenant Aaron Boisvert.  According to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut, an investigation conducted by Hartford Police and the FBI found that Escobar used the Discord social media platform…
'Stop Calling Me Names,' Gabby Petito Wrote To Boyfriend Brian Laundrie: FBI Report 'Stop Calling Me Names,' Gabby Petito Wrote To Boyfriend Brian Laundrie: FBI Report
'Stop Calling Me Names,' Gabby Petito Wrote To Boyfriend Brian Laundrie: FBI Report Gabby Petito, the 22-year-old Long Island native who was killed by her fiancé Brian Laundrie in 2021, wrote him a letter imploring him to stop calling her names, according to FBI documents. Related: FBI Reveals How Brian Laundrie Took Responsibility For Gabby Petito’s Death The 300-plus documents, recently released by the FBI, outline the investigation and offer a glimpse into what transpired before and after the Suffolk County, Blue Point resident was killed by the man she said she loved in an undated letter included in the release. "You know how much I love you, so (and I'm writi…
Explosion At Apartment Building Causes Evacuation In Bridgeport Explosion At Apartment Building Causes Evacuation In Bridgeport
Explosion At Apartment Building Causes Evacuation In Bridgeport Police, along with the FBI, are investigating an explosion in the hallway of an apartment complex in Fairfield County that sent residents scrambling for safety. Related: Person Of Interest Arrested In Bridgeport Apartment Explosion The explosion occurred in Bridgeport at around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 13, outside a third-floor apartment unit at 1512 North Ave. According to Capt. Kevin Gilleran of the Bridgeport Police, first responders discovered what appeared to be damage from an explosion that went off in the hallway outside one of the apartments on the third floor. No injur…
These CT Locales Among Best Places To Live In America, Brand-New Ranking Says These CT Locales Among Best Places To Live In America, Brand-New Ranking Says
These CT Locales Among Best Places To Live In America, Brand-New Ranking Says When it comes to putting down your roots, these Connecticut locales are among the best in the nation, according to a brand-new ranking. Two cities in the Constitution State made U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 “Best Places to Live in the US” ranking. Researchers pulled data from a variety of sources, including thousands of public survey responses, the US Census Bureau, FBI crime statistics, and school and hospital rankings to come up with the top 150 American cities. Cities were ranked using four key indicators: value, desirability, job market, and quality of life. The following Conn…
Capitol Riot: MTA Worker, Wife From NY Participated In Jan. 6 Breach, Feds Say Capitol Riot: MTA Worker, Wife From NY Participated In Jan. 6 Breach, Feds Say
Capitol Riot: MTA Worker, Wife From NY Participated In Jan. 6 Breach, Feds Say A husband and wife from New York are the latest to be charged in connection with the breach of the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Long Island residents Kevin Moore, age 61, and Carol Moore, age 57, of Massapequa, are named in a four-count criminal complaint that was filed in US District Court in Washington, DC on Monday, May 13. According to investigators, the couple attended then-President Donald Trump’s speech at the Ellipse that morning before making their way to the Capitol building. Along the way, Carol Moore was seen draped in a blue Trump flag. Earlier Report: Pot-Smoking NY Rioter …
Undercover Sting Leads To Child Exploitation Charges For 4 In CT Undercover Sting Leads To Child Exploitation Charges For 4 In CT
Undercover Sting Leads To Child Exploitation Charges For 4 In CT Four men were charged for allegedly making deals with undercover police to have sex with a 15-year-old girl. The arrests occurred in Hartford County on Friday, April 19, at an undisclosed hotel in Hartford. According to Lt. Aaron Boisvert of the Hartford Police, the Special Investigations Division conducted an undercover sting operation to target and combat child exploitation.  The operation was located at an undisclosed hotel within the City of Hartford. Undercover law enforcement personnel assumed the identity of a 15-year-old girl’s aunt on the internet and engaged in dia…
Ex-Court Employee Impersonated FBI Agent, Falsely Reported Domestic Incident In Wilton: Police Ex-Court Employee Impersonated FBI Agent, Falsely Reported Domestic Incident In Wilton: Police
Ex-Court Employee Impersonated FBI Agent, Falsely Reported Domestic Incident In Wilton: Police A former Connecticut court employee has found himself on the other side of the courtroom after allegedly impersonating an FBI agent. New Haven resident Perry Charnas, age 39, was arrested by New Haven Police on an open warrant Tuesday, April 9. According to Wilton Police, Charnas attempted to impersonate an FBI agent after making several phone calls to the agency in October 2022. During the calls, he allegedly made a false report about a domestic incident at an address in Wilton. No other details about the alleged crimes were released. Charnas is charged with criminal impersonation and …
Man Tries To Traffic 15-Year-Old Girl In Multiple CT Towns, Police Say Man Tries To Traffic 15-Year-Old Girl In Multiple CT Towns, Police Say
Man Tries To Traffic 15-Year-Old Girl In Multiple CT Towns, Police Say A man has been arrested after authorities said he was caught planning to traffic a teen girl for money in Connecticut. The New Haven County incident was investigated by the FBI and Meriden Police Department, leading to the arrest of 35-year-old Gary Taylor on Thursday, March 21. During the investigation, Taylor spoke to who he believed to be a 15-year-old girl. As he spoke to the girl, police said Taylor expressed interest in trafficking her in nearby towns for money. Police said he then traveled to Meriden to meet up with the girl, only to be arrested and charged with the following: …
Thief Who Stole $1.5M Worth Of Luxury Cars In NJ, Rockland, Long Island, CT Gets 3½ Years Thief Who Stole $1.5M Worth Of Luxury Cars In NJ, Rockland, Long Island, CT Gets 3½ Years
Thief Who Stole $1.5M Worth Of Luxury Cars In NJ, Rockland, Long Island, CT Gets 3½ Years 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: The last of four men who admitted stealing more than $1.5 million worth of luxury cars in New Jersey, Rockland County, Long Island and Connecticut was sentenced to nearly 3½ years in federal prison. Malik Baker, 30, of Vauxhall, and his three co-conspirators stashed at least 10 of the vehicles at a central location in Irvington, NJ, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip Sellinger said. The Essex County-based quartet often used one stolen vehicle to swipe another, he added. In one instance, Sellinger said, the crew swiped a Maserati GranTurismo at the Jersey Shore in Manalapan an…
Danbury Man Accused Of Trafficking Large Quantities Of Fentanyl Danbury Man Accused Of Trafficking Large Quantities Of Fentanyl
Danbury Man Accused Of Trafficking Large Quantities Of Fentanyl A Fairfield County man has been charged by indictment with fentanyl trafficking. Jairo Abreu, age 31, of Danbury, was indicted on Tuesday, March 12, said Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut, As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, an investigation by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and Hartford Police Department revealed that Abreu was trafficking fentanyl into Hartford.  Abreu was arrested on state charges on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. Following his arrest, a search of his Danbury residence revealed approximately three k…
CT Man Admits Robbing 2 Businesses, Pistol-Whipping Clerks: Feds CT Man Admits Robbing 2 Businesses, Pistol-Whipping Clerks: Feds
CT Man Admits Robbing 2 Businesses, Pistol-Whipping Clerks: Feds A man faces decades in prison after admitting to robbing two Connecticut businesses and pistol-whipping clerks at both, federal officials announced.  New Haven County resident Kenneth Strothers of Meriden, age 27, pleaded guilty on Monday, Feb. 26 to federal robbery charges, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced on Tuesday, Feb. 27.  According to federal officials, Strothers was the focus of an FBI investigation into several armed robberies that happened in Connecticut in early 2021. This investigation determined that Strothers had committed at least t…
Norwalk Police Warn Of Potential 'Street Takeover' Event This Weekend Norwalk Police Warn Of Potential 'Street Takeover' Event This Weekend
Norwalk Police Warn Of Potential 'Street Takeover' Event This Weekend One of Connecticut's largest cities is warning residents of a potential street takeover event planned for the weekend. According to Chief James Walsh of the Norwalk Police Department, the event is scheduled to take place on Saturday evening, Jan. 13 in the area of Connecticut Avenue. Walsh said the police department found out about the event while working with the state police and the FBI. In response to this information, the Norwalk Police Department and the state police have planned a significant response to strategically deter and maintain order, Walsh said. "As we have seen in re…
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…
IDs Released For Couple Killed In Fiery Crash On Bridge Linking NY, Canada Caught On Video IDs Released For Couple Killed In Fiery Crash On Bridge Linking NY, Canada Caught On Video
IDs Released For Couple Killed In Fiery Crash On Bridge Linking NY, Canada Caught On Video The identities have now been released of a couple killed after crashing near a bridge connecting the United States and Canada on one of the year's busiest travel days. The Thanksgiving Eve incident happened early Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 22 on the Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls, New York. Niagara Falls Police say  Kurt Villani, and his wife, Monica Villani, both age 53, died in the vehicle explosion which led to a federal investigation. The two were residents of Grand Island, New York, located about 10 miles southeast of Niagara Falls. Authorities say the couple had originally been…
Mother’s Intuition? Trish Sena Made Prophetic Comment Before Daughter Charlotte's NY Rescue Mother’s Intuition? Trish Sena Made Prophetic Comment Before Daughter Charlotte's NY Rescue
Mother’s Intuition? Trish Sena Made Prophetic Comment Before Daughter Charlotte's NY Rescue Call it mother’s intuition. As the dreaded 48-hour mark approached since 9-year-old Charlotte Sena disappeared from a state park in New York, her mother suddenly had a feeling that everything would be alright just before the girl was rescued, according to Albany radio station WGNA.  Speaking with the station’s “Brian and Chrissy in the Morning” show Tuesday, Oct. 3, Charlotte’s aunt, Jene′ Sena, said the girl’s parents Trisha and Dave were gathered with friends and relatives around their campsite when Trisha made a rather prophetic statement. "I don't know...maybe it's mother's intuition,…
Support Swells For Charlotte Sena's Family After NY Girl's Kidnapping: 'Going To Be Long Road' Support Swells For Charlotte Sena's Family After NY Girl's Kidnapping: 'Going To Be Long Road'
Support Swells For Charlotte Sena's Family After NY Girl's Kidnapping: 'Going To Be Long Road' The hallways of the Corinth Central School District were flooded with orange Tuesday morning, Oct. 3, as students and teachers celebrated the safe return of 9-year-old Charlotte Sena following her kidnapping at a state park in New York and subsequent rescue two days later. “Promote unity by wearing your orange!” reads a message on the district’s Facebook page. “Other schools in our region will be wearing orange to support Corinth, too.” The heartwarming display hinted at the immense support the community has shown the girl’s family throughout the terrifying 48-hour manhunt that garnered na…
Gilgo Beach Murders: Police Investigating Possible Link Between Alleged Killer, Missing Woman Gilgo Beach Murders: Police Investigating Possible Link Between Alleged Killer, Missing Woman
Gilgo Beach Murders: Police Investigating Possible Link Between Alleged Killer, Missing Woman Authorities are investigating a possible connection between Gilgo Beach murder suspect Rex Heuermann and the disappearance of a South Carolina woman around six years ago. Julia Ann Bean was last seen in Sumter County, South Carolina on May 31, 2017. Her daughter reported her missing nearly six months later. On Sunday, Aug. 20, someone claiming to be Bean’s friend contacted the sheriff’s office and claimed to have information in the case, the agency announced on Facebook. Earlier Report: Gilgo Beach Murders: Pizza Crust Helped Nab Suspect Who Allegedly Taunted Victim's Family The perso…
Westport Man Charged In Jan. 6 Attack On US Capitol Westport Man Charged In Jan. 6 Attack On US Capitol
Westport Man Charged In Jan. 6 Attack On US Capitol A Connecticut man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting law enforcement, related to his actions during the breach of the US Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021.  Fairfield County resident Benjamin Cohen, age 21, of Westport, was arrested on Wednesday, Aug. 9 in Westport, said the US Department of Justice. Cohen was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, both felony offenses.  He had traveled with his mother to Washington to attend the rally, …