NY Man Sentenced For Role In $12M Ponzi Scheme Targeting Nearly 50 Victims NY Man Sentenced For Role In $12M Ponzi Scheme Targeting Nearly 50 Victims
NY Man Sentenced For Role In $12M Ponzi Scheme Targeting Nearly 50 Victims A New York man was sentenced for his role in a $12 million Ponzi scheme that targeted nearly 50 victims from throughout the region and the nation between 2015 and 2017. Long Island resident Matthew Eckstein, age 52, of Syosset, was sentenced on Monday, July 11 to three-and-a-half to 10-and-a-half years in prison. Eckstein originally pleaded guilty to the charges on September 26, 2019, but later withdrew his plea. A new indictment was secured in August 2020, but court closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic further delayed the case. “This defendant preyed upon seniors and hard-working men…
Trio Nabbed After Robbery Spree Targeting CT Stores Statewide Trio Nabbed After Robbery Spree Targeting CT Stores Statewide
Trio Nabbed After Robbery Spree Targeting CT Stores Statewide Three Connecticut men have been charged with committing at least eight robberies of convenience and smoke shops across the state earlier this year. The three were indicted by a grand jury on Thursday, June 16 in New Haven County, said Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Those charged include Steven Galarza, age 24, of Seymour; Efrain Deleon, age 58, and Gilberto Deleon, age 56, both of New Britain, officials said. As alleged in the indictment and other court documents, between February and March, the men, using fake firearms robbed the following retail locat…
CT Store Owner, Worker Admit Defrauding Federal Program CT Store Owner, Worker Admit Defrauding Federal Program
CT Store Owner, Worker Admit Defrauding Federal Program The owner of a Connecticut convenience store and his father, who helped him operate the business, have admitted to a food stamps fraud offense.  Hartford County residents Javed Saeed, age 52, and 68-year-old Dastgir Saeed, both of South Windsor, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, May 10, to conspiracy to commit food stamp fraud, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Javed is the owner of the Manchester Quick Mart and Mobil gas station, which is located at 262 Oakland St. in Manchester, the US Attorney's Office reported. His fathe…
Three From CT Among Four Nabbed For Trafficking Cocaine Through US Mail Three From CT Among Four Nabbed For Trafficking Cocaine Through US Mail
Three From CT Among Four Nabbed For Trafficking Cocaine Through US Mail Four are facing charges for allegedly trafficking cocaine from Puerto Rico into Connecticut, federal authorities announced. A federal grand jury in New Haven announced the indictment of four suspects with cocaine traffic offenses for their roles in the operation, which lasted months. Those charged: Jean Mangual-Castro, age 34, of West Haven; Jason Spearman, also known as “J” and “Deuce,” age 34, of New Haven; Enid Castro, age 52, of West Haven; Maria Alejandra Perrez Torres, also known as “Alej,” and “Alejandra Perez,” age 21, of Villalba, Puerto Rico. US Attorney Leonard Boyle said that…
Former Official In Massachusetts Sentenced For $2.3 Million Fraud Scheme Former Official In Massachusetts Sentenced For $2.3 Million Fraud Scheme
Former Official In Massachusetts Sentenced For $2.3 Million Fraud Scheme A former employee of a Massachusetts city's housing development office was sentenced for her role in a $2.3 million property development fraud scheme. Jacklyn Sutcivni, age 48, of the Middlesex County town of Dracut, was sentenced to 40 months in prison and three years of supervised release for wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and false claims, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced on Monday, March 28. She was convicted of the charges on Aug. 4. Sutcivni was an employee of the City of Worcester’s Housi…
Pittsfield Man Sentenced For Multi-Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Pittsfield Man Sentenced For Multi-Drug Trafficking Conspiracy
Pittsfield Man Sentenced For Multi-Drug Trafficking Conspiracy A 54-year-old man from Western Massachusetts was sentenced for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Berkshire County resident Edward Chapman, of Pittsfield, was sentenced on Thursday, March 10, to 11 years in prison and eight years of supervised release, according to an announcement from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. In March of 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, oxycodone, and …
Eight In CT Charged For Roles In Drug Distribution Ring Eight In CT Charged For Roles In Drug Distribution Ring
Eight In CT Charged For Roles In Drug Distribution Ring Eight people are facing federal charges for their roles in a massive drug distribution ring throughout Connecticut that led to the seizure of cocaine and nearly $800,000, authorities announced. US Attorney Leonard Boyle announced that eight suspects have been charged for distributing fentanyl, heroin, crack, and powder cocaine in the New Haven area following a federal and local investigation. Those charged: Jason Spearman, also known as “J,” and “Deuce,” age 33, of New Haven; Henry Horton, also known as “Bodie,” age 39, of New Haven; Jayquan Martinez, also known as “Neighbor,” and “Quan,…
CT Man Involved In Drug Ring Sentenced CT Man Involved In Drug Ring Sentenced
CT Man Involved In Drug Ring Sentenced A Connecticut man has been sentenced to 43 months in federal prison for his role in a southeastern Connecticut drug trafficking ring. New London County resident Victor Encarnacion, age 34, of Norwich, was sentenced on Thursday, Jan. 27, said Leonard Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut,  According to the US Attorney's Office, Encarnacion was busted during an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration into the distribution of narcotics and illegal possession of firearms in southeastern Connecticut.  The investigation, which included court-authorized wir…
Woman Nabbed For ID Theft Scheme In Fairfield County, Police Say Woman Nabbed For ID Theft Scheme In Fairfield County, Police Say
Woman Nabbed For ID Theft Scheme In Fairfield County, Police Say A woman is facing charges after police in Fairfield County said she opened cellular accounts using a victim's identity.  Annedlasia Porter, of Hartford, was arrested by New Canaan Police on Tuesday, Dec. 7, for two counts of conspiracy and four counts of third-degree identity theft, according to the New Canaan Police Department.  Police said Porter also uses the alias Jennifer Johnson, and on separate occasions told police that she is 28 years old and 21 years old. Police said investigators found that Porter had opened multiple cellular accounts at T-Mobile and Verizon wireless u…
Woman From Region Admits To Role In Fentanyl, Heroin, Cocaine Conspiracy Woman From Region Admits To Role In Fentanyl, Heroin, Cocaine Conspiracy
Woman From Region Admits To Role In Fentanyl, Heroin, Cocaine Conspiracy A Massachusetts woman has admitted to her role in a fentanyl, heroin and cocaine trafficking conspiracy.  Worcester County resident Amanda Ford, age 35, of Fitchburg, pleaded guilty on Friday, Dec. 3, to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and cocaine base, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. She is scheduled to be sentenced on March 22, the Attorney's Office said.  Ford was charged with 17 other defendants in July of 2020, and she is the 10th defendant to plead …
Former Resident In Region Sentenced For Charges Related To Sham Marriage Former Resident In Region Sentenced For Charges Related To Sham Marriage
Former Resident In Region Sentenced For Charges Related To Sham Marriage A former Western Massachusetts resident has been sentenced for entering into a sham marriage to obtain immigration benefits for another person. Phu Thanh Huynh, age 33, formerly of Springfield, has been sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $20,000 forfeiture after admitting to marrying a Vietnamese national in 2013. In September 2013, federal prosecutors said that Huynh married a Vietnamese national, referred to as Jane Doe, solely for the purpose of obtaining immigration benefits for Doe, never living together after the sham marriage. In late 2013 or early 2014, Huynh w…
Man Charged In Fairfield County Larceny Of Exercise Equipment Worth Over $68,000, Police Say Man Charged In Fairfield County Larceny Of Exercise Equipment Worth Over $68,000, Police Say
Man Charged In Fairfield County Larceny Of Exercise Equipment Worth Over $68,000, Police Say A 61-year-old man was charged after police in Fairfield County said he was involved in a larceny of exercise equipment worth more than $68,000. Police received a report on Nov. 24, 2020, from an individual who said they paid $68,562.57 for exercise equipment and never received it, according to the New Canaan Police Department.  The victim said they made multiple attempts to get the equipment delivered, authorities said.  Investigators determined that Kevin Rourke, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was involved in the larceny, police said.  Authorities said Rourke surrendered himse…