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Southbury resident John Magness, 71, Peter Albrecht, 70, of Norwalk, and Carlos Santos, 60, of Westbrook, pleaded guilty to a federal charge related to the destruction of several sailboats and motorboats between the Black Rock Harbor and the Pennfield Reef Lighthouse in Long Island Sound.
U.S. Attorney John Durham said that Magness was the owner of Bluefish Cove Marina in Bridgeport who was attempting to sell the property two years ago.
Magness and Albrecht, who worked at the marina, had Santos sink several abandoned vessels in the Long Island Sound at the time without a permit, Durham said, in exchange for Magness forgiving Santos’ unpaid dockage fees.
Durham said that at least five vessels have been identified as being scuttled at Magness’s request between October 2018 and April 2019.
Specifically, each of the three men pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of navigable waters by sinking a vessel. If convicted, they face a term of one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
All three were released pending their sentencing. No return court date has been announced.
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