District of Connecticut
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
New Haven Man Charged with 2 Gunpoint Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned a four-count indictment today charging MARQUE GREENE-PENDERGRASS, 31, of New Haven, with offenses stemming from the armed robberies of two banks in December 2019 and January 2020.
As alleged in the indictment, on December 27, 2019, Greene brandished a revolver and robbed a TD Bank located at 128 Amity Road in Woodbridge, stealing $7,139. On January 7, 2020, Greene brandished a revolver and robbed a Citizens Bank located at 430 Foxon Boulevard in East Haven, stealing $11,600. During the second robbery, Greene discharged the firearm.
The indictment charges Greene with two counts of bank robbery with a dangerous weapon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 25 years on each count; one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least seven years; and one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least 10 years.
Greene is currently incarcerated serving an unrelated state sentence.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force with the assistance of the Woodbridge and East Haven Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/PSN.
Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Tax OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that LYELL CHAMPAGNE, JR., 24, of St. Louis, Missouri, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to charges stemming from two different fraud schemes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately March 2021 and April 2022, Champagne conspired with Kristian Gupta to obtain online bank account credentials from potential victims, and then transfer money from victims’ bank accounts to cryptocurrency accounts controlled by Champagne and Gupta. As part of the scheme, Gupta provided Champagne with personal identifying information of victims, and Champagne used that information to open email accounts and accounts at a cryptocurrency exchange. Champagne and Gupta attempted to recruit bank “insiders” to participate in their scheme, but were disrupted by an undercover law enforcement investigation and failed to transfer any funds from compromised accounts.
In a second scheme, Champagne filed wholly fictitious tax returns for “Shireberk International,” which had no actual business operations, for the 2018 through 2021 tax years. The returns resulted in a refund of $3,449,935.
Champagne pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and one count of filing false claims with the IRS, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
Champagne has agreed to pay restitution of $111,738.52. The remaining funds were recovered by law enforcement.
Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for September 10. Champagne is released on a $200,000 bond pending sentencing.
On April 19, 2024, Gupta, of Port Charlotte, Florida, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for September 19.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang.
Hartford Felon Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Loaded HandgunRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRISTOPHER GASKIN, 47, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 27 months of imprisonment for illegally possessing a loaded handgun.
According to the evidence presented during his trial earlier this year, in the afternoon of January 1, 2022, Hartford Police officers stopped a car Gaskin was operating on Irving Street in Hartford. Gaskin was arrested after a search of his person revealed a loaded .380 caliber handgun, a bag containing approximately five grams of crack cocaine, and 35 vials of crack.
Gaskin’s criminal history includes several felony convictions, including convictions for assault, robbery, and witness tampering offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
On February 28, 2024, a jury found Gaskin guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and not guilty of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”).
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Hartford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel M. Krull and Patricia Stolfi Collins through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/PSN.
Member of Violent New Haven Gang Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
JAEDYN RIVERA, also known as “Jae Honcho,” 23, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 182 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his involvement in a violent New Haven street gang, including multiple shootings.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; John P. Doyle, Jr., State’s Attorney for the New Haven Judicial District; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England; and New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address violence in New Haven, the ATF, FBI, DEA and New Haven Police Department, working closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, have been investigating an ongoing gang war between members and associates of the Exit 8 street gang and rival gangs in the Hill section and other areas of the city. The Exit 8 gang is named after the geographic area accessed by exiting Interstate 91 at Exit 8 in New Haven. Recently, younger members of Exit 8 are identifying themselves with the word “Honcho,” which is derived from the street name of an Exit 8 member who was murdered on Quinnipiac Avenue in February 2020.
The investigation revealed that Rivera and other members of the Exit 8 gang engaged in drug trafficking, used and shared firearms, and, since June 2018, have committed at least three murders and 16 attempted murders. Exit 8 members and associates also stole vehicles, at times from outside of the state, and used those stolen vehicles when committing acts of violence. Gang members also promoted, coordinated, facilitated, and celebrated their narcotics distribution and acts of violence through text messaging and the use of social media applications and websites including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube.
On January 24, 2024, Rivera pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity and he admitted that he took part in four shootings of rival gang members in May 2021. Three individuals were injured during those shootings. On May 14, 2021, one victim was shot in the leg and torso, and on May 20, 2021, one victim was shot in the leg and another victim was shot in the back.
Rivera has been detained since May 21, 2021.
This investigation is being conducted by ATF, the FBI, the DEA, the New Haven Police Department, the Hamden Police Department, and the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara E. Levens, Rahul Kale and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Windsor Woman Admits Providing Smuggled Narcotics to Inmate at Pennsylvania PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SAMANTHA ELLIS, 34, of Windsor, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to providing contraband to an inmate at a federal prison in Pennsylvania.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Tyshawn McDade was serving a term of incarceration at the U.S. Penitentiary in Allenwood, Pennsylvania (USP Allenwood). On November 12, 2022, Ellis smuggled a small blue balloon containing approximately 20 packaged strips of Suboxone Sublingual Film, which is a Schedule III controlled substance and narcotic, into USP Allenwood’s visiting room and provided the contraband to McDade. McDade then swallowed the balloon. A corrections officer noticed what occurred and immediately ended the visit, and the exchange was captured on video.
On September 28, 2023, a federal grand jury in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, returned an indictment charging McDade and Ellis with the offense. The case against Ellis was subsequently transferred from the Middle District of Pennsylvania to the District of Connecticut for further prosecution.
Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for September 3, at which time Ellis faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. She is released on a $10,000 bond pending sentencing.
As to McDade, an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean P. Mahard of the District of Connecticut and Geoffrey W. MacArthur of the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Waterbury Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Federal Prison for Gun Offense, Violating Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALEXANDER CALDERON, 28, last residing in Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 72 months of imprisonment for illegally possessing a firearm, and for violating his conditions of supervised release that followed a prior federal conviction for trafficking narcotics.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2019, Calderon was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 46 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for a gang-related drug trafficking offense. He was released from prison in December 2021, and began serving his term of supervised release.
Shortly after midnight on March 21, 2022, four victims were wounded in a shooting incident outside of a bar on Scovill street in Waterbury. A Waterbury Police detective who was in the vicinity at the time of the shooting saw Calderon discard a silver handgun under a vehicle. Calderon was apprehended and officers recovered the discarded firearm, a Walther PPK .380 handgun. Officers subsequently recovered several spent shell casings from the scene, including a .380 casing that was connected to the handgun Calderon discarded.
Calderon has been detained since his arrest on March 21, 2022. On January 5, 2024, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
Judge Meyer sentenced Calderon to 64 months of imprisonment for the firearm offense, and a consecutive eight months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.
This matter was investigated by the Waterbury Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The case was being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth.
The prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
New Haven Man Charged with Operating Illegal Money Transmitting BusinessRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging WILLIAM McNEILLY, 55, of New Haven, with operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
The indictment was returned on June 5, 2024, and McNeilly was arrested yesterday. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven, pleaded not guilty, and was released on a $50,000 bond.
The indictment alleges that McNeilly owned and operated Global Income Marketplace LLC (“GIM”) from a storefront in West Haven. According to its Connecticut state registration, GIM was engaged in “website builders programming tech computer repairs and upgrades.” McNeilly and another individual also operated Global NuMedia LLC (“GNM”), a limited liability company registered in Delaware. McNeilly, who never obtained a license from the Connecticut Department of Banking to engage in the business of money transmission, opened up several bank accounts in the names of GIM and GNM, and a cryptocurrency exchange account in the name of GNM, and used the accounts to operate a business through which he exchanged customers’ cash, checks, and money orders for cryptocurrency, charging a fee for the service.
Between approximately July 2019 and June 2022, McNeilly exchanged more than $1 million in U.S. currency for cryptocurrency on behalf of customers throughout the U.S. McNeilly knew that some of the funds involved in his illegal business were derived from fraud schemes, and the investigation revealed that cashiers checks from victims of romance fraud schemes were mailed to GIM and deposited into GIM accounts.
It is further alleged that, in February 2021, McNeilly was contacted by TD Bank and told that a $10,000 wire transfer to GNM was reported as fraudulent, and that he needed a license to operate a money transmission business. Despite the warning, and that TD Bank closed the GIM and GNM accounts, McNeilly continued to operate his money transmission business through other GIM and GNM bank accounts.
The indictment charges McNeilly with one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and with three counts of making illegal money transactions, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather L. Cherry.
Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SHELDON THOMSON, 36, last residing in Norwich, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for possessing child sex abuse images and videos.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2007, Thomson, who now identifies as female, was convicted in state court of sexual assault in the first degree, involving sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 13, and of risk of injury to a child. She was released from prison in November 2015 and began serving a term of probation. In May 2022, Thomson’s state probation officer seized multiple cellphones, a tablet, and a storage card from Thomson, her vehicle, and her residence. Analysis of the seized devices revealed more than 100 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including prepubescent children.
On October 31, 2023, Thomson pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. The penalties in this matter were enhanced based on Thomson’s prior convictions for sexual assault in the first degree and risk of injury to a minor.
Thomson is being sentenced tomorrow in state court for violating his probation.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the State of Connecticut Office of Adult Probation, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Former Postal Employee Charged with Stealing Checks from Mail; Fraud and Identity Theft OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a 10-count indictment charging KIERRA BLOUNT, 34, of Stamford, with fraud, identity theft, and mail theft offenses.
The indictment was returned on March 26, 2024, and unsealed yesterday. Blount is currently being sought by law enforcement.
The indictment alleges that Blount, at times while employed by the U.S. Postal Service in Stamford, stole mail and obtained stolen mail for the purpose of obtaining checks that were payable to other individuals. In approximately November 2021, Blount opened a bank account using the name and social security number of an individual without the identity theft victim’s knowledge. Blount and others fraudulently changed the payee names on stolen checks to the name of the identity theft victim, forged the victim’s signature on the back of the checks, and deposited them into the bank account Blount opened. From November 2021 until the account was closed in April 2022, Blount and others deposited tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent checks into the account. They then used the funds for their own purposes.
The indictment charges Blount with eight count of bank fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years on each count; one count of aggravated identity theft, an offense that carries a mandatory term of imprisonment of two years; and one count of unlawful possession of stolen mail, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Stamford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shan Patel.
U.S. Attorney Avery Announces New First Assistant U.S. Attorney, other Criminal Division AppointmentsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery today announced new supervisory appointments within the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the office’s Criminal Division, which were necessitated by the departure of First Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfred U. Pavlis last month.
Marc H. Silverman has been named First Assistant U.S. Attorney, the second-ranking position within the office. Since 2022, Mr. Silverman has served as Chief of the Criminal Division. Mr. Silverman joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2010 and, from 2014 to 2022, served as Deputy Chief of the Office’s Appellate Division. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Silverman was an Arthur Liman Public Interest Fellow at Advocates for Children of New York, Inc.; an associate at Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello PC; and a law clerk for Judge Kimba M. Wood of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and Judge Dennis Jacobs of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Mr. Silverman is a 2003 graduate of Yale University and a 2006 graduate of Yale Law School.
“For years, Marc Silverman has served as a trusted advisor on complex legal and administrative issues facing the office, and he has been a highly valued member of our senior management team,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “Marc shares a commitment to ensuring that we continue to uphold the highest professional and ethical standards in this district and he takes great care to ensure that our policies and practices comport with the rule of law, fairness, and the ends of justice.”
Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis has been named Chief of the Criminal Division, which is responsible for enforcing federal criminal laws in Connecticut. Ms. Kaoutzanis joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2017 and, since 2022, has served as Chief of the Violent Crimes and Narcotics Unit (VCN), leading the implementation of the office’s four-city VCN strategy that focuses on reducing the number of homicides and other violent crime in our major cities. She also has been a leader in the office’s community engagement efforts related to violent crime reduction, most notably, the creation several years ago of the multi-disciplinary anti-violence Fed-Up program for younger students.
John T. Pierpont, Jr., has been named Chief of the VCN unit, which includes Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) prosecutions, the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), and violent crime, gangs and narcotics investigations. AUSA Pierpont joined the office in 2016, and previously served as Deputy Chief of the VCN unit and as PSN Coordinator.
Geoffrey M. Stone continues in his role as Deputy Chief of the VCN unit and as OCDETF Coordinator, which targets major drug trafficking operations responsible for the distribution of large quantities of narcotics by major drug trafficking organizations.
Lauren C. Clark, who has been an AUSA since 2017, is a new Deputy Chief of the VCN Unit and PSN Coordinator, overseeing firearms prosecutions that seek to deter the illegal possession of guns and reduce gun and gang violence.
“I am fortunate to lead an office of extremely talented individuals who are committed to the cause of justice, and I thank all who have agreed to serve in these important roles,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “I am confident that our office will continue to make Connecticut a safer place to live, and have a tremendous impact in our communities.”
The Criminal Division comprises three program-based units: Violent Crimes and Narcotics, Financial Fraud and Public Corruption, and Major Crimes and National Security. More information about the office’s Criminal Division is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/criminal-division.
The District is composed of approximately 68 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and approximately 57 staff members at offices in New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport. Please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct for more information about the office.
Stamford Man Admits Robbing 3 Banks in 2020Read the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that FRANCESCO PENSIERO, also known as Frank Pensiero, 51, of Stamford, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to bank robbery.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 13, 2020, Pensiero and an associate robbed the Chase Bank located at 2855 Main Street in Stratford. During the robbery, Pensiero’s associate displayed a handgun on the teller counter and presented the teller with a note that read “this is a robbery give me all your money.” The teller provided Pensiero’s associate with approximately $1,000 and Pensiero and his associate exited the bank.
Later on October 13, 2020, Pensiero robbed the People’s United Bank located at 1160 Kings Highway Cutoff in Fairfield. During the robbery, he pulled out a handgun and presented the teller a note that stated “This is a robbery.” The teller provided Pensiero with $5,458 and Pensiero exited the bank.
On October 28, 2020, Pensiero and his associate robbed the People’s United Bank located at 95 Main Street in New Canaan. Pensiero displayed a handgun, provided the teller with a note demanding money, verbally threatened to kill the teller and other employees, and ordered the bank employees to lie on the floor. Pensiero and his associate stole $9,130 during the robbery, and fled from the bank in a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS. The following day, the car was set on fire on Green Avenue in New Canaan.
Pensiero was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on January 27, 2023.
At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Pensiero faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He is released on a $100,000 bond.
Pensiero’s criminal history includes convictions for bank robbery and other offenses.
Pensiero’s associate was charged with, and convicted of, related state offenses stemming from these robberies.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Stratford, Fairfield, and New Canaan Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel E. Cummings and Amanda S. Oakes.
Bridgeport Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RONALD BOYD, 38, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 27 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for operating a bank fraud scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between November 2021 and April 2022, Boyd and others recruited individuals (“runners”) to open bank accounts at Newtown Savings Bank. Boyd and others then used the bank accounts to conduct transactions so that the accounts appeared legitimate, known as “seasoning” the account. Boyd deposited into the runners’ accounts counterfeit checks, as well as checks that were stolen from the U.S. Mail with the original payee and amount information “washed” and altered. Boyd often obtained the illegitimate checks from other coconspirators and either provided the checks to the runners for deposit into their Newtown Savings Bank accounts, or he made the deposits himself through ATM transactions and through mobile deposits. He then withdrew money from the accounts using a runner’s debit card to make purchases and obtain cash back, or to conduct ATM and in-branch withdrawals.
Boyd has been detained since May 8, 2023, when he was arrested on unrelated state charges. On March 8, 2024, he pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Dearington.
Former FCI Danbury Inmate Pleads Guilty to Assault ChargeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JONATHAN CRUZ-CARMONA, 33, formerly incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Danbury, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to assault with a dangerous weapon.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Cruz-Carmona is currently serving a federal sentence for murder with a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On December 18, 2023, while incarcerated at FCI Danbury, Cruz-Carmona used a weapon fashioned from a broken pencil and two razor blades to assault another inmate, causing wounds to the victim’s chin and neck. The injury was not life-threatening.
At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Cruz-Carmona faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia E. King.
Bridgeport Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Scheme that Defrauded Social Security AdministrationRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TROVOY DIXON, 31, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for laundering criminal proceeds of a scheme to defraud the Social Security Administration.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2021, unidentified fraudsters engaged in a scheme to defraud the Social Security Administration (SSA) using stolen identities. The fraudsters would contact the SSA posing as legitimate Social Security recipients, often presenting the SSA with confidential personal information, like Social Security numbers and dates of birth, to validate their purported identities. They would then instruct the SSA to change the legitimate SSA recipients’ existing bank account deposit information so that monthly SSA payments would be deposited into bank accounts controlled by scheme participants.
In approximately August 2021, Dixon was contacted by phone by a scheme participant using a Jamaican based telephone number and was asked if he wished to make money through moving money. Dixon agreed, and was instructed to open bank accounts that he would control. After monies generated from the scheme were deposited into Dixon’s online bank accounts, he would withdraw cash from the accounts and use commercial money transfer services to wire a portion of the cash to designated bank accounts in either Jamaica or Mexico. Dixon learned the monies were illegally obtained, but ultimately kept close to half of the monies for his personal use.
Between August 2021 and July 2023, more than $360,000 was deposited into bank accounts Dixon controlled. When accounts were closed due to suspicious fraudulent withdrawal activity, Dixon opened additional accounts to continue his illegal activity.
Judge Oliver ordered Dixon to pay $161,000 in restitution.
On March 8, 2024, Dixon pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering. Dixon who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on July 29.
This investigation was conducted by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.
Statement of U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery on the Line of Duty Death of Connecticut State Police Trooper First Class Aaron PelletierRead the Press Release
“This is a sad day for law enforcement and a sad day for all of us in Connecticut, and I offer my heartfelt condolences to his wife, two young children, family, friends, and colleagues in the Connecticut State Police. Trooper Pelletier’s life and stellar career, which included service on a federal task force charged with fighting violent crime in the Hartford area, was cut way too short by this senseless event. His death provides a terrible, but necessary, reminder of the dangers that all members of law enforcement face every day. Their work to keep our communities safe, to keep our streets and roads safe, is never routine.”
Manchester Man Charged with Child Exploitation Offenses Related to Sexual Abuse MinorRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Manchester Police Chief William Darby today announced that HERNAN AYALA, 32, of Manchester, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with child exploitation offenses.
Ayala appeared yesterday in Hartford federal court. He has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on March 9, 2024.
As alleged in court documents, in March 2024, the Manchester Police Department received a complaint that a minor female had been sexually abused by Ayala. The minor female reported that Ayala had engaged in sexual conduct with her for more than eight years, and that Ayala had recorded his sexual abuse of her on his cellphone. On that date, investigators searched Ayala’s residence and seized several electronic devices, including his iPhone. Analysis of the seized phone revealed numerous videos and images of Ayala engaging in sexual conduct with the minor victim.
The complaint charges Ayala with sexual exploitation of children, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and with possession of child pornography, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that a criminal complaint is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Manchester Police Department, the Glastonbury Police Department, and the Connecticut Center for Digital Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.
U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the State’s Attorney’s Offices for the Judicial Districts of Hartford and Tolland for their cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Fraudster Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHN VOLOSHIN, also known as “Josh Thomas,” 68, formerly of New Haven and Woodbridge, pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to fraud and identity theft offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2012, Voloshin was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 33 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for operating multiple fraud schemes that caused losses of more than $1.5 million to individuals and lenders. He was released from prison in May 2014. In November 2014, he was sentenced to an additional nine months of imprisonment for violating the terms and conditions of his federal supervised release for repeatedly lying to his supervising probation officer by concocting a bogus job for a real estate concern in London. He was released from prison in June 2015. In the fall of 2015, Voloshin engaged in another fraud scheme by soliciting money from individuals and falsely representing that the money would be fully invested to generate very high returns. In November 2017, he was sentenced to 27 months of imprisonment for the offense and for violating his supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $275,000 in restitution, in addition to his restitution obligation from his 2012 conviction. He was released from prison in May 2018.
Between January and April 2019, Voloshin defrauded a company in Bloomfield that provided accounting and tax preparation services to individuals and companies. Voloshin stole blank checks for both the company’s business account and the company owner’s personal account, forged the owner’s name on the checks, and negotiated the checks for his own benefit. Voloshin also stole and negotiated checks and money orders that were written out as payment by third parties to the company. As part of the scheme, Voloshin incorporated an entity in Wyoming with a name very similar to that of the company, opened a bank account in the name of the sham company, deposited misappropriated checks into the account, and used the stolen funds for his own benefit. Through this scheme, Voloshin defrauded victims of $56,548.71.
On September 23, 2020, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Voloshin. He was arrested on July 14, 2021, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and has been detained since his arrest.
Voloshin pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory term of imprisonment of two years. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on August 22.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Bloomfield Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and Sean P. Mahard.
U.S. Attorney Avery thanked Interpol and Brazilian authorities for their assistance in apprehending Voloshin, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for coordinating the extradition proceedings in this matter.
Former Connecticut Resident Pays $154k to Resolve Allegations of Covid-Relief Loan FraudRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that EDWARD MUNDAY, of Coventry, Vermont, a former resident of New Fairfield, Connecticut, has paid $154,200 to resolve allegations that he fraudulently used a substantial portion of a small business loan under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act to purchase a second home in Vermont.
The CARES Act was enacted to provide emergency assistance to individuals, families, and businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Section 1110 authorized the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDLs”) to help overcome the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by providing working capital to eligible small businesses, including sole proprietors, to meet operating expenses.
On May 25, 2020, Munday applied for and later received an EIDL Loan as sole proprietor for EDM Services, his IT consulting business. The loan documents required Munday to “use all the proceeds of this Loan solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury” caused by COVID-19. In May 2021, Munday sought and later received an increase in his EIDL Loan for EDM Services and, on August 4, 2021, again agreed to “use all proceeds of this Loan solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury” caused by COVID-19.
The government contends that Munday did not use all the proceeds of the EIDL as working capital for EDM Services. Instead, he used a substantial portion of it to purchase a second home in Coventry, Vermont. To resolve these allegations, Munday agreed to pay $104,200 in restitution, and a $50,000 penalty.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Gruber and Richard M. Molot, with the assistance of the SBA’s Office of General Counsel.
Individuals with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Greenwich Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Child Sex Abuse Images and VideosRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut announced that CHRISTOPHER BATES JR., 37, of Greenwich, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for possessing images and videos of child sexual abuse.
According to court documents and statements made in court, an international law investigation revealed that an IP address at Bates’ residence was being used to access the dark web to view images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. On November 30, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents interviewed Bates, who consented to a search of his electronic devices. A forensic review of one of his laptops revealed approximately 1,222 images and two videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants.
Bates is an attorney admitted to practice in New York and Connecticut.
As part of his sentence, Bates was ordered to pay restitution of $15,000, an assessment of $17,000 to fund the Child Pornography Victims Reserve fund, and additional assessments of $5,100.
Bates was arrested on December 13, 2022. On February 7, 2024, he pleaded guilty to possessing and accessing with intent to view child pornography.
Bates, who is released on a $300,000 bond under electronic monitoring, is required to report to prison on July 11.
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the Greenwich Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
11 Charged with Trafficking Drugs in Southwestern Connecticut, Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw today announced that the following 11 individuals have been charged with federal offenses stemming from their alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking in southwestern Connecticut:
RODNEY CANADA, aka “Supreme,” 47, of Stamford
TERRELL WILLS, aka “Black Fred,” 50, of Darien
RAMION BAKER, a.k.a. “Ray Ray,” 43, of Stamford
WILLI BAZELAIS, 30, of Stamford
CHRISTOPHER ADAMS, 57, of Norwalk
GERALD COLEY, aka “G Rock,” 54, of Bridgeport
BENJAMIN DOZIER, aka “Ace” and “Blanco, 42, of Bridgeport
DANNY TURKVAN, aka “Smooth” 53, of Stamford
GAVIN HAMMETT, aka “G” and “Silk,” 59, of Bridgeport
JIMMY ARCE, aka “Boe,” “Slim,” and “Jimbo,” 40, of Bridgeport
OMAR PARRA, aka “D” and “Dee,” 37, of StamfordAs alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and Stamford Police Department identified Canada as the leader of a drug trafficking organization that was distributing large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine in Stamford and elsewhere in southwestern Connecticut. The investigation, which has included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Wills and Baker helped Canada coordinate the street level distribution of narcotics through Coley, Dozier, Turkvan and others. Canada also sold bulk quantities of cocaine to Bazelais and Adams for further distribution. Hammett is believed to have served as a source of supply for the Canada drug trafficking organization, and Arce was a criminal associate of Canada who supplied Parra with fentanyl, cocaine, and crack.
On May 14, 2024, the defendants, with the exception of Parra, were arrested on federal criminal complaints, and additional individuals were arrested on state charges. On that date, investigators conducted court-authorized searches at locations in Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, and Darien and seized approximately three kilograms of cocaine, nearly 400 grams of raw fentanyl, more than 500 bags of fentanyl, five firearms, a bulletproof vest, and seven vehicles. Parra has been detained in federal custody since March 19, 2024, when he was arrested on a complaint.
On May 22, 2024, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned three separate indictments charging the 11 defendants. In one indictment, Canada, Wills, Baker, Bazelais, Adams, Coley, Dozier, and Turkvan are charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, an offense that a carries a maximum term of 20 years of imprisonment. The indictment also charges Adams and Baker with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; Baker and Dozier with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years; and Baker with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least five years. It is alleged that Baker’s criminal history includes a federal crack cocaine trafficking conviction.
The second indictment charges Hammett with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and a quantity of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years; unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. It is alleged that Hammett’s criminal history includes federal convictions in the District of South Carolina and the District of Connecticut for cocaine trafficking offenses, and he is currently on federal supervised release for the prior District of Connecticut conviction.
The third indictment charges Arce and Parra with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and a quantity of heroin, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. In addition, Arce is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and Parra is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
All of the defendants are currently detained.
“We are committed to using federal law enforcement resources to curb the flow of deadly narcotics in southwestern Connecticut and throughout our state,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “Because firearms are typically involved with illegal drug distribution, this creates a heightened concern. We enhance our efforts when individuals who have already been involved in the federal justice system choose to continue criminal activity when they reenter the community. I thank the DEA Task Force, Stamford Police Department, and all of the agencies that have assisted this investigation. Their work is making Connecticut safer.”
“Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities here in Connecticut,” said Acting DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen P. Belleau. “Let these arrests and seizures serve as an example to those who distribute poisons like fentanyl, heroin, crack-cocaine, and cocaine, that DEA will aggressively pursue and hold you accountable. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners here in Connecticut and our solid relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
“This extensive case is an example of teamwork between many federal and municipal law enforcement partners that led to the arrest of numerous suspects that supplied large amounts of illegal narcotics to the Southwestern portion of Connecticut,” said Stamford Assistant Police Chief Richard Conklin. “Many of the suspects have extensive criminal narcotics background and history, and several illegal firearms were seized. Large scale investigations working together in the team format like this will certainly make Connecticut a safer place for all.”
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Stamford Police Department, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Danbury, and Darien Police Departments. The DEA HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Member of Violent Bridgeport Gang Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
JAUWAN EDWARDS, also known as “Yaya,” 26, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 78 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members were involved in narcotics trafficking, murder, and other acts of violence. Edwards was a member of the Original North End (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport that committed acts of violence against rival gangs, including the East End gang, the East Side gang, and the PT Barnum gang. O.N.E. members also robbed drug dealers, customers, and others, sold narcotics, and stole cars from inside and outside Connecticut, often using the cars to commit crimes. They frequently used social media to promote and coordinate their criminal activities.
Analysis of numerous social media posts and text messages revealed that Edwards possessed firearms, and that he sold a variety of drugs, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack, Percocet pills, and marijuana. Edwards also participated with other O.N.E. members in the theft and possession of stolen vehicles, including a Lexus Rx350 that was stolen from Rye, New York, and used in a homicide.
In early December 2019, O.N.E. members were involved in multiple shots-fired incidents in Bridgeport. In one incident, the mother of two East End gang members was shot outside of her Bridgeport home. In another incident, on December 8, 2019, O.N.E. members used the stolen Lexus in a shooting incident at the P.T. Barnum Housing Complex, and then drove it to Newfield Avenue in Bridgeport, considered the turf of the East End/East Side gang, where they shot and killed Ty’Quess Moore, also known as “Breezo,” 18.
Edwards was arrested on July 27, 2021. A search of his residence on that date revealed fentanyl, crack cocaine, and cocaine packaged for distribution, and a loaded Glock handgun with an extended magazine and a laser sight.
Edwards has been detained since his arrest. On June 30, 2023, he pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy.
Approximately 47 members and associates of the East End, O.N.E. and the GHB/Hotz gangs have been convicted of federal offenses stemming from this investigation, which has solved eight murders and approximately 20 attempted murders.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, Waterbury Police Department, and Naugatuck Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Tara E. Levens, Patrick J. Doherty, Rahul Kale, and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state, and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Ukrainian National Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Charge Stemming from Attempt to Export Dual-Use High Precision Jig Grinder to RussiaRead the Press Release
STANISLAV ROMANYUK, 39, a citizen of Ukraine last residing in Estonia, pleaded guilty yesterday in New Haven federal court to a money laundering charge stemming from his role in a scheme to violate United States export laws and regulations by attempting to smuggle a dual-use export-controlled item to Russia.
U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery; Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Michael Khoo Directors of Task Force KleptoCapture; Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England; Acting Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tambrini of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, Boston Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Robert Fuller of the FBI New Haven Division; and Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr. of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, made the announcement.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in 2018, Romanyuk, who operated Estonia-based BY Trade OÜ, conspired with Vadims Ananics and Eriks Mamonovs, both citizens of Latvia who operated CNC Weld, a Latvia-based corporation, and with individuals in Russia and a Russian company, to violate U.S. export laws and regulations to smuggle a 500 Series CPWZ Precision Jig Grinder that was manufactured in Connecticut to Russia.
A jig grinder is a high-precision grinding machine system that does not require a license to export to European Union countries, but does require a license for export and reexport to Russia because of its potential application in nuclear proliferation and defense programs. Romanyuk and his co-conspirators knew that the jig grinder could not be exported from the U.S. to Russia or any country outside the European Union, and they did not apply for, receive, or possess a license of authorization from the U.S. Department of Commerce to export or reexport the jig grinder to Russia, as required by the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 and the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”), which restrict the export of items that could make a significant contribution to the military potential of other nations or that could be detrimental to U.S. foreign policy and national security.
In April 2019, Romanyuk brokered the sale of the jig grinder from By Trade OÜ to a Russian company using funds wired to it from the Russian company to purchase the jig grinder from Sapphire Universal, LLP, a company in Latvia. Sapphire Universal, which Romanyuk knew was in the business of obtaining dual use items from the U.S. for sale in Russia, used CNC Weld as the claimed recipient and end-user of the jig grinder because no license was required to export the jig grinder to Latvia from the U.S. In August 2019, to finalize the purchase of the jig grinder, Ananics and others traveled to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where Ananics informed the sellers that the jig grinder was being purchased for the benefit of CNC Weld. In September 2021, Romanyuk provided a false statement to Estonian authorities about the jig grinder transaction in order to cover up his involvement in this scheme.
U.S. authorities, working with Latvian authorities, intercepted the jig grinder in Riga, Latvia, before it was to be shipped to Russia. Approximately $826,000 in funds involved in the purchase of the jig grinder were subsequently forfeited, and a substantial portion of the forfeited funds were transferred to Estonia to provide aid to Ukraine.
Romanyuk was arrested on June 13, 2022, in Latvia. He has been detained since his arrest.
Romanyuk pleaded guilty to international money laundering conspiracy, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. A sentencing date is not scheduled.
Ananics and Mamonovs pleaded guilty to related charges and await sentencing.
This investigation is being conducted by HSI field offices in New Haven and the Hague, Netherlands; the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement in Boston and Portland, Oregon; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The Prosecutor-General’s Office of the Republic of Latvia, the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Estonia, Latvian Tax and Customs Police, Estonian Tax and Customs Board, and the Latvian State Police have assisted the investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale, Konstantin Lantsman, and Stephanie Levick of the District of Connecticut, and Trial Attorney Brendan Geary of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs has provided valuable assistance.
The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls, and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.
This case is being prosecuted through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program and is being supported by OCDETF’s International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center (IOC-2). OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Three New Haven Men Charged with Trafficking Pills Containing Meth and Fentanyl, Fentanyl Powder Mixed with XylazineRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a seven-count indictment charging MARKEYSE KELLY, also known as “Curry” and “Keyse,” 45, of West Haven; JAQUAN PRICE, also known as “Sub,” 33, of New Haven; and ROBERT COVINGTON, 32, of New Haven, with offenses stemming from the distribution of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl, and fentanyl powder laced with xylazine.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in October 2023, FBI New Haven Safe Streets Gang Task Force began investigating a drug trafficking organization led by Kelly. The investigation, which included controlled purchases of narcotics in February and March 2024, revealed that Kelly, Price, and Covington, sold various controlled substances, including multi-colored pills pressed to look like ecstasy that actually contained methamphetamine, counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, and powder fentanyl laced with xylazine.
Kelly, Price, and Covington were arrested on federal criminal complaints on May 14, 2024. On that date, investigators executed multiple search warrants and seized numerous fentanyl and methamphetamine pills; additional quantities of fentanyl powder, meth powder, and cocaine; three handguns, two loaded gun magazines, and ammunition.
On May 21, 2024, the New Haven grand jury returned an indictment charging Kelly, Price, and Covington each with one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, methamphetamine and fentanyl. If convicted of this charge, based on the type and quantity of narcotics attributed to each defendant, Kelly faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, Prices faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and Covington faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.
The indictment also charges Kelly, Price, Covington each with one or more counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and/or fentanyl; Kelly with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon; and Price with unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon.
It is alleged that Price has a prior federal conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
Kelly and Price are detained, and Covington is released on a $100,000 bond.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the New Haven Police Department, the West Haven Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Task Force includes personnel from the East Haven Police Department, Milford Police Department, Wallingford Police Department, Connecticut State Police, and Connecticut Department of Correction.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie T. Levick through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
New Canaan Man Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, announced that VISHAL DHAR, 55, of New Canaan, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to tax evasion.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Dhar formed and operated various entities, including Grey Brown, Inc. (a holding company for several restaurants operating under the name “Oaxaca Taqueria”), West Partners, Inc., and NY Cloud Kitchens, LLC. From approximately October 2013 through August 2023, Dhar willfully failed to disclose to the Internal Revenue Service significant income from his business and gifts from family members. Instead of paying his outstanding tax liabilities, Dhar paid off personal and business debts, invested in a new business venture, and paid various personal expenses. In evading his payment of taxes owed, Dhar used financial accounts in the names of entities and other individuals rather than in his own name, paid personal expenses with corporate funds, and omitted significant assets on IRS forms.
In addition, in the bankruptcy case In re Grey Brown Inc., filed in the Southern District of New York, Dhar failed to disclose the receipt of an Employee Retention Credit check in amount of $254,203.01 made payable to Oaxaca Atlantic Avenue, LLC. The Employee Retention Credit is a refundable tax credit for certain eligible businesses and tax-exempt organizations that had employees and were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the 2011 through 2020 tax years, Dhar owes $272,390.07 in back taxes, penalties, and interest. As part of the plea agreement, Dhar has agreed to pay that full amount in restitution.
Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for August 15, at which time Dhar faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. Dhar is released pending sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.
New Haven Man on Supervised Release Charged with Distributing Methamphetamine Pills, CrackRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging DONALD OGMAN, also known as “Mainey-O” and ”Manny O,” 42, of New Haven, with methamphetamine and cocaine distribution offenses.
As alleged in court documents, Ogman has been a leader of the Grape Street Crips (GSC), a violent New Haven gang. In 2012, the FBI arrested Ogman for offenses related to his role in GSC, including drug trafficking. He pleaded guilty to narcotics offenses and, on March 10, 2015, was sentenced to 188 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release. In August 2022, a federal judge granted Ogman’s motion for compassionate release, reduced Ogman’s sentence to time served, and he was released from prison.
It is alleged that Ogman resumed his drug trafficking activity while on federal supervised release and was distributing multi-colored pills containing methamphetamine in and around New Haven. The investigation included surveillance, trash pulls, and controlled purchases of methamphetamine pills from Ogman in March and April 2024. Ogman was arrested on May 9, 2024. On that date, searches of his person and residence revealed additional quantities of methamphetamine, as well as crack cocaine.
The indictment charges Ogman with one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, methamphetamine, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; three counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years on each count; and one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.
The indictment also alleges that Ogman is subject to enhanced penalties due to his prior conviction for a serious drug felony. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Ogman has been detained since his arrest.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the New Haven Police Department and the Hamden Police Department. The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie T. Levick and Ross Weingarten through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Former Wallingford Doctor Who Sold Opioid Prescriptions for Cash Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANATOLY BRAYLOVSKY, 52, of Wallingford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 90 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for controlled substances and health care fraud offenses related to the illegal distribution of prescription medication through his medical practice.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Braylovsky was an internal medicine physician who operated the Family Practice of Greater New Haven, LLC, located on North Main Street in Wallingford. Braylovsky’s practice accepted patients who were insured by Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance plans. Beginning in approximately 2014, the DEA and the Wallingford Police Department received complaints about Braylovsky’s prescribing practices. In early 2016, investigators from both the DEA Diversion Control Division and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection’s Drug Control Division notified Braylovsky that they were concerned about his prescribing practices and informed him that some of his patients had a criminal history. Through subsequent Connecticut Prescription Monitoring Program inquiries, investigators found that Braylovsky continued to prescribe a high quantity of opioid-based pills, as well as Alprazolam and Adderall, to a number of patients. Investigators also received information that some of Braylovsky’s patients, including Jennifer Bousquet, received medically unnecessary prescriptions for these drugs and were then selling the pills for profit; that Braylovsky was selling prescriptions for large amounts of cash; and that some patients who had their prescriptions filled provided pills to Braylovsky.
In approximately October 2019, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) joined the investigation when it was discovered that patients of Braylovsky were using their Medicaid or Medicare insurance to pay for medically unnecessary prescriptions. For at least three years, Bousquet received from Braylovsky monthly prescriptions for 170 oxycodone 30mg pills, 75 Adderall 20mg pills, and 30 alprazolam 2mg pills.
During the investigation, law enforcement utilized a confidential source, who was both a patient of Braylovsky and an associate of Bousquet, to pay Braylovsky cash in exchange for receiving a prescription for oxycodone. On four occasions between October 2019 and January 2020, the source visited Braylovsky’s office, gave him $1,600 in cash, and received a prescription for 150 oxycodone 30mg pills. Even though Braylovsky performed no physical examination and did not discuss the source’s health, Braylovsky billed Medicaid for each office visit. In addition, the source provided Braylovsky with $1,600 in cash for a prescription during an office visit on March 18, 2020, and delivered $1,600 to Braylovsky’s car after a telehealth appointment on April 30, 2020. The appointment was conducted via FaceTime due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After each prescription was filled, DEA agents took the oxycodone pills into evidence. Medicaid paid for each filled prescription.
Between approximately January 2016 and May 2020, Medicare and Medicaid paid more than $1.6 million for schedule II medications, including oxycodone, prescribed by Braylovsky. During that time, Medicare and Medicaid also paid Braylovsky’s practice more than $590,000 for routine office visits. The investigation revealed that Braylovsky billed Medicare and Medicaid a total of $199,388.84 for illegitimate office visits and for unnecessary prescriptions.
Braylovsky and Bousquet were arrested on June 4, 2020.
In August 2021, while released on bond and awaiting trial in this case, Braylovsky expressed a desire to hire a hitman to kill or intimidate the confidential source who purchased oxycodone prescriptions from him during the investigation. Braylovsky then met with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a hitman. He was again arrested on August 27, 2021, and has been detained since his arrest.
On December 21, 2023, Braylovsky pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, oxycodone, and one count of health care fraud.
Judge Dooley ordered Braylovsky to pay $199,388,84 in restitution.
On July 6, 2021, Bousquet pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, oxycodone. She awaits sentencing.
In a related civil case, Braylovsky and Family Practice of Greater New Haven, LLC, previously entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments and paid $398,777.68 to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by billing for medical services not rendered and issuing medically unnecessary controlled substances prescriptions, including for oxycodone, to certain Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The settlement covers the time period from January 2016 through June 2020. Braylovsky was the sole medical practitioner of Family Practice of Greater New Haven, and the practice is no longer operating.
This investigation was conducted by the DEA New Haven Task Force, HHS-OIG’s Office of Investigations, FBI, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection – Drug Control Division, Connecticut Department of Public Health, Wallingford Police Department and Easton Police Department. The criminal case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont, Jr., and the civil case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Nelson and Sarah Gruber, and by Deputy Associate Attorney General Gregory O’Connell of the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General.
Milford Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution ChargeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that WILSON GUZMAN, JR., 39, of Milford, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to a fentanyl trafficking offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, a DEA New Haven Task Force investigation revealed that Guzman advertised various controlled substances, including fake oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and fake Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, and other drugs, through an encrypted phone messaging application. He then distributed the drugs to customers in person and through the U.S. mail. Guzman used locations in West Haven and North Haven to store and prepare narcotics for distribution. Between June and August 2023, investigators made controlled purchases of drugs from Guzman, including more than 1,000 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, counterfeit Adderall containing methamphetamine, and psilocybin mushrooms.
Guzman was arrested on September 6, 2023. On that date investigators searched his Milford residence and the West Haven and North Haven locations and seized various controlled substances, including methamphetamine pills, Xanax pills, psilocybin mushrooms, and approximately 20 kilograms of marijuana, as well as an AR-15 style rifle and a Glock style Polymer 80 handgun that had no serial numbers (“ghost guns”).
Guzman pleaded guilty to distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for August 9, 2024. Guzman is detained pending sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force, and the East Haven Police Department, West Haven Police Department, New Haven Police Department, Connecticut State Police, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings.
Florida Man Admits Defrauding Zelle UsersRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that KADER GAHMAAL BIWAKI EDMOND, 24, of Miami, Florida, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to an offense stemming from his role in a scheme that defrauded individuals who use the electronic payments system Zelle.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement has been investigating crimes against users of digital payment applications, including Zelle. Typically, a scheme victim receives a fraudulent text message, purporting to be from the victim’s bank, asking the victim to confirm whether a Zelle transaction was authorized. When the victim denies the transaction, the victim receives a response that a bank representative will be in contact. The victim then receives a phone call from an individual impersonating a bank representative, who informs the victim that an unauthorized transaction has occurred and that they need to work together to reverse the transaction. By this point, without the victim’s knowledge, the fraudsters have linked the victim’s actual phone number or email address via Zelle to a bank account that does not belong to the victim. The victim is then instructed to “reverse” the fictional fraudulent transaction by making a Zelle payment to what they believe is their own account, but is, in fact, an account controlled by the fraudsters.
From approximately February 2021 through August 2023, Edmond and others defrauded numerous victims, including victims in Connecticut, of a total of more than $250,000 through this Zelle scheme and other fraud schemes.
Edmond was arrested on August 31, 2023.
Edmond pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea on August 14 in Hartford.
Edmond is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang.
Victims can report Zelle fraud to their bank or credit union, or to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), which is run by the FBI and serves as the country’s hub for reporting cybercrime, at www.ic3.gov.
Additional information about digital payment application schemes is available at https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2022/PSA220414.
Bristol Man Admits Committing Numerous Violent Robberies Across Connecticut in 2022Read the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LONNY CROSS, 45, of Bristol, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to charges related to his commission of numerous violent robberies across Connecticut in September and October 2022.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between September 5 and October 13, 2022, Cross committed 37 robberies and attempted robberies of gas station convenience stores, mini-markets, and liquor stores in North Branford, Waterbury, Wolcott, Plymouth, New Haven, North Haven, Orange, West Haven, Wethersfield, Bristol, Southington, Naugatuck, Watertown, Franklin, Norwich, Waterford, Groton City, Stonington, Ledyard, Darien, Norwalk, Stratford, and Seymour, Connecticut, and Port Chester, New York. (See attached list) Several of the robberies occurred on the same day, only minutes apart. Cross typically traveled to the victim-store with an accomplice who would sometimes enter the store to determine the number of employees and customers in the store, exit the store, and then report that information to Cross. Cross then entered the store, displayed a knife or facsimile firearm while threatening employees, and stole cash and other items.
On October 14, 2022, investigators conducted court-authorized searches of Cross’s residence and a black 2014 Chevrolet Impala that Cross was known to drive. The search of the residence revealed clothing consistent with clothing worn by Cross in several of the robberies, as well as quantities of heroin, crack cocaine, and narcotics paraphernalia. A search of the car revealed 120 bags heroin, approximately 14 grams of crack, and a knit hat matching the description of one worn by Cross during a robbery the day before. Cross, who was on state parole, was arrested on state charges on that date. He has been detained since his arrest.
Cross pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, and one count of Hobbs Act Robbery. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for August 21, at which time Cross faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI, Connecticut State Police, Orange Police Department, Port Chester (N.Y.) Police Department, and numerous other police departments from the municipalities where the robberies occurred, with the assistance of Connecticut State Parole. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff.
Indictment Charges Tobacco Wholesaler with Operating Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a 10-count indictment charging KHAWAR M. KHOKHAR, 35, of Ellington, with offenses stemming from an alleged tax fraud scheme.
The indictment was returned on May 15, 2024. Khokhar appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford, pleaded not guilty, and was released on a $100,000 bond.
As alleged in the indictment and statements made in court, Khokhar operated Smokin’ Wholesale LLC, a Connecticut-licensed tobacco wholesale business that acquired smokeless tobacco and other tobacco products from out-of-state distributors, including businesses in Pennsylvania and Illinois, and sold the products to retail merchants in Connecticut. Between approximately May 2017 and June 2019, Khokhar and Smokin’ Wholesale purchased approximately $2 million in tobacco products from the distributors, but failed to report accurately to the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services the value of the products imported into the state, and failed to pay to the state the associated tobacco taxes owed. Through this scheme, Khokhar and others caused Connecticut to suffer a tax loss of approximately $1 million.
The indictment charges Khokhar with one count of conspiracy, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years; eight counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count; and one count of engaging in an illegal monetary transaction, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services, Criminal Investigations Division. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry.
Former State Official Indicted, Arrested for School Construction Extortion and Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI, and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a 22-count indictment charging KONSTANTINOS “KOSTA” DIAMANTIS, 67, of Farmington, with extortion, bribery, conspiracy, and false statement offenses related to his conduct as director of Connecticut’s Office of School Constructions Grants and Review (“OSCGR”), the state agency responsible for the grant administration of all Connecticut public school construction projects seeking state funding.
The indictment (link below) was returned yesterday, and Diamantis was arrested this morning. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was released on a $500,000 bond.
In addition, three related cases were unsealed today. On May 13, 2024, SALVATORE MONARCA, 53, of Durham, the president and director of Acranom Masonry, Inc. (“Acranom”), a masonry contractor located in Middlefield, and JOHN F. DUFFY, 63, of Westerly, Rhode Island, vice president of Acranom, each pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe Diamantis to obtain masonry contracts on school construction projects. On May 14, 2024, ANTONIETTA ROY, 41, of Plainfield, the owner of Construction Advocacy Professionals, LLC (“CAP”), pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe Diamantis to obtain business as a construction administrator on school construction projects.
The indictment alleges that Diamantis demanded and received bribes from Acranom, Monarca, and Duffy in connection with multi-million dollar school construction projects Diamantis supervised as director of OSCGR. In exchange for those bribes, and promises to pay bribes, Diamantis used his official position to assist Acranom to obtain and maintain contracts to perform masonry work for state-funded school construction project. Diamantis helped Acranom resolve a dispute on phase two of Hartford’s Weaver High School renovation project around 2018; obtain the contract for masonry work on phase four of the same project; and, in and around 2019, obtain the masonry contract for the emergency rebuild of the Birch Grove Primary School in Tolland. In numerous electronic messages recounted in the indictment, Diamantis, Duffy, and Monarca discussed their plan to pay Diamantis in exchange for his official action on behalf of Acranom. Diamantis also demanded payment in exchange for his actions, and threatened to remove Acranom as mason on the Weaver and Birch Grove projects if he was not paid. The indictment also alleges incidents where cash was provided by Acranom to Diamantis.
The indictment further alleges that Diamantis demanded and received bribes from Roy in her capacity as the owner of CAP. In exchange for those bribes, Diamantis used his official position to assist CAP in obtaining contracts to provide construction administrator and related services on state school construction projects, including a 2019 contract on the Birch Grove project in Tolland, a 2019 contract to assist New Britain in obtaining state reimbursement for school construction projects, and a 2019 contract related to the renovation project at Hartford’s Bulkeley High School. Roy paid Diamantis via cash and check, and hired Diamantis’s daughter at an inflated salary.
The indictment also alleges that on three different occasions in 2023, Diamantis made multiple false statements to FBI agents investigating this matter.
“Constructing and renovating schools is an important, and very expensive, endeavor for our state and municipalities, and corruption within a program that manages and funds them adds cost, seriously erodes trust in government, and raises questions about work quality and the potential harms to students and educators in the classroom,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “This indictment contains allegations of a civil servant who committed multiple felonies, including extorting contractors, demanding and receiving bribes, and repeatedly lying to federal agents investigating his conduct. This kind of criminal behavior can never be tolerated, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our investigative partners will work to uncover it, no matter how long it takes. I thank the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation for their diligent work here. This investigation is ongoing.”
“The depth of deception, collusion, and abuse of power by the defendants in this case, as alleged, is glaring,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Fuller. “The willingness to manipulate contracts and blatantly steal by abusing a position of public trust is intolerable. We have a long history in this state of rooting out corruption and delivering white collar criminals to justice. Today’s arrest further indicates that we are continuing to protect taxpayers from criminal actors.”
“The indictment and arrest of Konstantinos Diamantis demonstrates IRS-CI’s commitment to halting public corruption at the source,” said IRS CI Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis Jr. “Pay to play schemes, such as the alleged scheme orchestrated by Diamantis, Monarca, Duffy, and Roy are not only detrimental to the business community but also the community at large. Unjustly bribing public officials for municipal contracts circumvents the bidding process which can result in subpar construction, delays, and costly overages that directly impact the American taxpayers.”
The indictment charges Diamantis with two counts of extortion and two counts of conspiracy to commit extortion, offenses that carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count; two counts of bribery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years of each count; two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years on each count; and 14 counts of making false statements, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years on each count.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Monarca and Roy have agreed to cooperate with the government’s prosecution of this matter.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan N. Francis and David E. Novick.
diamantis_kosta_indictment.pdfBridgeport Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JEFFREY THOMAS, also known as “Zig,” 51, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 125 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking fentanyl and heroin, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release that followed a prior federal conviction.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force began investigating an organization that was distributing heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine in an around Bridgeport. During the investigation, Task Force members made four controlled purchases of heroin and fentanyl from Frank Best. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps and hundreds of consensual recordings, revealed that Frank Best’s uncles, Wallace Best and Jeffrey Thomas, were supplying Frank Best and others with narcotics.
The investigation further revealed that Thomas worked with Jason Cox to establish a connection to Mexican-sourced drug suppliers in California who could provide kilogram quantities of narcotics for distribution on the East Coast. In December 2019, a cooperating source working in conjunction with Wallace Best, Thomas, and Cox, traveled to a Home Depot parking lot in San Diego and purchased from their suppliers 1.1 kilograms of fentanyl, cut with Xylazine, which is a veterinary sedative, and Tramadol, in exchange for $27,000. After this successful transaction, the conspirators arranged to purchase five kilograms of heroin from their Mexican suppliers. On February 10, 2020, four individuals were arrested after they arrived at the same parking lot to conduct the transaction and investigators seized a box containing approximately 4.9 kilograms of heroin. A related search of a storage locker in San Diego revealed an additional five kilograms of heroin.
On October 14, 2022, a jury found Thomas, Wallace Best, and Cox guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute kilogram quantities of heroin and fentanyl, and Thomas, Wallace Best, and Frank Best guilty of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine base (“crack”). In addition, Frank Best was found guilty of five counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base.
Thomas was previously convicted of a federal narcotics trafficking offense in 2002, and he was sentenced to 262 months of imprisonment. He was released from prison in January 2019 and was on federal supervised release at the time of his most recent criminal conduct.
Thomas was arrested on February 11, 2020. Released on a $150,000 bond, he is required to report to prison on July 23.
On May 13, 2024, Wallace Best was also sentenced to 180 months of imprisonment. On April 24, 2024, Cox was sentenced to 125 months of imprisonment. Frank Best awaits sentencing.
This matter was investigated by the DEA’s Bridgeport HIDTA Task Force with the assistance of the DEA San Diego Field Division. The DEA’s Bridgeport HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Lauren C. Clark, and Katherine E. Boyles through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Tolland Strip Club Owner, Manager & Bouncer Charged in 12-Count IndictmentRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, and Connecticut State Police Colonel Daniel Loughman today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned a 12-count indictment charging KENNETH DENNING, 67, of Holland, Massachusetts, JOSHUA BAKER, 41, of Willimantic, Connecticut, and WILLIAM MAYO, 41, of Manchester, Connecticut, with offenses stemming from the operation of the Electric Blue strip club in Tolland, Connecticut.
The indictment was returned yesterday and Denning, Baker, and Mayo were arrested today.
As alleged in the indictment, Denning owned and oversaw the operation of the Electric Blue strip club, which included the employment of dancers who performed nude dances and lap dances for customers. Baker was the club’s manager and bookkeeper, and Mayo was employed at the club as a bouncer and was primarily responsible for hiring dancers, many of whom were not legally authorized to live or work in the United States.
The indictment alleges that the Electric Blue had a semi-private “lap dance room” and “VIP rooms” where dancers regularly performed commercial sex acts for customers. As payment for commercial sex acts, customers would typically pay the club an entry fee for use of the lap dance room or one of the VIP rooms and then pay an additional fee directly to the dancer. In addition, the club collected cash through cover charges paid at the door and fees paid by dancers to perform at the club. Baker or another club employee would collect the cash received by the club, place the cash in envelopes noting the source of the cash, and then place the envelopes in a safe in Denning’s office. The defendants referred to this cash as “Kenny’s money,” and used this money to pay business expenses and fund Denning’s personal expenditures, including trips to casinos where Denning spent large sums of money.
The indictment also alleges that Denning and Baker provided false information to the club’s tax-return preparer in 2020, 2021, and 2022 by underreporting the gross receipts from the club and excluding income derived from commercial sex acts. As much as approximately $5.7 million in business receipts were not reported to the IRS, causing a tax underpayment of more than $2 million.
The indictment further alleges that Denning committed fraud by applying for and receiving an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) during the COVID-19 pandemic by certifying that the business did not “present live performances of a prurient sexual nature.” Denning received a loan of approximately $150,000 in July 2020.
The indictment charges Denning, Baker, and Mayo with conspiracy to use an interstate facility to promote or facilitate prostitution, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and with unlawful employment of aliens, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of six months.
Denning and Baker are charged with conspiracy to file false tax returns, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and with conspiracy to commit promotional and concealment money laundering, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Denning is charged with engaging in a monetary transaction with proceeds derived from prostitution, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, related to a cash deposit of approximately $21,700 at the Mohegan Sun Casino. He is also charged with aiding and abetting the filing of a false tax return related to his personal tax return for the 2020 tax year, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years, and with willful failure to file his personal tax return for the 2021 tax year, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of one year. He is also charged with wire fraud in connection with his receipt of the EIDL loan, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection – Liquor Control Division, and the Massachusetts State Police, with the assistance of the Willimantic Police Department and Manchester Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ross Weingarten and Robert S. Dearington.
If any employee/dancer at the Electric Blue has been a victim of the unlawful acts described in the indictment, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim Advocate at [email protected] or 203-696-3039.
Proprietário, Gerente e Segurança do Tolland Strip Club Acusados em Denúncia de 12 CrimesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, Procuradora dos Estados Unidos para o Distrito de Connecticut, Michael J. Krol, Agente Especial de Investigações Encarregado da Divisão de Investigações da Agência de Segurança Nacional (HSI, na sigla em inglês), New England, Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Agente Especial Encarregado da Divisão de Investigações Criminais do IRS (Receita Federal dos Estados Unidos) em New England, e o Policial Estadual de Connecticut, Coronel Daniel Loughman anunciaram hoje que o grande júri federal de Hartford pronunciou, KENNETH DENNING, 67, de Holland, Massachusetts, JOSHUA BAKER, 41, de Willimantic, Connecticut, e WILLIAM MAYO, 41, de Manchester, Connecticut, acusando-os de 12 crimes denunciados que derivaram da operação do clube de strip Electric Blue, em Tolland, Connecticut.
A pronúncia foi proferida ontem, e Denning, Baker e Mayo foram presos hoje. Conforme alegado na denúncia, Denning era o proprietário e supervisionava as operações do clube de strip Electric Blue, as quais incluiam a contratação empregatícia de dançarinas que se apresentavam para danças nuas e danças do colo aos clientes. Baker era gerente e contador do clube, e Mayo trabalhava como segurança, sendo sua responsabilidade principal a de contratar dançarinas, muitas das quais não estavam legalmente autorizadas a morar ou trabalhar nos estados Unidos.
A denúncia alega que Electric Blue tinha "sala semiprivada para dança do colo" e "salas VIP" onde as dançarinas regularmente realizavam atos sexuais aos clientes. O pagamento pelos atos sexuais comerciais era feito por meio de uma taxa de entrada que os clientes pagavam para usar a sala de danças do colo ou uma das salas VIP, e depois eles pagavam uma taxa adicional diretamente à dançarina. Além disso, o clube cobrava, na porta e em espécie, taxas de admissão e taxas pagas para a apresentação das dançarinas no clube. Baker ou outro funcionário do clube coletava o dinheiro recebido pelo clube, colocava-o em envelopes, anotava a sua procedência, e depois o guardava em um cofre no escritório de Denning. Os réus referiam-se a esse dinheiro como "o dinheiro do Kenny", e o usavam para pagar as despesas da firma e financiar os gastos pessoais do Denning, inclusive de viagens a casinos, onde Denning gastava grandes quantidades do dinheiro.
A denúncia também alega que Denning e Baker forneceram informações falsas à pessoa que fez a as declarações de imposto de renda em 2020, 2021 e 2022, informando valores de renda bruta inferiores aos da renda bruta do clube e excluindo renda derivada de atos sexuais comerciais. Aproximadamente US$5.7 milhões foram deixados incógnitos ao IRS, gerando um pagamento de impostos a menor no valor de mais de US$2 milhões. Um valor aproximado de US$5.7 milhões de recibos comerciais não foram reportados ao IRS, gerando um pagamento a menor em mais de US$2 milhões.
A denúncia alega ainda que Denning cometeu fraude ao solicitar e receber Empréstimo por Catástrofe Econômica (EIDL, em inglês) durante o período da pandemia do COVID-19, certificando que o estabelecimento não “fez apresentações de natureza sexual lasciva ao vivo”. Denning recebeu um empréstimo de aproximadamente US$150,000 em julho de 2020.
A denúncia acusa Denning, Baker, e Mayo de associação criminosa para usar uma instalação interestadual para promover ou facilitar prostituição, delito que prevê um período máximo de cinco anos de prisão, e a contratação ilegal de estrangeiros, delito que prevê um período máximo de seis meses de prisão.
Denning e Baker são acusados de associação criminosa para fazer declaração de imposto de renda falsa, que prevê um período máximo de cinco anos de prisão, e de associação criminosa para cometer lavagem de dinheiro promocional e ocultacional, que prevê um período máximo 20 anos de prisão.
Denning é acusado de envolvimento em transação monetária com rendimentos de procedência prostitucional, crime que prevê pena máxima de 10 anos de prisão, comprovado por depósito em dinheiro no valor aproximado de US$21,700 no Casino Mohegan. Ele também é acusado de participar da prática de delito penal em sua falsa declaração de imposto de renda pessoal para o ano de 2020, que prevê sentença máxima de três anos de prisão, e de ter, deliberadamente, deixado de declarar impostos para o ano de 2021, delito que prevê sentença máxima de um ano de prisão. É ainda acusado de fraude no que toca ao seu recebimento de empréstimo EIDL (concedido a vítimas de calamidade pública), que prevê sentença máxima de 20 anos de prisão.
A Procuradora dos E.U.A., Avery, salientou que denúncia não é prova de culpa. Acusações são apenas alegações, e cada réu é considerado inocente a menos que, e até que, sua culpa seja provada acima de qualquer dúvida razoável.
Este caso está sendo investigado pela Agência de Investigações de Segurança Nacional dos EUA (HSI), pela Receita Federal dos EUA - Divisão de Investigações Criminais, pela Polícia Estadual de Connecticut, pelo Departamento de Proteção ao Consumidor de Connecticut – Divisão de Controle de Bebidas Alcólicas, e pela Polícia Estadual de Massachusetts, com a assistência do Departamento Policial de Willimantic. O processo está sendo executado pelos Promotores de Justiça Assistentes dos EUA, Ross Weingarten e Robert S. Dearington.
Se qualquer funcionário(a)/dançarina do Electric Blue for vítima dos atos ilegais descritos nesta denúncia, favor contatar a Defensoria de Vítimas na Procuradoria dos EUA pelo endereço eletrônico [email protected] or telefone Nr. 203-696-3039.
Federal Jury in Bridgeport Finds 2 Members of Violent Waterbury Gang GuiltyRead the Press Release
On May 10, 2024, a federal jury in Bridgeport found GABRIEL PULLIAM, also known as “G, ” 30, and JULIAN SCOTT, also known as “Ju Sav,” 25, guilty of offenses related their participation in the 960 gang, a violent Waterbury street gang.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Maureen T. Platt, State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo.
In an effort to address drug trafficking and related violence in Waterbury, the FBI, ATF, and Waterbury Police have been investigating multiple Waterbury-based groups, including the 960 gang. On September 14, 2021, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 36-count indictment charging 960 members Pulliam, Scott, and 14 other alleged gang members, with racketeering, narcotics trafficking, firearm possession, murder, attempted murder and assault, and obstruction of justice offenses.
According to the evidence presented during the approximately five-week trial:
- On October 6, 2018, in a drive-by shooting, Scott and other gang members attempted to murder individuals believed to be members of a rival gang, which resulted in gunshot wounds to an individual.
- On October 11, 2018, in an effort to murder rival gang members, Pulliam, Scott, and other gang members participated in a drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of an innocent bystander, 30-year-old Fransua Guzman, and the paralysis of a second victim.
- On November 18, 2018, Scott and other gang members participated in a drive-by shooting of rival gang members, which resulted in gunshot wounds to two individuals.
The jury found Pulliam and Scott guilty of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, murder in violation of the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering (“VCAR”) statute, causing death through the use of a firearm and in relation to a crime of violence, attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Pulliam was also found guilty of conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances.
At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Pulliam and Scott face a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.
To date, 14 members and associates of the 960 gang who were charged federally in September 2021 have been convicted. The convictions include four defendants who, after a six-week trial, were found guilty on February 14, 2024. Three of the four convicted on that date were found to have committed the murders of Clarence Lewis and Antonio Santos on November 22, 2017, as well as other violent acts. They also face mandatory sentences of life imprisonment.
“This type of gang-related activity, coordinated crimes, and the destruction they cause will not be tolerated by law enforcement, and we will continue to bring all of our resources to bear and combat them,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “No person or group of people is entitled to wreak havoc by engaging in repeated acts of violence, instilling fear and trauma on the children and families who reside in our communities. We are pleased that this investigation and prosecution have had a significant impact on the violence being perpetrated in Waterbury. I thank State’s Attorney Platt, Chief Spagnolo, the FBI, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, the DEA Laboratory, and those police departments that have assigned personnel to multiple federal tasks forces, for the invaluable partnership that has made possible these convictions, removed numerous violent individuals from the community, and made Waterbury safer.”
“The 14 pleas and convictions obtained in this case are the result of years of painstaking work, and illustrate what can be accomplished when both federal and state agencies cooperate by sharing information and working together to make our communities safer,” said Waterbury State’s Attorney Platt. “We are very grateful for the tremendous effort and resources that the U.S. Attorney’s Office put forward to stop these violent gang offenders. I am extremely proud of the hard work, dedication, and professionalism exhibited by members of the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office who were led by Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don Therkildsen, and included Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Alex Arroyo and Inspector Mike Slavin. Lastly, the Waterbury Police Department, under the leadership of Chief Fernando Spagnolo, must be commended for its thorough and complete investigation of this complex and difficult prosecution.”
“Waterbury community members and surrounding towns are experiencing a sense of relief as a result of this specific operation,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Fuller. “Thanks to the joint efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we have halted a violent group from operating in Waterbury. We will continue to utilize all of our resources to dismantle violent groups and improve the quality of life in Connecticut communities.”
“The Waterbury Police Department and City of Waterbury are pleased with the results of the recent 960 RICO trial,” said Waterbury Police Chief Spagnolo. “We are grateful for the relationships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, Waterbury States Attorney’s Office, and all members of the Violent Crime Task Force. The individuals that have been convicted posed a significant threat to our community, engaging in acts of violence and causing fear throughout a number of different neighborhoods. Waterbury is a much safer place today as a result of this joint investigation and dedicated prosecution of these individuals.”
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Waterbury Police Department, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Southington Police Department, Watertown Police Department, New Milford Police Department, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, and the DEA Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Pierpont, Jr., Natasha M. Freismuth, and Geoffrey M. Stone, and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildesen, Jr. and Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Arroyo of the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office, who have been cross-designated as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in this matter.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
El propietario del club de striptease de Tolland, el gerente y el portero acusados de 12 cargosRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, Fiscal Federal para el Distrito de Connecticut, Michael J. Krol, Agente Especial a Cargo de Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional (HSI), Nueva Inglaterra, Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Agente Especial a Cargo de la Investigación Criminal del IRS y el coronel de la policía estatal de Nueva Inglaterra y Connecticut, Daniel Loughman, anunció hoy que un gran jurado federal en Hartford emitió una acusación formal de 12 cargos acusando a KENNETH DENNING, de 67 años, de Holland, Massachusetts, a JOSHUA BAKER, de 41 años, de Willimantic, Connecticut, y a WILLIAM MAYO, de 41 años, de Manchester, Connecticut, de delitos relacionados con la operación del club de striptease Electric Blue en Tolland, Connecticut.
La acusación fue emitida ayer y Denning, Baker y Mayo fueron arrestados hoy. Como se alega en la acusación, Denning era el propietario y supervisaba el funcionamiento del club de striptease Electric Blue, que incluía el empleo de bailarinas que realizaban bailes desnudos y bailes eróticos para los clientes. Baker era el gerente y contable del club, y Mayo trabajaba en el club como portero y era el principal responsable de contratar las bailarinas, muchos de las cuales no estaban legalmente autorizadas para vivir ni trabajar en los Estados Unidos.
La acusación formal alega que Electric Blue tenía una “sala de bailes eróticos” semiprivada y “salas VIP” donde las bailarinas regularmente realizaban actos sexuales comerciales para los clientes. Como pago por los actos sexuales comerciales, los clientes normalmente pagaban al club una tarifa de entrada por el uso de la sala de baile erótico o una de las salas VIP y luego pagaban una tarifa adicional directamente a la bailarina. Además, el club cobraba efectivo a través de los gastos de cobertura pagados en la puerta y los honorarios pagados por las bailarinas para realizar sus actos en el club. Baker u otro empleado del club cobraban el efectivo recibido por el club, lo colocaban en sobres indicando el origen del efectivo y luego colocaban los sobres en una caja fuerte en la oficina de Denning. Los acusados se referían a ese efectivo como “dinero de Kenny” y utilizaban ese dinero para pagar gastos comerciales y financiar los gastos personales de Denning, incluidos viajes a casinos donde Denning gastaba grandes sumas de dinero.
La acusación también alega que Denning y Baker proporcionaron información falsa al preparador de declaraciones de impuestos del club en 2020, 2021 y 2022 al no declarar los ingresos brutos del club y excluir los ingresos derivados de actos sexuales comerciales. Aproximadamente 5.7 millones de dólares en ingresos comerciales no fueron declarados al IRS, lo que produjo un pago de impuestos insuficiente de más de 2 millones de dólares.
La acusación formal alega además que Denning cometió fraude al solicitar y recibir un Préstamo por Desastre por Daños Económicos ("EIDL") durante la pandemia del COVID-19 al certificar que la empresa no "presentaba actuaciones de naturaleza sexual lasciva en vivo". Denning recibió un préstamo de aproximadamente $150,000 en julio de 2020. La acusación formal acusa a Denning, a Baker y a Mayo de conspiración para utilizar una instalación interestatal para promover o facilitar la prostitución, un delito que conlleva una pena máxima de prisión de cinco años, y de empleo ilegal de extranjeros, un delito que conlleva una pena máxima de prisión de seis meses.
A Denning y a Baker se les acusa de conspiración para presentar declaraciones de impuestos falsas, lo cual conlleva una pena máxima de prisión de cinco años, y de conspiración para cometer lavado de dinero con fines de promoción y encubrimiento, que conlleva una pena máxima de prisión de 20 años.
A Denning se le acusa de participar en una transacción monetaria con ganancias derivadas de la prostitución, un delito que conlleva una pena máxima de prisión de 10 años, relacionado con un depósito en efectivo de aproximadamente $21,700 en el casino Mohegan Sun. También se le acusa de complicidad en la presentación de una declaración de impuestos falsa relacionada con su declaración de impuestos personal para el año fiscal 2020, un delito que conlleva una pena máxima de prisión de tres años, y de no presentar intencionalmente su declaración de impuestos personal para el año fiscal 2021, delito que conlleva una pena máxima de prisión de un año. También se le acusa de fraude electrónico en relación con la recepción del préstamo EIDL, que conlleva una pena máxima de prisión de 20 años.
El fiscal federal Avery destacó que una acusación no es prueba de culpabilidad. Los cargos son sólo acusaciones, y se presume que cada acusado es inocente a menos y hasta que se demuestre su culpabilidad más allá de toda duda razonable.
Este caso está siendo investigado por Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional (HSI), el Servicio de Impuestos Internos – División de Investigación Criminal, la Policía Estatal de Connecticut, el Departamento de Protección al Consumidor de Connecticut - División de Control de Bebidas Alcohólicas y la Policía Estatal de Massachusetts, con la ayuda del Departamento de Policía de Willimantic y el Departamento de Policía de Manchester. El caso está siendo procesado por los fiscales federales auxiliares Ross Weingarten y Robert S. Dearington.
Si algún empleado/bailarina de Electric Blue ha sido víctima de los actos ilegales descritos en la acusación, comuníquese con el Defensor de Víctimas de la Oficina del Fiscal de los Estados Unidos en [email protected] o al 203-696-3039.
U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery Recognizes National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial DayRead the Press Release
In honor of National Police Week, which is observed this year from May 11 through May 17, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement.
“As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe.
On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. The names included Detective Robert “Bobby” Carl Garten, an eight-year member of the Hartford Police Department, who was killed on September 6, 2023, when his patrol car was struck by a vehicle driven by an individual fleeing an attempted traffic enforcement stop. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/.
“National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day serve as a sober reminder of the brave, dangerous, and critically important work members of law enforcement perform every day,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “At any hour of the day, officers respond to shootings, assaults, homicides, robberies, drug related violence, domestic violence, and other calls for help, and we are grateful for their service. We should also take time to focus on the importance of officer wellness. Law enforcement is an enormously stressful profession with pressures that can take a toll and have a cumulating effect over time. As a result, far too many officers die by suicide each year. We encourage officers to seek the help they need and have earned. Please join me in honoring all officers who have died in service to their communities, and remember their families and loved ones who continue to endure their loss.”
To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.
New Britain Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and CocaineRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAMON RAMOS-ACEVEDO, 48, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 135 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his trafficking fentanyl and cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2022, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s (USPIS) Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force identified suspicious packages that were being mailed to a New Britain address connected to Ramos-Acevedo and his associate, Victor Rodriguez-Gomez, also known as “Calami,” who resided in Desert Hot Springs, California. A court-authorized search of one package, which had been mailed from California, revealed approximately one kilogram of fentanyl and one kilogram of heroin. In July 2022, USPIS investigators in San Bernardino, California, contacted Connecticut investigators to report that a court-authorized search of a package that was addressed to a residence on Willow Street in New Britain revealed eight cell phones. On August 1, 2022, investigators conducted a controlled delivery of the package in New Britain and observed Ramos-Acevedo and Rodriguez-Gomez take possession of it.
Investigators identified several additional suspicious packages associated with Ramos-Acevedo and, on August 11, 2022, observed Ramos-Acevedo in California mailing packages to an address in New Britain.
Investigators also developed evidence that Rodriguez-Gomez had an associate who used a van to transport narcotics from California, or another location in the southwestern United States, to addresses in Connecticut associated with Ramos-Acevedo. On August 25, 2022, investigators observed Ramos-Acevedo unloading items from the van in New Britain.
On September 7, 2022, the Connecticut State Police, which was assisting with surveillance, stopped a vehicle that Ramos-Acevedo was driving in Newington for a motor vehicle violation. Rodriguez-Gomez was a passenger in the vehicle. After a K-9 alerted to several items within the vehicle, a search revealed $179,578 in cash and nine cellphones. A subsequent search of a house in Farmington where Ramos-Acevedo claimed he was living resulted in the seizure of an additional $30,426 in cash.
On November 30, 2022, the Iowa State Patrol stopped an associate of Rodriguez-Gomez who was driving the van that had been identified in August 2022. A search of the van revealed approximately 22 kilograms of cocaine and two kilograms of fentanyl, which was destined for Ramos-Acevedo in New Britain.
Ramos-Acevedo has been detained since his arrest on December 1, 2022. On January 22, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and five kilograms or more of cocaine.
Rodriguez-Gomez pleaded guilty to the same charge and, on April 11,2024, he was sentenced to 156 months of imprisonment.
This investigation was conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force. The DEA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. The USPIS Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden, and Town of Groton Police Departments.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone and Shan Patel.
Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that WALLACE BEST, also known as “Coop,” 57, of Bridgeport, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 180 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for trafficking fentanyl and heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force began investigating an organization that was distributing heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine in an around Bridgeport. During the investigation, Task Force members made four controlled purchases of heroin and fentanyl from Frank Best. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps and hundreds of consensual recordings, revealed that Frank Best’s uncles, Wallace Best and Jeffrey Thomas, were supplying Frank Best and others with narcotics.
The investigation further revealed that Jeffrey Thomas worked with Jason Cox to establish a connection to Mexican-sourced drug suppliers in California who could provide kilogram quantities of narcotics for distribution on the East Coast. In December 2019, a cooperating source working in conjunction with Wallace Best, Thomas, and Cox, traveled to a Home Depot parking lot in San Diego and purchased from their suppliers 1.1 kilograms of fentanyl, cut with Xylazine, which is a veterinary sedative, and Tramadol, in exchange for $27,000. After this successful transaction, the conspirators arranged to purchase five kilograms of heroin from their Mexican suppliers. On February 10, 2020, four individuals were arrested after they arrived at the same parking lot to conduct the transaction and investigators seized a box containing approximately 4.9 kilograms of heroin. A related search of a storage locker in San Diego revealed an additional five kilograms of heroin.
On October 14, 2022, a jury found Wallace Best, Thomas, and Cox guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute kilogram quantities of heroin and fentanyl, and Wallace Best, Thomas, and Frank Best guilty of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base (“crack”). In addition, Frank Best was found guilty of five counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base.
Wallace Best’s criminal history includes a federal cocaine trafficking conviction in 2002.
Wallace Best was arrested on February 11, 2020. Released on a $150,000 bond, he is required to report to prison on July 15.
On April 24, 2024, Cox was sentenced to 125 months of imprisonment. Thomas and Frank Best await sentencing.
This matter was investigated by the DEA’s Bridgeport HIDTA Task Force with the assistance of the DEA San Diego Field Division. The DEA’s Bridgeport HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Lauren C. Clark, and Katherine E. Boyles through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Naugatuck Man Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, today announced that TRAVIS TILLEY, 40, of Naugatuck, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with child exploitation offenses.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in 2019, Tilley was convicted in state court of risk of injury to a child, which involved sexual intercourse with a person under 13, and possession of child pornography. In August 2022, he was released from state custody and began serving a 15-year term of probation. On March 9, 2023, state probation officers seized Tilley’s laptop and a flash drive. Analysis of the seized items revealed that Tilley had utilized prohibited software and had accessed sites that provide sexually explicit material; that he was using encrypted email and messenger services; that he had used an operating system that is configured to leave no digital footprint; and that he was a member of internet chat rooms that focused on child pornography and AI-generated child pornography. The analysis also revealed two videos depicting the sexual exploitation of prepubescent children, approximately 60 images of AI-generated child pornography, and sexually explicit chat room messages sent by the laptop user.
The complaint charges Tilley with receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and with possession of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The penalties in this matter are enhanced because of Tilley’s prior state convictions.
Tilley has been detained in state custody March 2023. He made his initial appearance today in New Haven federal court.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the Connecticut Court Support Services Division – Adult Probation Services and the Westport Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Hartford Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that EFRAIN CHEVEREZ, 42, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 28 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for trafficking fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation revealed that Issachamil Torres, also known as “Chamil,” was trafficking fentanyl from his residence on Crown Street in Hartford, and that he was using an apartment on Nutmeg Lane in East Hartford to store, process and package narcotics for street sale. On January 25, 2023, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of the East Hartford apartment and seized approximately 5,400 dose bags of fentanyl, approximately one kilogram of unpackaged fentanyl, and items used to process and package narcotics. Torres, Cheverez, and Enrique Rodriguez Rivera, who were present in the apartment, were arrested at that time. That same day, a search of Torres’s Hartford residence revealed distribution quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine, and approximately $30,000 in cash.
On July 18, 2023, Cheverez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl.
Cheverez, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on July 1.
Torres and Rodriguez pleaded guilty to related charges. On December 19, 2023, Rodriguez was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment. Torres awaits sentencing.
This investigation was conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force, which includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Glastonbury Psychologist Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Medicaid of More Than $1.6 MillionRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL B. PINES, 75, of Avon, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 27 months of imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for defrauding Medicaid of more than $1.6 million.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Pines is a psychologist who owned and operated Michael B. Pines, Ph.D., P.C., located in Glastonbury. Pines provided psychotherapy to young children, adolescents, and adults, and he was enrolled individually as a Behavioral Health Clinician provider in the Connecticut Medicaid Program (“Medicaid”).
Between January 2017 and October 2023, Pines submitted and caused to be submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid for psychotherapy services that were purportedly provided to his Medicaid clients. Specifically, Pines submitted claims for dates of service when no services of any kind had been provided to the Medicaid clients identified in the claims, including when he was traveling, on vacation, recovering from surgery, or otherwise not working. He also submitted claims when an appointment had been canceled, when the claimed client was in the hospital, when he had stopped treating the claimed client, and when the claimed client had never been his client. In addition, when Pines treated multiple Medicaid clients in the same family at the same time, he billed Medicaid for the group visit as multiple individual claims, a practice that he knew was not permitted by Medicaid.
The investigation revealed that Pines used his business bank account for numerous personal expenditures.
Through this scheme, Pines defrauded Medicaid of $1,617,679. Judge Nagala ordered Pines to make full restitution. Pines also forfeited 16 pieces of jewelry, which he paid for using his business bank account, with an appraised replacement value of $67,685.
On January 31, 2024, Pines pleaded guilty to health care fraud.
Pines who is released on a $250,000 bond, is required to report to prison on June 24.
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.
People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
Bridgeport Fentanyl Dealer Involved in Overdose Death Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DANIEL OLIVER, also known as “Chase,” 30, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Harford to 20 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in the early morning hours of April 23, 2020, a 23-year-old woman was discovered unconscious in her bedroom of her Bronx, New York residence. Law enforcement and medical personnel responded to the scene and she was pronounced dead. Fentanyl and drug paraphernalia were recovered from the scene, and the victim’s autopsy found that she died of “acute fentanyl intoxication.” The investigation revealed that Oliver sold the victim fentanyl shortly before her overdose death; that he knew she had not used opioids for some time before the sale; that he warned her that the drugs could be more dangerous based on her period of sobriety; and that he deleted his Facebook account, which he used to communicate with the victim, shortly after the victim died.
In January 2021, Bridgeport Police made a controlled purchase of fentanyl and heroin from Oliver. On January 18, 2021, Oliver was arrested on state charges, and a court-authorized search of his residence revealed 140 folds containing a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, and a quantity of cocaine.
Oliver was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on September 1, 2022. On December 4, 2023, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, a controlled substance. After a hearing on April 19, 2024, Judge Williams found that Oliver sold the fentanyl to the overdose victim that resulted in her death.
Oliver has been detained since his federal arrest.
This matter was investigated by the New York City Police Department, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, which includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff.
Former Connecticut Resident Charged with Offenses Stemming from Alleged $4 Million Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a 21-count indictment charging JOHN A. MASANOTTI, JR., 69, of Bonita Springs, Florida, with offenses stemming from an alleged investment fraud scheme.
The indictment was returned on May 7, 2024, and Masanotti was arrested today. He appeared in federal court in Fort Myers, Florida, and was released on a $100,000 bond. Masanotti is scheduled to be arraigned in Hartford federal court on May 15.
The indictment alleges that Masanotti, who formerly resided in Darien, Connecticut, was the owner and managing member of Middlesex Mortgage Group, LLC, also known as Middlesex Group, LLC (“Middlesex”), based in Darien. Through Middlesex, Masanotti, acting as an investment advisor, purported to manage a pooled investment vehicle on behalf of investors. Masanotti claimed to clients and potential clients that invested funds were going to be, and were in fact, pooled together and invested in foreign currency and other investments. Between approximately 2016 and 2023, Masanotti defrauded at least 10 clients of a total of more than $4 million by using their money for personal expenses, and to pay returns to other clients. Masanotti provided clients with fraudulent monthly account statements from Middlesex that showed fake investment profits.
The indictment also alleges that Masanotti made false statements to the FBI during the investigation, and filed false records in an attempt to obstruct the investigation.
The indictment charges Masanotti with eight counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count; 11 counts of making illegal monetary transactions, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count; one count of making false statements, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years; and one count of falsification of records in a federal investigation, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division; and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; with the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather L. Cherry.
Norwalk Resident Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOSE DE JESUS VEGA-CERVANTES, 45, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Norwalk, pleaded guilty yesterday in Bridgeport federal court to a fentanyl trafficking offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in July and August 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Norwalk Police Department made controlled purchases of fentanyl from Vega-Cervantes. Vega-Cervantes was arrested on August 22, 2023, after he attempted to sell a kilogram of fentanyl to an individual working with law enforcement.
Vega-Cervantes pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. A sentencing date is not scheduled.
Vega-Cervantes has been detained since his arrest.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Norwalk Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Clark.
Man Who Trafficked Guns into Bridgeport Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRANNON WINSTON, 24, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 40 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for firearm trafficking and possession offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Winston purchased firearms in Georgia, where he resided at times, and provided them to customers in Connecticut. Winston personally purchased at least 18 firearms in Georgia, and he had others purchase additional firearms on his behalf. The investigation, which included gun recoveries after shooting incidents in Bridgeport, revealed that some of the firearms were provided to members of the East End and PT Barnum gangs in Bridgeport.
On March 16, 2022, a federal grand jury in Bridgeport returned an indictment charging Winston with firearms trafficking offenses. During his arraignment on March 29, 2022, Winston was informed that he could be required to serve a consecutive term of imprisonment of up to 10 years if he committed a federal felony while on pretrial release. Winston was released on a $100,000 bond on that date.
On December 21, 2022, Winston was arrested by Bridgeport Police for possessing a .357 caliber handgun with a loaded high capacity magazine. The handgun had been purchased in Jonesboro, Georgia, on November 11, 2022, and ballistics analysis revealed that it had been used in a shooting in Bridgeport’s East Side the day before Winston’s arrest.
Winston has been detained in federal custody since January 3, 2023. On September 22, 2023, he pleaded guilty to one count of crossing state lines with the intent to engage unlicensed dealing of firearms, and one count of receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Bridgeport Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Kale through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
West Haven Man Charged with Narcotics Distribution OffenseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an indictment charging LEVERN MARION, 35, of West Haven, with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and a quantity of fentanyl.
The indictment was returned on May 1, 2024. Marion appeared today in New Haven federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
As alleged in court documents, an investigation that included surveillance, trash pulls, and traffic stops revealed that Marion was distributing controlled substances in and around New Haven. Marion was arrested on March 27, 2024. On that date, a court authorized search of a New Haven residence connected to him revealed approximately 800 grams of cocaine, approximately 260 grams of crack cocaine, and numerous wax folds containing fentanyl.
If convicted of the charge in the indictment, Marion faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Marion has been detained since his arrest.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the New Haven Police Department. The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe.
Hartford Man Charged with Fraudulently Collecting Social Security, Unemployment, and Food Stamp BenefitsRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an indictment charging RICARDO SANTIAGO, 58, of Hartford, with three counts of wire fraud related to a scheme to fraudulently obtain Social Security, unemployment, and Food Stamp benefits.
The indictment was returned on May 1, 2024, and Santiago was arrested today. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was released on a $25,000 bond.
As alleged in the indictment and statements made in court, between 2002 and 2024, Santiago held jobs with numerous employers and earned income totaling more than $500,000. Santiago concealed his income from federal and state government agencies by providing to employers false identification, including a Social Security number and card belonging to another individual, and, in at least one instance, a false Social Security card.
The indictment alleges that, in 2002, Santiago applied for Retirement Survivors Disability Insurance (RSDI) benefits, representing to the Social Security Administration that he was unable to work due to disability. As a result, he began receiving RSDI payments in September 2002. In 2017, Santiago completed paperwork to maintain his benefits in which he asserted that he remained disabled and had not worked for the past two years. Santiago ultimately collected more than $300,000 in RSDI payments to which he was not entitled.
The indictment also alleges that, in February 2017, Santiago submitted to the Connecticut Department of Social Services (CT-DSS) an application for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (“Food Stamps”), representing to the CT-DSS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture that he earned no income from employment. He began receiving SNAP benefits in March 2017, and subsequently completed forms to renew his SNAP benefits on which he again represented that he had no change in his income and that he earned no money from employment. Santiago made more than $17,000 in purchases with SNAP benefits to which he was not entitled.
The indictment further alleges that, in April 2020, Santiago applied to the Connecticut Department of Labor (CT-DOL) for Unemployment Insurance benefits. On the application, Santiago used a Social Security number belonging to another individual, and he represented to the CT-DOL and U.S. Department of Labor that he was unemployed but available for work and physically able to work. He subsequently completed weekly certifications making the same representations. From April 2020 through February 2021, Santiago received more than $35,000 in payments to which he was not entitled.
If convicted, Santiago faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count of wire fraud.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan J. Guevremont.
Former Bridgeport City Councilman Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Charge Related to Primaries and Election in 2017 and 2018Read the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that MICHAEL DeFILIPPO, 37, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to a civil rights offense related to DeFilippo’s run for Bridgeport City Council in 2017 and 2018.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from June 2018 until July 2021, DeFilippo was a member of the Bridgeport City Council representing the 133rd District, which is near the Sacred Heart University campus. DeFilippo also owned several rental properties that he leased to students at Sacred Heart University. Although Bridgeport’s City Council elections are typically held in odd-numbered years, because of repeated absentee ballot irregularities in the Democratic primary for the 133rd District, the September 2017 primary was re-run in November 2017, and re-run again in April 2018, and the general election took place in June 2018. On April 10, 2018, DeFilippo was selected as one of the two Democratic nominees for the 133rd District and, on June 26, 2018, he was elected to the Bridgeport City Council.
In the 2017 and 2018 primaries and the 2018 general election, DeFilippo stole and falsified Voter Registration Applications (“VRAs”) and absentee balloting documents, forged signatures, and submitted fraudulent election documents to election officials in the name of some of his tenants who resided in the 133rd District. DeFilippo’s conduct caused Bridgeport and Connecticut election officials acting under color of law to deprive DeFilippo’s tenants of their right to vote (by counting stolen ballots), and to deprive all 133rd District voters of their right to have their votes fully counted (by diluting election results with fraudulent registrations and ballots).
DeFilippo pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law. At sentencing, which is not scheduled, he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of one year and a fine of up to $100,000. DeFilippo is released on bond pending sentencing.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan N. Francis and Heather L. Cherry.
Connecticut Dentists Pay $498K to Settle False Claims AllegationsRead the Press Release
Vanessa United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and William Tong, Connecticut Attorney General, today announced that BOHUN CHOI, DDS and MICHONG SON, DDS, and their businesses, C&S FAMILY DENTAL NEW BRITAIN, LLC, and C&S FAMILY DENTAL WATERBURY, LLC, have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments and will pay more than $498,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the federal and state False Claims Acts.
Choi and Son are both licensed to practice dentistry in Connecticut. Choi, Son, C&S Family Dental New Britain (“C&S New Britain”) and C&S Family Dental Waterbury (“C&S Waterbury”) are enrolled as dental providers in the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (“CTMAP”), which includes the state’s Medicaid program.
It is alleged that, in violation of their CTMAP provider agreements and the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, C&S New Britain, C&S Waterbury, Choi, and Son submitted claims to the CTMAP related to dental services rendered to Connecticut Medicaid patients referred to C&S New Britain and C&S Waterbury by a third-party “patient recruiting” company. Specifically, the federal and state governments alleged that C&S New Britain, C&S Waterbury, Choi, or Son paid a patient recruiter $110 for each Connecticut Medicaid patient the recruiter referred to them whenever the patient received services over and above routine preventative care, such as dental cleanings and exams, and submitted claims for dental services rendered to those patients. With each submitted claim, they impliedly certified that the conditions of receiving payment were met, including, but not limited to, that they did not pay kickbacks or violate any terms or provisions of the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership (“CTDHP”) provider manual concerning the submitted claim.
The CTDHP provider manual, which is an addendum to both the CTMAP provider agreement and the CTMAP provider manual, expressly prohibits per-patient compensation for individuals referred to CMAP providers.
To resolve the allegations under the federal and state False Claims Acts, C&S New Britain, C&S Waterbury, Choi, and Son agreed to pay $498,310 to reimburse the Medicaid program for conduct occurring from April 1, 2018, through January 12, 2020.
Under the False Claims Act, the government can recover up to three times its actual damages, plus penalties of $13,946 to $27,894 for each false claim.
This case stems from a larger investigation into fraudulent activity by health care providers who submit kickback-tainted claims to the CTMAP for services rendered to Connecticut Medicaid patients referred by third-party patient recruiting companies.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office; and the Connecticut Department of Social Services. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Thidemann, and Assistant Attorney General Joshua L. Jackson of the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General.
People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.