Western Mass Man Ordered To Pay $3M For Scheme To Defraud Company Western Mass Man Ordered To Pay $3M For Scheme To Defraud Company
Western Mass Man Ordered To Pay $3M For Scheme To Defraud Company A man from the region will have to pay millions of dollars after admitting to defrauding a Massachusetts-based company. Brian Halpern, age 49, of the town of Florida in Berkshire County, was sentenced in federal court in Boston Wednesday, April 27, after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering, the US Attorney’s Office said. Federal prosecutors said between 1998 and 2019, Halpern and others defrauded a uniform-supply business by creating a phony supply company that sent the uniform business more than $3 million in invoices for products that were never delivered or used. A judge…
CT Man Found Guilty Of Failing To Pay Taxes On $950K In Income CT Man Found Guilty Of Failing To Pay Taxes On $950K In Income
CT Man Found Guilty Of Failing To Pay Taxes On $950K In Income A Connecticut attorney was convicted of failing to pay taxes on about $950,000 in income. Deron Freeman, a resident of Glastonbury in Hartford County, was found guilty on Monday, April 18, of three counts of making and subscribing a false tax return and four counts of failure to pay income tax, according to Leonard Boyle, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Freeman, age 47, owned a law office in Hartford, where he primarily practiced in the areas of personal injury and criminal law, Boyle said.  The US Attorney's Office said Freeman fell "severely behind" in p…
Massachusetts Woman Sentenced For Role In Fentanyl, Heroin, Crack, Cocaine Conspiracy Massachusetts Woman Sentenced For Role In Fentanyl, Heroin, Crack, Cocaine Conspiracy
Massachusetts Woman Sentenced For Role In Fentanyl, Heroin, Crack, Cocaine Conspiracy A Massachusetts woman will spend years in prison after admitting to her role in a “wide-ranging” fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine trafficking conspiracy. Worcester County resident Amanda Ford, age 35, of Fitchburg, was sentenced to two years in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty in December 2021 to conspiracy and drug possession charges. Federal authorities launched an investigation into a drug trafficking organization run by Pedro and Anthony Baez in the Fitchburg area following a fatal fentanyl overdose in September of 2018, according to the US …
NY Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin Arrested For Alleged Scheme To Funnel Fraudulent Donations NY Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin Arrested For Alleged Scheme To Funnel Fraudulent Donations
NY Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin Arrested For Alleged Scheme To Funnel Fraudulent Donations New York State's No. 2 political official has been arrested in connection with a campaign-funding scheme during a previous campaign to run for New York City comptroller, federal officials announced. New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, who has been in the role for less than a year, is facing charges that include bribery, honest services wire fraud, and falsification of records following an investigation into probes from his former campaign. Benjamin - a former state senator from Harlem - joined New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration in September following her ascension into the role follo…
School Superintendent In New England Arrested By FBI Placed On Administrative Leave School Superintendent In New England Arrested By FBI Placed On Administrative Leave
School Superintendent In New England Arrested By FBI Placed On Administrative Leave A school superintendent in New England who was arrested by the FBI for allegedly making threats against a police chief candidate has placed on administrative leave. Western Massachusetts resident Lynn Clark age 51, of Belchertown in Hampden County, was arrested early Wednesday, April 6, said FBI Boston Division spokesperson Kristen Setera. Clark is the superintendent of Chicopee Public Schools. Assistance Superintendent Alvin Morton is now the district's acting superintendent, officials said.  Clark was arrested for allegedly making false statements in connection with sending threaten…
CT Man Accused Of Cyberstalking, Threatening Woman CT Man Accused Of Cyberstalking, Threatening Woman
CT Man Accused Of Cyberstalking, Threatening Woman A Connecticut man has been arrested for allegedly threatening, harassing, and intimidating a woman from the region through social media and email. Marshall Nicholas Fain, age 31, of New Haven, was arrested on Wednesday, Feb. 2, and charged with one count of cyberstalking and one count of transmitting threats through interstate commerce, said the US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts. According to the charging documents, Fain was in a relationship with the victim from Massachusetts for approximately two years, until it ended in August 2021.  Soon after, in September 20…
Holyoke Man Admits To Distributing Heroin, Crack Holyoke Man Admits To Distributing Heroin, Crack
Holyoke Man Admits To Distributing Heroin, Crack A Western Massachusetts man faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to distributing heroin and crack cocaine. Hampden County resident Ronny Authier, age 23, of Holyoke, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, the US Attorney's Office said. According to court documents and the US Attorney's Office, Authier sold drugs to an undercover agent in September 2019, totaling 12 grams of heroin. On a third occasion, he sold the agent 24 grams of crac…
CT Man Sentenced For Role In Northeast Grab-Go Theft Scheme CT Man Sentenced For Role In Northeast Grab-Go Theft Scheme
CT Man Sentenced For Role In Northeast Grab-Go Theft Scheme A Connecticut man has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for participating in an extensive commercial larceny spree. Andres Barclett, aka "Coolie", age 27, of Hartford, was sentenced on Wednesday, Dec. 1, followed by two years of supervised release, said Leonard C Boyle, Acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. This case stems from “Operation American Steal,” a long-term multi-agency investigation into numerous “grab and go” thefts from various retail fashion stores in Connecticut and nearby states," said Boyle.  A “grab-and-go” scheme is a type of theft where one or mor…
Businessman In Western Mass Admits To Role In Large Scale Drug Conspiracy Businessman In Western Mass Admits To Role In Large Scale Drug Conspiracy
Businessman In Western Mass Admits To Role In Large Scale Drug Conspiracy A Western Massachusetts businessman pleaded guilty in federal court in connection with a cocaine and heroin conspiracy. Hampden County resident, Jamil Roman, age 44, of Chicopee, the former owner and operator of TWC Auto Body in Holyoke pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Nov. 23 in federal court in Springfield in connection with the conspiracy in which he distributed and possessed with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, said Acting US Attorney Nathaniel R. Mandell. Roman was indicted in March 2016 along with co-defendant Javier Gonzalez after their initial charge and arr…
Massachusetts Landlord, Tenants Reach Settlement Over Sexual Harassment Claims Massachusetts Landlord, Tenants Reach Settlement Over Sexual Harassment Claims
Massachusetts Landlord, Tenants Reach Settlement Over Sexual Harassment Claims A property landlord in Massachusetts and one of his employees have reached a resolution for allegedly sexually harassing female tenants, the US Attorney’s Office announced. Mohan Prashad, who is a landlord in Worcester, and his employee David Besaw agreed to resolve allegations that they violated the Fair Housing Act by sexually harassing female tenants.  Acting US Attorney Nathaniel Mendell said that the settlement also resolves claims against Lanaton LLC and Savton LLC, which, along with Prashad, owned the properties where the harassment occurred. The lawsuit alleged that beginning …
CT Resident Admits To Filming Sexual Assault Of Child CT Resident Admits To Filming Sexual Assault Of Child
CT Resident Admits To Filming Sexual Assault Of Child A 31-year-old Connecticut resident has pleaded guilty to a child exploitation offense related to his sexual assault of a child.  Saeed Mustapha Moussa, a citizen of Ghana who last resided in East Hartford, pleaded guilty on Monday, Nov. 15, to one count of production of child pornography, according to Leonard Boyle, acting United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. In September 2020, East Hartford Police received a report that Moussa had videos on his cell phone which showed him engaging in sexual activity with a child, Boyle said.  Police searched Moussa's home…
Man From Region Sentenced For Multi-Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Man From Region Sentenced For Multi-Drug Trafficking Conspiracy
Man From Region Sentenced For Multi-Drug Trafficking Conspiracy A Massachusetts man was sentenced to five years in prison in connection with fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine trafficking conspiracy. Robert Young, 50, of Worcester, was sentenced on Thursday, Nov. 18, by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman. According to court documents, in October 2018, Young pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin, cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl. In April 2017, law enforcement began investigating drug sales made by Young and co-conspirator Daniel Donald on Groton Street in Worcester, the US Attorney's Office said. On Nov.…