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$874K Scheme: Former Postmaster From Mass Defrauded Postal Service, Solicited Bribes: Feds
A 50-year-old Massachusetts man who once served as postmaster for a Fairfield County post office has admitted to defrauding the US Postal Service out of over $874,000 as part of a bribery, kickback, and embezzlement scheme that he operated, officials announced.
Former Brookfield resident Ephrem D. Nguyen, age 50, pleaded guilty to a fraud offense related to his scheme on Friday, Oct. 13, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced.
According to federal officials, Nguyen, who now lives in Quincy, Massachusetts in Norfolk County, had been employed b…
Police Locate Car In Fatal Hit-Run Crash In Region
Police have located a car that hit and killed a Connecticut man and then fled the scene.
The crash took place in Litchfield County around 5:11 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 8, in New Milford.
Fairfield County resident Galo Rafael Guaman-Sarmiento, age 61, of Danbury, was crossing Danbury Road when he was struck by a 2013-2016 black Ford Fusion, said the New Milford Police.
The driver, who has not been found, fled the scene, and Guaman-Sarmiento was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Police have been searching for the Fusion since the crash and located it on Saturday, Nov. 12, police said.
…
'I Take My Kids With Me': New England Mom Left Note Before Apparent Triple-Murder/Suicide
The Fairfield County mother who is accused of killing her three children before killing herself had been crying for days and left a suicide note for her husband, according to a new report.
The apparent triple murder-suicide happened on Wednesday, July 27 in Danbury, on Whaley Street.
The children, Junior Panjon, age 12, Joselyn Panjon, age 10, and Jonael Panjon, age 5, were found by police after the department received a request for a welfare check from a distraught and crying person, said Det. Capt. Mark Williams, of the Danbury Police.
That person turned out to be Pedro Panjon, the devas…
Mom Accused Of Killing 3 Kids Had Been Cited For Providing Illegal Day Care In Connecticut
The Connecticut mother who allegedly killed her three children before hanging herself was recently cited twice by the state for providing illegal daycare services.
The apparent triple murder-suicide in Fairfield County happened on Wednesday, July 27 in Danbury, on Whaley Street.
The children, Junior Panjon, age 12, Joselyn Panjon, age 10, and Jonael Panjon, age 5, were found by police after the department received a request for a welfare check from a distraught and crying person, said Det. Capt. Mark Williams.
According to Williams, the three all appear to have died by strangulation …
Man From The Region Walks Away Uninjured After NJ Plane Crash
A Fairfield County man was among three who escaped uninjured when the plane they were flying in ran off a runway and crashed at the Essex County Airport in New Jersey on Easter Sunday, authorities said.
The 2020 Citation CJ3 Plus was found at the end of Runway 22 in a drainage brook at approximately 2:40 p.m., on Sunday, April 17, police in Fairfield, New Jersey, said.
As police and EMS were arriving, the pilot and two passengers were climbing out, police said. They were identified as Corie Dave Bennett, age 45, of Danbury,; Carlos Rodriguez, age 57, of Poughkeepsie, NY; and the p…
Police Search For Delivery Driver From CT Whose Car Was Found In NY
A DoorDash driver and a driver for hire in the region has gone missing and authorities are asking the public's help in locating him.
Connecticut Carlos Reyes, age 20, was reported missing by his family members in Fairfield County at around 8 a.m. Thursday, March 31, according to the City of Danbury Police Department.
His family said they last saw him on Monday, March 28 at approximately 11 p.m.
Reyes was known to frequent Danbury, Waterbury, and Naugatuck, said police.
When Reyes was reported missing, investigators received information that Reyes’s vehicle, a 2008 gray…
Man From Region Wins $785,000 In Lottery
A Connecticut man cashed in a near million-dollar CT Lottery ticket that was sold from an area package store.
On Friday, Dec. 3 In Hartford County, Windsor resident Christopher Wujek won a $785,000 “MEGA Multiplier!” CT Lottery ticket that was sold to him at the Deerfield Package on Deerfield Road in Windsor.
Wujek wasn’t the only CT Lottery player to claim six-figure prizes.
A winning $300,000 “$1,000,000 Golden Riches" ticket was sold to a Trumbull resident at the Trumbull Super Stop on Main Street in Trumbull on Monday, Nov. 29, while the following day, New Haven County resident Marcos…
Woman From Region Wins $100,000 CT Lottery Prize
A trio of Connecticut residents is feeling lucky after cashing in winning CT Lottery tickets worth tens of thousands of dollars that were sold at area convenience stores.
On Tuesday, Nov. 23, New London County resident Hoai Tam Trinh, of Groton, cashed in a winning $50,000 "POWERBALL" ticket that was sold at the Veterans Convenience on Gold Star Highway in Groton.
Later that day, Hartford County resident Camilla Buckerrough, of Bristol, claimed a top $100,000 prize on a "$100,000 Cashword 11" ticket that was sold at the Pine Street Package Store in Bristol.
On Wednesday, Nov. 24,…
Longtime New England Resident Peter Buck, Subway Co-Founder, Dies
Fairfield County's Peter Buck, who became a billionaire after making a small investment in the sandwich shop that later became Subway, has died.
Buck, a longtime Danbury resident, died Thursday, Nov. 18, at Danbury Hospital, the company announced. A cause of death was not released. He was 90 years old.
In a statement by Subway CEO John Chidse, he praised Buck for his hands-on leadership style.
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of one of Subway’s founders, Dr. Peter Buck," Chidse said. "He was a shining example of a dedicated, hands-on leader, and an integral member of the S…
Woman's Body Found In Compact SUV At CT I-84 Commuter Lot
An investigation is underway after a body was found inside a parked compact SUV at a commuter parking lot in the region.
Just before 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, there was a report of a strong odor emanating from a gray, Honda CR-V, bearing a California license plate, parked in the I-84 eastbound Exit 2 lot in Danbury, Connecticut State Police said.
Responding troopers located a woman inside of the CR-V, who was pronounced dead at the scene, state police said.
The woman was identified as Joanna Lynne Walker, age 71, of Rancho Murieta, California, state police said.
The i…
Victim In CT Mall Shooting May Have Been Involved In Melee, Police Say
A 15-year-old who was shot inside a Fairfield County mall was likely part of the altercation that took place between at least eight people with another group, according to authorities.
The teen, who remains unidentified, has been transferred to Connecticut Children's Hospital and is in stable condition, said Danbury Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour. Police had originally reported her age as 16.
The shooting took place around 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 11, near the entrance to Macy's at Danbury Fair Mall, Ridenhour said.
One person, described as a tall, thin male with dreadlocks who may be…
CT State Trooper Faces DUI Charge
A Connecticut State Police trooper has been arrested for driving under the influence and other charges in Fairfield County.
Trooper Andrew Murphy was arrested by Bethel Police around 2:10 a.m., Sunday, June 20, after an officer spotted him in a parking lot stumbling and apparently intoxicated, said Bethel PD Lt. Robert J. Durkin.
The officer spoke with Murphy and instructed him not to drive his vehicle, which was parked, Durkin said.
"Murphy disregarded the officer, entered his vehicle, and began driving," he said.
The officer attempted to stop Murphy using lights and sirens, b…
Woman Charged In Death Of Her 1-Year-Old Grandchild
A grandmother has been arrested in connection with the death of her 1-year-old grandchild.
Cora Brandon, age 60, of Danbury, was arrested by Danbury Police on Wednesday, May 26, for the Wednesday, March 17, death of the child.
The investigation into the death began when the Danbury Police Department were summoned to the Danbury Hospital for the untimely passing of the child, said Det. Lt. Mark Williams.
As the child’s death circumstances were suspicious, an investigation was initiated to determine the cause or reason for his passing.
The investigation findings implicated Brandon, th…
Witnesses Sought In Crash That Left Fairfield County Woman Dead, State Police Say
Police are asking for witnesses to a three-vehicle crash on the Litchfield Turnpike that left a 39-year-old Fairfield County woman dead.
Sharon May Piech, of Danbury, was killed around 1:34 p.m., Sunday, April 18 in Washington, following the violent crash, that also injured several other people, said the Connecticut State Police.
According to police, the crash took place when Piech was traveling westbound on the highway when she lost control of her 2015 Subaru Forrester for an unknown reason and crossed over into eastbound traffic sideswiping a 2018 Mercedes, before then hitting a 2018 Dodg…
ID Released For Man Found In Connecticut Pond
Police have announced that the body of a man found floating in a retention pond in Connecticut is that of a Fairfield County man.
Danbury Police said on Tuesday, April 13, that the body found in the pond at 55 Mill Plain Road, is that of Todd Smith, age 57, of Danbury, who has been missing since Saturday, Jan. 16, said Danbury Police Det. Lt. Mark Williams.
"The medical examiner found no apparent signs of trauma and could not provide an exact cause of death, as toxicology reports are still pending," Williams said.
However, the medical examiner was able to positively identify the deceased a…
Co-Owner Of Pepe's Pizza, Ranked No. 1 In America, Dies
A co-owner of Frank Pepe's, ranked No. 1 on Daily Meal's list of the 101 best pizzerias in America each of the last three years, has died.
Gary Bimonte died on Wednesday, April 7.
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, which has 12 locations in the Northeast (in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island), announced his death on the Facebook page of its flagship New Haven location and said the New Haven location would be closed Thursday, April 8.
Neither the circumstances surrounding his death nor his age have been immediately released.
On its website, the company posted a stat…
