Tag:

District of Massachusetts

‘Golden Mess’: Mass State Troopers Took Bribes For Commercial Drivers Licenses, Feds Say ‘Golden Mess’: Mass State Troopers Took Bribes For Commercial Drivers Licenses, Feds Say
‘Golden Mess’: Mass State Troopers Took Bribes For Commercial Drivers Licenses, Feds Say Two current and two former Massachusetts State Police troopers are among six people charged in a 74-count indictment related to an alleged conspiracy to falsify records and give passing scores to Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) applicants in exchange for bribes, officials said. Those applicants include people who failed or did not take the CDL skills test, according to Acting US Attorney Joshua Levy for the District of Massachusetts. Related: Man Turned Massachusetts College Jobs Into An Illegal Fortune, Now He's Going To Prison: Feds The following people were charged on three coun…
CT Man Charged With Attempted Human Smuggling CT Man Charged With Attempted Human Smuggling
CT Man Charged With Attempted Human Smuggling A 41-year-old Connecticut man is accused of running a business to illegally smuggle people from Brazil to the United States and extorting his clients during their journey. Fagner Chaves De Lima, of East Hartford, was charged with one count of attempted human smuggling, according to an announcement from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts on Thursday, June 30. “It is alleged that Mr. De Lima orchestrated an elaborate and manipulative human smuggling operation. For a steep price, Mr. De Lima allegedly made arrangements for victims to travel fro…
Massachusetts Man Sentenced For Child Exploitation Offenses Massachusetts Man Sentenced For Child Exploitation Offenses
Massachusetts Man Sentenced For Child Exploitation Offenses A 49-year-old Massachusetts man was sentenced to years in prison after pleading guilty to child exploitation offenses. David Cerasuolo, a resident of Plainville in Norfolk County, was sentenced to eight years in prison and five years of supervised release, according to Rachael S. Rollins, the United States attorney for the District of Massachusetts. Cerasuolo pleaded guilty to one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor and one count of possession of child pornography on Friday, March 4, the US Attorney's Office said Beginning in June of 2020, Cerasuolo us…
Massachusetts Woman Sentenced For Embezzling Nearly $800K From Employer Massachusetts Woman Sentenced For Embezzling Nearly $800K From Employer
Massachusetts Woman Sentenced For Embezzling Nearly $800K From Employer A Massachusetts woman has been sentenced for charges connected to her scheme to embezzle more than $796,000 from her employer. Middlesex County resident Kayla Figelski, age 34, of Malden, was sentenced on Friday, June 3, to three years in prison and two years of supervised release, according to Rachael Rollins, United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. She pleaded guilty to seven counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft in May of 2021, Rollins said. According to the announcement, she was also ordered to pay $796,747 in restitution. The US Attorn…
Western Massachusetts Man Admits To Possessing More Than 100 Images Of Child Pornography Western Massachusetts Man Admits To Possessing More Than 100 Images Of Child Pornography
Western Massachusetts Man Admits To Possessing More Than 100 Images Of Child Pornography A man from Western Massachusetts has pleaded guilty to possessing more than 100 images of child pornography. Hampden County resident Herve Plasse, age 67, of Chicopee, entered a guilty plea on Monday, May 9, to one count of possession of child pornography, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. He was indicted in September of 2019, the announcement said.  A search of his residence in July of 2015 revealed more than 100 images of child pornography on his computer, the US Attorney's Office reported. He admitted he had accessed a we…
FBI Arrests Superintendent Of Schools In New England FBI Arrests Superintendent Of Schools In New England
FBI Arrests Superintendent Of Schools In New England The FBI has arrested a school superintendent in the region for allegedly obstructing the department's investigation into the alleged extortion of a city employee. 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. Clark was arrested for allegedly making false statements in connection with sending threatening messages to a candidate for Chicopee chief of police, said US Attorney Rachael S. Rollins …
Ex-Employee From Connecticut Charged For $575K Corporate Fraud Scheme, Feds Say Ex-Employee From Connecticut Charged For $575K Corporate Fraud Scheme, Feds Say
Ex-Employee From Connecticut Charged For $575K Corporate Fraud Scheme, Feds Say A Connecticut man has been charged in an alleged scheme to defraud his former employer out of more than $575,000. Hartford County resident Ariel Legassa, age 49, of the town of Burlington, was arrested and charged with mail fraud, according to a report from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts on Wednesday, Feb. 2. Legassa made his first appearance in federal court on Wednesday, the report said.  Legassa is accused of orchestrating a scheme to defraud New England Sports Network from December 2020 to January 2022. He allegedly negotiated a le…
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…
Western Massachusetts Man Admits To Failing To Register As Sex Offender Western Massachusetts Man Admits To Failing To Register As Sex Offender
Western Massachusetts Man Admits To Failing To Register As Sex Offender A 34-year-old man from Western Massachusetts has pleaded guilty to failing to register as a sex offender. Berkshire County resident Jarrett Woodruff, of Pittsfield, pleaded guilty on Friday, Nov. 12, to one count of failure to register as a sex offender, according to Nathaniel Mendell, acting United States attorney for the District of Massachusetts. Woodruff was charged in November of 2020, Mendell said.  Woodruff was convicted of three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under age 14 in August of 2018, the US Attorney's Office reported.  He had already served…
Massachusetts Man Convicted Of Conspiracy To Distribute Cocaine Massachusetts Man Convicted Of Conspiracy To Distribute Cocaine
Massachusetts Man Convicted Of Conspiracy To Distribute Cocaine A 47-year-old Massachusetts man was convicted by a federal jury of conspiring to distribute cocaine.  Worcester County resident Bruce Marando, of Sutton, was convicted following a four-day trial, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced on Friday, Aug. 20. The DA's Office said evidence at the trial showed that from March to May 2017, Marando conspired with Vito Nuzzolilo and other people to distribute cocaine. A wiretap showed a number of occasions where Marando and Nuzzolilo talked about cooking crack cocaine, buying and sell…
Western Mass Man Sentenced For Racketeering Offenses Relating To Prostitution Western Mass Man Sentenced For Racketeering Offenses Relating To Prostitution
Western Mass Man Sentenced For Racketeering Offenses Relating To Prostitution A Western Massachusetts man has been sentenced to time served and three years of supervised released for racketeering offenses relating to the promotion of commercial sex. Hampden County resident Kevin Smoot, age 60, was sentenced on Thursday, Aug. 19.  He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to use a facility of interstate commerce to promote prostitution offenses and seven counts of use of a facility of interstate commerce to promote prostitution offenses, said the US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts.  According to officials, between February 2019 and J…
Connecticut Nurse Sentenced For Tampering With Liquid Morphine Connecticut Nurse Sentenced For Tampering With Liquid Morphine
Connecticut Nurse Sentenced For Tampering With Liquid Morphine A Connecticut nurse was sentenced in federal court in Western Massachusetts for tampering with liquid morphine prescribed to a patient. Tolland County resident Danielle Works, 42, of Stafford Springs, was sentenced to 20 months in prison and three years of supervised release on Wednesday, Aug. 18, said US Attorney Nathaniel Mendell for the District of Massachusetts. On Tuesday, March 30, Works pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a consumer product. “Ms. Works took morphine away from a hospice patient who instead received diluted morphine in her final hours of life – it is hard t…
Western Mass Man Admits To Child Sexual Exploitation Charges Western Mass Man Admits To Child Sexual Exploitation Charges
Western Mass Man Admits To Child Sexual Exploitation Charges A Western Massachusetts man pleaded guilty in federal court to child sexual exploitation offenses involving a 16-year-old girl. Berkshires resident James LaFrance, age 65, of Dalton, pleaded guilty on Monday, July 12, to four counts of sexual exploitation of children, said Acting United States Attorney  for the District of Massachusetts Nathaniel R. Mendell. LaFrance admitted that on two separate occasions in 2018 and 2019, he encouraged a 16-year-old girl from Massachusetts, whom he had befriended on the internet, to engage in sexually explicit conduct during video chat sessions…
Western Mass Man Indicted On Child Porn Charges Western Mass Man Indicted On Child Porn Charges
Western Mass Man Indicted On Child Porn Charges A Western Massachusetts man has been charged in connection with the receipt and possession of child pornography. Alfredo Aldeco, age 35, Holyoke, was indicted on Wednesday, April 21, for receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography, said the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts. According to the indictment, between March and October 2018, Aldeco received child pornography. In Nov. 2018, Aldeco allegedly possessed material that contained one or more images of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Aldec…
Western Mass Man Admits To Racketeering Involving Prostitution Western Mass Man Admits To Racketeering Involving Prostitution
Western Mass Man Admits To Racketeering Involving Prostitution A Western Massachusetts man has admitted in federal court to racketeering offenses relating to the promotion of commercial sex. Kevin Smoot, age 59, of Springfield, pleaded guilty on Monday, April 12, to one count of conspiracy to use a facility to promote prostitution and seven counts of use of a facility of interstate commerce to promote prostitution offenses, according to Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Nathaniel R. Mendell. On Friday, June 26, 2020, Smoot was arrested and charged by complaint. He was indicted in July 2020. According to a criminal complaint,…
Fentanyl Sales Rep Avoids Prison In Kickback Scheme Fentanyl Sales Rep Avoids Prison In Kickback Scheme
Fentanyl Sales Rep Avoids Prison In Kickback Scheme A 35-year-old woman avoided prison time for her role in an elaborate kickback scheme involving fentanyl spray prescriptions that were distributed in Connecticut. Natalie Levine of Scottsdale, Arizona, was sentenced in federal court in New Haven to five years probation for engaging in the kickback scheme, U.S. Attorney John Durham announced. She was also ordered to spend the first six months in home confinement and will perform 150 hours of community service after pleading guilty to violating the anti-kickback law. Levine was employed by Arizona-based Insys Therapeutics, a company that manu…