District of Connecticut

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERIC WOODIE, 32, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 66 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking and possessing firearms, and for distributing cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 18, 2021, Woodie and Dominic Colon-Brown sold a .22 caliber firearm to an individual for $1,200.  Woodie, Brown and Julian Judge then conspired to obtain stolen firearms in Florida and sell them in Connecticut.  In late February 2021, Woodie rented a car, which Colon-Brown and Judge used to drive to Florida to obtain stolen firearms and bring them back to Connecticut.  Woodie also provided Colon-Brown and Judge with cash to purchase firearms.  Colon-Brown and Judge purchased three stolen handguns in Florida, transported them back to Connecticut, and provided them to Woodie.

Woodie was arrested on March 8, 2021, after he ran from New Britain Police officers and discarded a .40 caliber handgun, equipped with a laser and loaded high capacity magazine, during the chase.  The firearm was recovered and a search of Woodie’s person revealed five knotted plastic baggies containing cocaine, as well as $1,038 in cash.   A subsequent search of Woodie’s residence revealed the three stolen handguns they acquired in Florida, two extended magazines, more than 100 rounds of ammunition, and an additional distribution quantity of cocaine. 

During the investigation, Woodie and his associates were captured in recorded conversations discussing the illegal acquisition and sale of firearms.  Colon-Brown and Judge also posted photos of themselves on social media in possession of firearms.

Woodie has been detained since his arrest.  On March 2, 2023, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Colon-Brown, of Farmington, and Judge, of New Britain, each pleaded guilty to one count of transporting stolen firearms across state lines.  On May 27, 2022, Judge was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.  On August 22, 2022, Colon-Brown was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay a $2,200 fine.

This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, the New Britain Police Department, the Farmington Police Department, the West Hartford Police Department, and the Pasco County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel M. Krull.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, and Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw today announced that SERVIO BARROS-TERREROS, 56, of Stamford has been charged by federal criminal complaint with child exploitation offenses.

As alleged in court documents, in December 2022, a minor female victim reported that, when she was nine and 10 years old, Barros-Terreros had sexually assaulted her multiple times.  The victim reported that Barros-Terreros took sexually explicit pictures of her, and threatened to publish the pictures and show them to the victim’s mother if the victim told anyone.  Barros-Terreros also instructed the victim to undress during video calls he initiated with the victim, during which he also engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

On January 12, 2023, Stamford Police arrested Barros-Terreros on state sexual assault and risk of injury offenses, and seized Barros-Terreros’ iPhone.  It is alleged that analysis of the iPhone revealed sexually explicit images of the minor victim, and images of Barros-Terreros engaging in sexually explicit conduct with the minor victim.

Barros-Terreros has been detained since his arrest.  He made his initial appearance yesterday in Bridgeport federal court.

The complaint charges Barros-Terreros 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 complaint is only a charge and 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 Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Stamford Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings with the assistance of the Office of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Stamford-Norwalk.

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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JEISSON AMARANTE-PEREZ, 30, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 45 months of imprisonment for trafficking fentanyl and heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department into a Waterbury-based drug trafficking operation headed by Nestor Sosa-Ortiz.  The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical surveillance, and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Sosa-Ortiz’s organization received large quantities of fentanyl and heroin from suppliers in Connecticut and New York and distributed the narcotics through a network of co-conspirators, including Sanchez-Martinez.  After Sosa-Ortiz was arrested in New York City on a separate federal heroin and fentanyl trafficking charge in May 2019, he continued to control his drug network while incarcerated by using smuggled cell phones to communicate with various co-conspirators.

The Sosa-Ortiz organization used an apartment located at 330 Bishop Street in Waterbury to store kilogram-quantities of fentanyl and heroin, and to process and package the drugs for street sale.  On October 29, 2019, investigators arrested several members of the organization, executed search warrants at the Bishop Street apartment and four other locations, and seized approximately six kilograms of fentanyl and heroin, approximately 100,000 bags of fentanyl/heroin packaged for street distribution, approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills disguised as Percocet pills, one firearm, approximately $50,000 in cash, drug ledgers, and other items.

As the investigation continued, it revealed that Jeisson Amarante-Perez and his brother, Jeffrey Amarante-Perez, served as an alternate source of drug supply to the Sosa-Ortiz organization, and that Edwin Rivas-Cruz was a drug courier for the Amarante-Perez brothers.  Jeisson Amarante-Perez and Rivas-Cruz were intercepted over a wiretap coordinating narcotics transactions, and drug ledgers seized from the Sosa-Ortiz organization in October 2019 indicated drug debts to Jeffrey Amarante-Perez of more than $30,000.

Jeisson Amarante-Perez has been detained since his arrest on April 11, 2022.  On December 1, 2022, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

Jeffrey Amarante-Perez, Rivas-Cruz, and Sosa-Ortiz also pleaded guilty.  Jeffrey Amarante-Perez was sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment, and Rivas-Cruz and Sosa-Ortiz await sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury 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 Lauren C. Clark and Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Phillip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, and William Tong, Connecticut Attorney General, today announced that COREBELLA HEALTH, LLC, and its owner, MARCOS DeESCOBAR, have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments and have paid a total of $399,440.55 to resolve allegations that they submitted false claims to, and received overpayments from, the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Corebella Health (“Corebella”) is a practice that provides medical and wellness services to patients in Waterbury.  DeEscobar is a naturopath and the owner of Corebella.  The allegations against Corebella and DeEscobar arise out of improper billing for allergy immunotherapy preparation, and office visits, also known as evaluation and management (“E&M”) services. 

Services performed by a nurse practitioner are typically reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid at a lower rate than those performed by a physician.  There are circumstances where nurse practitioner services are considered “incident-to” physician services, and may be properly billed and reimbursed at the higher physician rate.  Among other requirements, incident-to services require a certain level of physician supervision.  The government alleges that Corebella and DeEscobar submitted, or caused to be submitted, false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for services that were supposedly rendered by physicians.  In reality, the services were rendered by nurse practitioners, did not meet incident-to supervision requirements, and should not have been reimbursed at the higher physician rate.

When billing for the preparation and provision of allergy immunotherapy, providers must specify the number of units prepared for the patient.  The government alleges that Corebella and DeEscobar received overpayments from Medicare and Medicaid for allergy immunotherapy preparation services by submitting claims for more units than were actually prepared.

Medicare and Medicaid generally consider E&M services that occur on the same day as a procedure to be part of the work of the procedure, and do not allow a separate payment for the office visit.  However, when a significant, separately identifiable service is performed by the same physician on the same date of the procedure, the provider can use “Modifier 25” to bill for both the procedure and the E&M services.  The government alleges that Corebella and DeEscobar caused improper claims to be billed to Medicare and Medicaid by adding Modifier 25 to E&M claims when providing allergy injections when, in fact, no significant, separately identifiable E&M services were provided.

To resolve their liability, Corebella and DeEscobar paid $399,440.55 to the federal and state governments for conduct occurring between January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2018.

This matter was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Kaczmarek and by Assistant Attorney General Joshua Jackson of the Attorney General’s Office.

People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS or the Health Care Task Force at (203) 777-6311.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LEONARDO HECTOR ROSADO, 52, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 170 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking fentanyl and cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2021, members of the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and Bridgeport Police Department coordinated the acquisition of a kilogram of heroin from Rosado.  On April 13, 2021, Rosado drove from the Bronx to a meeting location in Bridgeport where he provided a cooperating witness with nearly a kilogram of a substance containing fentanyl, heroin and cocaine, and another small bag containing more than four grams of fentanyl.  Investigators arranged another narcotics transaction and, on May 16, 2021, arrested Rosado after he drove to a location in Bridgeport with nearly three kilograms of a substance containing fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and an additional 983 grams of cocaine.

Rosado had also delivered a kilogram of fentanyl to the cooperating witness in 2019.

Rosado has been detained since his arrest.  On February 23, 2023, a jury found him guilty of two counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine. 

Rosado has a prior narcotics trafficking conviction. In 2010, he was sentenced in the Middle District of North Carolina to 121 months of imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.  His sentence was later reduced to 97 months of imprisonment.

This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara E. Levens and Daniel E. Cummings 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JONATHAN BROWN, 46, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 125 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a large-scale heroin trafficking ring.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Brown was a close associate of Ivan Rosario, also known as “Ghost,” who headed a Bridgeport-based heroin trafficking organization that, between approximately April 2015 and March 2017, received at least 30 kilograms of heroin that had been transported from Mexico to Bridgeport hidden inside motorcycles equipped with secret compartments.  The organization then distributed the drug in the Bridgeport area.  Brown, with the help of his girlfriend, a Bridgeport real estate agent, assisted Rosario in securing “stash houses” that were used by the organization to store and process narcotics.  At times, he also helped package and distribute narcotics.

In October 2015, law enforcement stopped a car Wilfredo Rosado-Rodriguez was driving and seized approximately $120,000 in suspected drug proceeds that he was couriering to New York.  On February 14, 2017, Jose David Silva Pestano, a Mexican national, was arrested in Nogales, Arizona, after he crossed the border on a motorcycle carrying nearly 12 kilograms of heroin in a concealed compartment.

Brown was arrested on March 3, 2017.  On March 16, 2017, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Brown, Rosario, Rosado-Rodriguez, Silva Pestano, and three other individuals with heroin trafficking and related offenses.

Following his arrest, Brown was released on a $250,000 bond.  He was scheduled to plead guilty on March 5, 2018, but failed to appear for his court proceeding.  Brown was located and arrested in Mexico in September 2019, and has been detained since that time.

On December 22, 2022, Brown pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

Brown’s criminal history includes a federal conviction in November 2012 for possession of ammunition by a felon.  He was sentenced to 34 months of imprisonment for that offense.

Rosario, Rosado-Rodriguez, and Silva Pestano were convicted of related charges.  On July 18, 2019, Rosario was sentenced to 210 months of imprisonment, on April 19, 2023, Rosado-Rodriguez was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment, and on June 27, 2018, Silva Pestano was sentenced to 87 months of imprisonment.

This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, DEA’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Bridgeport Police Department and Stratford Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Ruff and Natasha M. Freismuth 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JACKIE BROWN, 43, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 92 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing ammunition.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 7, 2021, Brown was involved in a car accident in New Haven.  After a responding officer observed Brown attempting to hide an extended firearm magazine by sitting on top of it, Brown ran from the car, up the street, and through the backyard of a residence.  Another officer apprehended Brown minutes later.  A search of Brown’s path of travel revealed a .40 caliber handgun, a loaded gun magazine, and two loose rounds of ammunition.

In an interview with officers, Brown admitted that he had discarded a firearm with a loaded magazine during the chase.  Analysis of the extended magazine that was found in the car revealed that it contained 25 rounds of ammunition.

Brown has an extensive criminal history that includes seven drug-related felony convictions, and a conviction for attempted assault in the first degree.  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.

Brown has been detained since his arrest.  On August 12, 2022, he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon.

This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the New Haven Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Reed Durham through the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.

PSN, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts, 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALEX JOSEPHS, 23, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 120 months of imprisonment for his involvement in a spree of violent robberies of AT&T stores in Connecticut and western Massachusetts.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2021, Josephs, Shaquille Raymond, Ronaldo Smith, and Deshawn Baugh committed several violent armed robberies of AT&T stores in Connecticut and western Massachusetts.  The perpetrators typically entered the stores shortly before closing, pointed weapons at employees, and, at times, pistol-whipped, dragged and shoved employees toward the back inventory room.  They then held the employees at gunpoint while loading large bags with cell phones and other electronics.  The group stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise.  Saviana Bourne, who worked at AT&T stores, helped plan the robberies, served as a getaway driver, and coordinated the sale of the stolen merchandise.

The investigation revealed that Josephs, Raymond, and Smith robbed AT&T stores in Newington on January 29, 2021, and Enfield on February 24, 2021.  Baugh then joined the conspiracy and together they robbed an AT&T store in Canton on April 15, 2021, and attempted to rob stores in Torrington and Glastonbury in May 2021, but were locked out of the stores.

On June 6, 2021, Josephs and his associates, armed with a semiautomatic pistol, two revolvers, and a semiautomatic rifle, robbed an AT&T store in West Springfield, Massachusetts.  After the robbery, they fled in a vehicle driven by Bourne, who led police on a high-speed chase that ended when their vehicle collided with a Massachusetts State Police cruiser.  Josephs, Raymond, Smith, Baugh, and Bourne were arrested, and a search of the vehicle revealed more than $150,000 in stolen merchandise, as well as the firearms used during the robbery.

Judge Underhill ordered Josephs to pay restitution of $298,073.86, which reflects the losses from the Newington, Enfield, and Canton robberies. The property stolen in the West Springfield robbery was recovered.

Josephs has been detained since his arrest.  On November 30, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Raymond, Smith, Baugh, and Bourne also pleaded guilty.  On March 1, 2023, Baugh was sentenced to 108 months of imprisonment and was ordered to pay restitution of $124,842.45, which reflects the loss from the Canton robbery.  On March 29, 2023, Raymond was sentenced to 72 months of imprisonment and Bourne was sentenced to 78 months of imprisonment.  Raymond and Bourne were also ordered to pay restitution of $298,073.86.  Smith awaits sentencing.

Josephs and Raymond, who are citizens of Jamaica, face immigration proceedings when they are released from prison.         

This matter has been investigated by the FBI’s Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police and the Newington, Enfield, Canton, Torrington, Glastonbury, and West Springfield Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MATTHEW X. SMITH, 29, of Stonington, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffery A. Meyer in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for a child exploitation offense.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 12, 2021, Smith, using the Kik social media application, initiated contact with an FBI Online Covert Employee (“OCE”) who was posing as a 14-year-old girl.  Smith sent sexually explicit messages to the OCE, requested the OCE send him sexually explicit pictures, and discussed meeting the OCE to engage in sexual conduct.  As the Kik communication continued in the following days, investigators also determined that Smith, using a different Kik user account, had engaged in sexually explicit exchanges with the OCE in 2020.  Smith and the OCE agreed to meet on August 18, 2021.

On August 18, 2021, Smith was arrested by New London Police on state charges after he arrived at the agreed upon meeting location.  He was charged by federal criminal complaint in February 2022.  On January 10, 2023, he pleaded guilty to soliciting child pornography.

Smith, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on June 26.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the New London Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins.

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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LANDDY RODRIGUEZ, also known as “Oso,” 37, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine and fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and the Connecticut State Police determined that a drug trafficking organization headed by Rodriguez was obtaining kilogram-quantities of cocaine through the U.S. Mail from Puerto Rico.  In the summer of 2021, investigators also intercepted phone calls during which Reinaldo Colon Oliveras, while incarcerated in a federal prison in Atlanta and using a smuggled cell phone, arranged the shipment of cocaine to Rodriguez and his associate, Thomas Marra.  Rodriguez and Marra further distributed the drug to a network of associates.

During the investigation, Rodriguez also directed his cousin, Jaime Rodriguez, to deliver to him five kilograms of cocaine from Florida.  Landdy Rodriguez was also supplied with cocaine from Salvador Crespo, who ran an underground bar in Bridgeport.

The investigation further revealed that Landdy Rodriguez facilitated multiple transactions of fentanyl.

Landdy Rodriguez has been detained since his arrest on October 18, 2021.  On December 21, 2022, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

Colon, Marra, Jaime Rodriguez and Crespo pleaded guilty to related charges.  On March 7, 2023, Colon, of Kissimmee, Florida, was sentenced to 78 months of imprisonment.  On May 18, 2023, Marra, of Ansonia, was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment.  On December 22, 2022, Jaime Rodriguez, of Red Lion, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment.  Crespo awaits sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, and the Connecticut State Police, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Waterbury Police Department.  The Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Danbury, Milford, Norwalk, Stamford, and Stratford Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth L. Gresham, John T. Pierpont, Jr., and Brendan J. Keefe 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.

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 RONALD BOYD, 37, of Bridgeport, has been charged in an 18-count indictment with offenses related to the depositing of stolen and counterfeit checks at the Newtown Savings Bank.

On March 7, 2023, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment alleging that, between approximately 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 stolen and counterfeit checks into the runners’ accounts and then withdrew and attempted to withdraw money from the various accounts.

The indictment charges Boyd with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years; 10 counts of bank fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years on each count; and seven counts of possession of stolen mail, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years on each count.

Boyd has been detained since May 8 when he was arrested on unrelated state charges.  He appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and entered pleas of not guilty to the federal charges.

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 U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Dearington.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney, for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHN BILDA, 59, former City of Norwich representative on the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Corporation (“CMEEC”) Board of Directors, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to six months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for misusing CMEEC funds.

CMEEC is a cooperative public corporation that permits municipal electric utilities in Connecticut to join together to furnish electric power in the municipalities’ areas of operation.  CMEEC’s members included the City of Norwich, the City of Groton, the Borough of Jewett City, the Second Taxing District of the City of Norwalk, the Third Taxing District of the City of Norwalk, and the Town of Bozrah.  As the owners of CMEEC, each member town executed an agreement through its respective municipal electric utility outlining the terms and conditions under which the CMEEC members participated together in CMEEC.  The CMEEC membership agreement provides that excess revenues are designated as “CMEEC Margin,” and that the excess revenues are to be returned to the member towns to help keep electricity costs stable for ratepayers.

Between 2010 and 2015, CMEEC received more than $9 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Energy.  CMEEC member towns also received funds from federal grants.

According to the evidence and testimony presented during a trial in 2021, Drew Rankin, who was the former chief executive officer of CMEEC, Bilda, and other members of the CMEEC Board of Directors, planned, organized, and directed lavish trips outside of Connecticut, including trips to the Kentucky Derby in 2015 and 2016, and to a luxury golf resort in West Virginia in 2015.  These trips did not relate to CMEEC business, but were intended to personally benefit, compensate and reward Rankin, Bilda, CMEEC Board members, their family members, friends, and associates.  Costs for the trips, which totaled more than $800,000, included travel expenses, private chartered airfare, first-class hotel accommodations, meals, tickets to sporting events, golf fees, souvenirs and gifts.

For the Kentucky Derby trip in 2015, which had an average cost of approximately $9,000 per guest, Bilda brought his wife, his parents, and two friends.  In August 2015, Rankin, Bilda, and two other CMEEC Board members traveled, at CMEEC expense and a cost of more than $21,000, to the Greenbrier golf resort in West Virginia.  In October 2015, Rankin, Bilda, and several others returned to the Greenbrier at a cost to CMEEC of more than $100,000.

In response to reporter inquiries about the Kentucky Derby and golf trips, Rankin underreported the costs of the trips, omitted the names of attendees who were not CMEEC employees or board members, and made other false statements related to how the trips were funded.  After the trips were known to the general public, CMEEC canceled a reservation it had made for the 2017 Kentucky Derby, and was refunded only approximately $90,000 of the $298,960 it had prepaid for the trip in May 2016.

On December 10, 2021, a jury found Rankin, Bilda, and James Sullivan, the former chairperson of the CMEEC Board of Directors, guilty of one count of theft concerning a program receiving federal funds.

Judge Meyer previously sentenced Rankin to 12 months of imprisonment, and Sullivan to six months of imprisonment.

Restitution will be determined after additional court proceedings.

Bilda is required to report to prison on July 12.

This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division; with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Energy.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah P. Karwan, Michael S. McGarry and Tara E. Levens.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JASON GORISS, 49, last residing in Wallingford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 144 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for possessing images and videos of child sex abuse.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in November and December 2018, Goriss possessed four images and five videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  The images and videos included depictions of prepubescent children, and at least one image of bondage.  Goriss shared some of the images and videos on an internet-based blog.

On February 8, 2023, Goriss pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.

Goriss previously was convicted in state court of having illegal sexual contact with a minor, and was sentenced to eight years of incarceration, with three years to serve, and 15 years of probation for that offense.  He has been incarcerated in state custody since March 9, 2021, for violating his probation, and also has other charges for sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor pending in state court.

The federal penalties were enhanced based on Goriss’s prior conviction.

This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Wallingford Police Department, with the assistance of the Office of Adult Probation.  The case was prosecuted by Nancy V. Gifford with cooperation from the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office.

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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARK CARBUTTI, 48, of Wallingford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 15 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for tax evasion.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Carbutti is an attorney specializing in personal injury law.  For the 2013 through 2017 tax years, Carbutti reported approximately $585,025 in income taxes owed to the Internal Revenue Service as a result of his legal practice and certain rental income.  During that time period and thereafter, Carbutti made only limited payments of his taxes due and owing, and interest and penalties accrued as a result of his non-payment.

Between December 2014 and May 2019, Carbutti received at least 12 notices from the IRS advising him of his tax amounts due and instructions on how to pay his overdue taxes.  When the IRS levied certain personal bank accounts used by Carbutti, he closed those accounts and evaded the payment of taxes, interest, and penalties by writing checks from his law firm’s operating account payable to his paralegal, which subsequently were converted to cash and deposited into the bank accounts of limited liability companies (“LLCs”) that Carbutti had created in association with his real estate holdings.  Carbutti also took substantial additional cash withdrawals from his law firm bank accounts and redeposited the monies in the LLCs bank accounts.  Between approximately 2013 and 2019, Carbutti paid approximately $600,000 in personal expenses from the LLCs bank accounts, including expenditures for gambling at casinos, restaurants, vacations, and the purchase of a BMW automobile.

Judge Nagala ordered Carbutti to pay $750,180 in back taxes, interest and penalties.

On December 1, 2022, Carbutti pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion.

Carbutti is required to report to prison on July 17.

This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney, for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAMES SULLIVAN, 56, former chairperson of the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Corporation (“CMEEC”) Board of Directors, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to six months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for misusing CMEEC funds.

CMEEC is a cooperative public corporation that permits municipal electric utilities in Connecticut to join together to furnish electric power in the municipalities’ areas of operation.  CMEEC’s members included the City of Norwich, the City of Groton, the Borough of Jewett City, the Second Taxing District of the City of Norwalk, the Third Taxing District of the City of Norwalk, and the Town of Bozrah.  As the owners of CMEEC, each member town executed an agreement through its respective municipal electric utility outlining the terms and conditions under which the CMEEC members participated together in CMEEC.  The CMEEC membership agreement provides that excess revenues are designated as “CMEEC Margin,” and that the excess revenues are to be returned to the member towns to help keep electricity costs stable for ratepayers.

Between 2010 and 2015, CMEEC received more than $9 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Energy.  CMEEC member towns also received funds from federal grants.

According to the evidence and testimony presented during a trial in 2021, Drew Rankin, who was the former chief executive officer of CMEEC, Sullivan, and other members of the CMEEC Board of Directors, planned, organized, and directed lavish trips outside of Connecticut, including trips to the Kentucky Derby in 2015 and 2016, and to a luxury golf resort in West Virginia in 2015.  These trips did not relate to CMEEC business, but were intended to personally benefit, compensate and reward Rankin, Sullivan, CMEEC Board members, their family members, friends, and associates.  Costs for the trips, which totaled more than $800,000, included travel expenses, private chartered airfare, first-class hotel accommodations, meals, tickets to sporting events, golf fees, souvenirs and gifts.

For the Kentucky Derby trip in 2015, which had an average cost of approximately $9,000 per guest, Sullivan brought his son, his brother, his sister-in-law, a young woman he knew through her work as a bartender, and the woman’s friend.  In August 2015, Rankin, Sullivan, and two other CMEEC Board members traveled, at CMEEC expense and a cost of more than $21,000, to the Greenbrier golf resort in West Virginia.  When Rankin initially proposed the trip to Sullivan, Sullivan responded, “Is your name ‘I deserve a raise?’”

In response to reporter inquiries about the Kentucky Derby and golf trips, Rankin underreported the costs of the trips, omitted the names of attendees who were not CMEEC employees or board members, and made other false statements related to how the trips were funded.  After the trips were known to the general public, CMEEC canceled a reservation it had made for the 2017 Kentucky Derby, and was refunded only approximately $90,000 of the $298,960 it had prepaid for the trip in May 2016.

On December 10, 2021, a jury found Rankin; Sullivan, and John Bilda, the former City of Norwich representative on the CMEEC Board of Directors, guilty of one count of theft concerning a program receiving federal funds.

On May 16, 2023, Judge Meyer sentenced Rankin to 12 months of imprisonment.  Bilda is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow.

Restitution will be determined after additional court proceedings.

Sullivan is required to report to prison on July 12.

This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division; with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Energy.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah P. Karwan, Michael S. McGarry and Tara E. Levens.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRISTOPHER LISCIO, 40, of Wallingford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 251 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for child sexual exploitation and drug trafficking offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between January 2016 and February 2020, Liscio used Snapchat to entice two minor girls to take sexually explicit photographs and videos of themselves and send them to him via the social media application.  The communication with one of the minor victims started when she was approximately 13 years old and continued until she was approximately 16 years old, and the communication with the second minor victim occurred when she was 15 and 16 years old.  Liscio also engaged in sexual acts with the second minor victim on multiple occasions when she was 15 and 16 years old.

In February 2020, Liscio was arrested on state charges related to the sexual assault of another minor.  Between February and April 2020, while he was released on bond in his state case, Liscio sold 2,000 30mg oxycodone pills.

Liscio has been detained since his federal arrest on May 26, 2021.  On that date, a search of his Wallingford residence revealed approximately 500 grams of cocaine, items used to process and package narcotics, and $22,440 in cash.

On January 3, 2023, Liscio pleaded guilty to one count of enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

The state case against Liscio is pending.

This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, with the assistance of the Wallingford Police Department, Middletown Police Department and Fremont (N.H.) Police Department.  The Tactical Diversion Squad includes personnel from the DEA and the Manchester, Glastonbury, West Haven, Hamden, Newington, and Bristol Police Departments.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda S. Oakes.

U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the State’s Attorney’s Offices for the Judicial Districts of New Haven and Middlesex for their close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.

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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that THOMAS R. SAINT, 67, of Newtown, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to six months of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for tax evasion.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Saint is the sole owner of Tom Saint Painting and Remodeling LLC, a Schedule C business engaged in painting and home renovation services.  From 2013 through 2019, Saint attempted to evade the assessment of federal taxes by cashing business checks instead of depositing them into his business’s bank account, depositing cash and business checks into his personal bank account, and failing to inform his tax preparer of this conduct, which resulted in the filing of false returns with the IRS that substantially understated his gross receipts and income.

For the 2013 through 2019 tax years, Saint failed to report a total of $2,163,645 in gross receipts, resulting in a tax loss to the government of $791,500.

Saint has paid restitution of $791,500, and has agreed to cooperate with the IRS to pay interest and penalties.

On February 22, 2023, Saint pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion.

Saint, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on August 4.

This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Wines.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JAMIE PATTERSON, also known as “Diddy,” 25, of Hartford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 54 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for fentanyl distribution and firearm possession offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 4, 2021, New Britain Police responded to Devens Street on reports of shots fired.  At the scene, officers found numerous empty shell casings near a disabled vehicle containing an abandoned firearm.  Patterson was located hiding underneath a nearby car, and an officer found a loaded 9mm handgun in the spare tire well of car.  Forensic analysis of the handgun revealed the presence of Patterson’s DNA.

On July 13, 2021, Hartford Police arrested Patterson after they observed him placing items into a parked car on Hazel Street, and a subsequent search of the car revealed 170 sleeves (doses) of fentanyl and a loaded .380 pistol.

Patterson’s criminal history includes state convictions for felony drug and firearm 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 27, 2023, Patterson pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Patterson has been detained in state custody since his arrest on July 13, 2021.  He will not receive credit on his federal sentence for his time served to date in state custody.

This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the New Britain Police Department, and the Hartford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff through the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney, for the District of Connecticut, announced that DREW RANKIN, 62, the former chief executive officer of the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Corporation (“CMEEC”), was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 12 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for misusing CMEEC funds.

CMEEC is a cooperative public corporation that permits municipal electric utilities in Connecticut to join together to furnish electric power in the municipalities’ areas of operation.  CMEEC’s members included the City of Norwich, the City of Groton, the Borough of Jewett City, the Second Taxing District of the City of Norwalk, the Third Taxing District of the City of Norwalk, and the Town of Bozrah.  As the owners of CMEEC, each member town executed an agreement through its respective municipal electric utility outlining the terms and conditions under which the CMEEC members participated together in CMEEC.  The CMEEC membership agreement provides that excess revenues are designated as “CMEEC Margin,” and that the excess revenues are to be returned to the member towns to help keep electricity costs stable for ratepayers.

Between 2010 and 2015, CMEEC received more than $9 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Energy.  CMEEC member towns also received funds from federal grants.

According to the evidence and testimony presented during a trial in 2021, Rankin and certain members of the CMEEC Board of Directors others planned, organized, and directed lavish trips outside of Connecticut, including trips to the Kentucky Derby in 2015 and 2016, and to a luxury golf resort in West Virginia in 2015.  These trips did not relate to CMEEC business, but were intended to personally benefit, compensate and reward Rankin, CMEEC Board members, their family members, friends, and associates.  Costs for the trips, which totaled more than $800,000, included travel expenses, private chartered airfare, first-class hotel accommodations, meals, tickets to sporting events, golf fees, souvenirs and gifts.

In response to reporter inquiries about the Kentucky Derby and golf trips, Rankin underreported the costs of the trips, omitted the names of attendees who were not CMEEC employees or board members, and made other false statements related to how the trips were funded.  After the trips were known to the general public, CMEEC canceled a reservation it had made for the 2017 Kentucky Derby, and was refunded only approximately $90,000 of the $298,960 it had prepaid for the trip in May 2016.    

Restitution will be determined after additional court proceedings.

On December 10, 2021, a jury found Rankin; James Sullivan, former chairperson of the CMEEC Board of Directors; and John Bilda, former City of Norwich representative on the CMEEC Board of Directors; guilty of one count of theft concerning a program receiving federal funds.

Rankin, who is released on $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on July 11.

Sullivan is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow, and Bilda is scheduled to be sentenced on May 18.

This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division; with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Energy.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah P. Karwan, Michael S. McGarry and Tara E. Levens.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JEAN MANGUAL-CASTRO, also known as “Mangui,” 35, of West Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation headed by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force revealed that Mangual-Castro was orchestrating shipments of cocaine through the U.S. Mail from Puerto Rico.  On December 20, 2021, after investigators identified a suspicious package that had been delivered to the West Haven residence of Mangual-Castro’s mother, Enid Castro, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of the residence and seized approximately two kilograms of cocaine, a Rolex watch, more than $200,000 in jewelry, and approximately $2,900 in cash.  During the investigation, law enforcement also found at another location approximately three kilograms of cocaine that had been mailed from Puerto Rico to Connecticut at Mangual-Castro’s direction.  Investigators identified numerous other suspicious parcels that had been shipped from Puerto Rico to addresses connected to Mangual-Castro in Connecticut.

Judge Nagala ordered the forfeiture of the Mangual-Castro’s interest in the watch, jewelry and cash that were seized.

Mangual-Castro has been detained since his arrest on December 20, 2021.  On September 12, 2022, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

Enid Castro pleaded guilty to a related charge and awaits sentencing.

The FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force includes participants from the New Haven Police Department, Milford Police Department, East Haven Police Department, West Haven Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Department of Correction.  The U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking 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 is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and Kenneth L. Gresham 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that OLAJUWON HARRINGTON, also known as “OJ Harrington” 31, of Waterbury, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to a fraud offense related to his theft of pandemic unemployment benefits.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was signed into law.  The CARES Act created a new temporary federal unemployment insurance program for pandemic unemployment assistance (“Pandemic Unemployment Assistance”).  Pandemic Unemployment Assistance provided unemployment insurance (“UI”) benefits for employed individuals who are not eligible for other types of UI due to their employment status.  The CARES Act also created a new temporary federal program called Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (“FPUC”) that provided additional weekly benefits to those eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or regular UI.  The Connecticut Department of Labor (CT-DOL) administers UI benefits for residents of Connecticut.

Using identifying information of real persons (“victims”) without their knowledge, Harrington submitted to CT-DOL numerous fraudulent applications for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.  Relying on the applications, CT-DOL awarded unemployment assistance in the form of debit cards in the names of the victims and mailed the debit cards to addresses provided in the applications.  Thereafter, Harrington obtained the debit cards issued in victims’ names and unlawfully used the cards for his own benefit.

The government contends that the loss attributable to Harrington through this scheme is as much as $793,254.

Harrington was arrested on a criminal complaint on November 30, 2022. 

Harrington pleaded guilty to access device fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.  Judge Williams scheduled sentencing for August 23.

Harrington is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.

This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General and the Connecticut Department of Labor.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.

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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOSE GUADALUPE CASTILLO LARA, also known as Jose Castillo, Jose Latta, Francisco Rodriguez, and Jose Ruiz, 41, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford federal court to illegally reentering the United States after being deported.

According to court documents, Castillo previously was deported from the U.S. to Mexico in April 2009 following a felony conviction in Texas for assault.  He reentered the U.S. shortly thereafter and was encountered by law enforcement in Texas.  On July 13, 2009, he was sentenced to two years of imprisonment for violating the terms of his probation from his assault conviction.  He was again removed to Mexico in June 2010.

On November 17, 2018, Castillo was arrested by Stamford Police.  On March 6, 2019, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging him with reentry of a removed alien.  On March 7, 2019, Castillo was convicted in state court of disorderly conduct related to his November 2018 arrest, and he was released from state custody.  He remained at large until March 17, 2023, when he was apprehended in Massachusetts.

Judge Shea scheduled sentencing for August 3, 2023, at which time Castillo faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Casey.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BIMAEL ACEVEDO-ROMAN, 29, of Meriden, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine into Connecticut.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force revealed that Acevedo-Roman was coordinating the shipment of parcels containing kilogram quantities of cocaine from U.S. Post Offices in Puerto Rico to various “drop addresses” in Meriden, New Britain and Bristol, and the shipment of parcels of cash back to Puerto Rico.  Acevedo-Roman and others picked up parcels from the drop addresses and delivered them to Acevedo-Roman’s Meriden residence.

During the investigation, investigators intercepted and seized mail parcels containing more than five kilograms of cocaine and $179,300 in cash, and identified dozens of other suspicious parcels that likely contained kilogram quantities of cocaine and bulk currency.

Acevedo-Roman was arrested on May 18, 2022.  On February 15, 2023, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Acevedo-Roman, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on July 12.

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, which 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.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Stephanie Levick.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DANIEL CAY, 35, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 9, 2014, Cay was sentenced in the Western District of New York to 120 months of imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release for possession of child pornography.  The investigation revealed that Cay was convicted in Connecticut Superior Court in March 2006 of sexual assault of a minor in the second degree, and was sentenced to eight years of imprisonment and 10 years of probation for that offense.  After he was released from state prison, Cay relocated to New York, but failed to register as a sex offender.  In 2013, forensic analysis of a tablet computer used by Cay reveled several hundred images depicting the sexual abuse of children.

Cay was released from federal prison on March 25, 2022, and resided in Bristol, Connecticut.  Nine days after his release, U.S. Probation officers found Cay in possession of three unauthorized internet-capable devices, including a laptop.  Forensic analysis of the laptop revealed multiple images of child pornography, evidence of internet searches for child pornography, and an internet search for “How to remove Bureau of Prisons firmware on a Sandisk Mp3 player.”

Cay has been detained since May 11, 2022.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara E. Levens.

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.

The United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut and the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General today announced that YALE NEW HAVEN HEALTH SERVICES CORP. and NORTHEAST MEDICAL GROUP, INC. have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments and have paid $560,718.48 to resolve allegations that they violated the federal and state False Claims Acts for submitting false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for services billed by physicians when, in fact, the services should have been billed by mid-level providers at a lower reimbursement rate.

Yale New Haven Health Services Corp. (“Yale”) is a nonprofit health system that owns several acute-care hospitals, including Bridgeport Hospital.  Northeast Medical Group, Inc. (“Northeast Medical”) employs internal medicine hospitalist physicians and mid-level providers (i.e., advanced practice nurse practitioners and physician assistants) at Bridgeport Hospital. Northeast Medical is an affiliate of Yale, and outsources its billing, coding, and compliance to Yale.

The federal and state governments allege that, between July 2014 and June 2020, Yale and Northeast Medical violated the federal and state False Claims Acts by submitting false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for evaluation and management services billed by Northeast Medical hospitalist physicians to Bridgeport Hospital patients that did not satisfy certain billing requirements and, instead, should have been billed by mid-level providers.  As a result, Yale and Northeast Medical improperly received 10 to 15 percent higher in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements for the allegedly falsely billed hospitalist physician services. To resolve their liability, Yale and Northeast Medical have paid $560,718.48.

The False Claims Act allegations resolved by the settlement were originally brought in a lawsuit filed by a whistleblower under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private parties to bring suit on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery.  The relator (whistleblower), a former employee of Northeast Medical, will receive $106,536.51 as her share of the recovery. The case resolved by this settlement was captioned U.S. ex rel. Cadariu v. Northeast Medical Group et al. (Docket No. 19-cv-904).

This matter was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Gruber, and by Assistant Attorney General Rick Porter 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSEPH STEELE, 36, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 50 months of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a firearm and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2017, Steele was arrested by Hartford Police after a search of his vehicle revealed a stolen .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol, 50 wax folds of fentanyl, and two knotted plastic bags containing approximately 6.5 grams of crack cocaine.  On April 16, 2018, a federal jury found Steele guilty of drug distribution and firearm possession offenses.  On July 9, 2018, Judge Shea sentenced him to 36 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release.

Steele was released from federal prison in February 2020.  On January 28, 2022, while on federal supervised release, he was arrested by Hartford Police after they found him in possession of a loaded 9mm handgun. 

Steele’s criminal history also includes a 2016 state conviction for possession of a firearm without a permit.  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.

Steele has been detained since January 28, 2022.  On February 10, 2023, he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon.

Judge Shea sentenced Steele to 37 months of imprisonment for unlawfully possessing a firearm, and a consecutive 13 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

This investigation was conducted by the Hartford Police Department and the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force.  The FBI Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins through the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative.  PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAYSON KEMP, 46, of East Windsor, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for operating a scheme to acquire and distribute oxycodone obtained through fraudulent prescriptions.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Kemp obtained blank prescription paper from employees of various Connecticut medical practices.  He kept some of the prescription paper for himself and also sold some of the prescription paper, for thousands of dollars, to other individuals.  Kemp and his co-conspirators recruited “runners,” who typically were individuals who received Medicaid and Medicare benefits, to fill fraudulent prescriptions at various pharmacies.  Kemp and his co-conspirators filled out each prescription with the runner’s identifying information and forged a doctor’s signature on the prescription.  The runner then filled the fraudulent prescription at a pharmacy, generally using their Medicaid or Medicare benefits, and provided the pills to Kemp and his co-conspirators in exchange for approximately $50 per prescription.  Kemp and his co-coconspirators then sold the pills to individuals suffering from opioid addictions.

Kemp and his co-conspirators were responsible for filling at least 150 fraudulent prescriptions for oxycodone, almost all of which were for 150 30-mg oxycodone pills.

Judge Bolden ordered Kemp to pay $48,836.14 in restitution.

Kemp was arrested on August 2, 2019.  On July 5, 2022, he pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, oxycodone.

Kemp, who is released on a $150,000 bond, is required to report to prison on July 5.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, and the Vernon Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont, Jr.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that DAVID QUINTANA, 35, of East Hartford, and EDGAR QUINTANA, 33, of Hartford, have been charged by indictment with fentanyl distribution offenses.  The indictment also charges David Quintana with possession of a firearms by a felon.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in March and April, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from David Quintana, and his brother, Edgar Quintana.  David and Edgar Quintana were arrested on April 17, 2023.  On that date, a search of David Quintana’s residence revealed two .40 caliber handguns that had been reported stolen, and one 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number.  A search of Edgar Quintana’s residence revealed distribution quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine.

David Quintana’s criminal history includes felony convictions for narcotics 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 April 25, 2023, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging David and Edgar Quintana with one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess 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.  The indictment also charges them with multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  David Quintana is also charged with possession of firearms by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.

David and Edgar Quintana appeared today before in Hartford federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges.  David Quintana is detained and Edgar Quintana is released on a $150,000 bond.

U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment 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 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, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe and Robert S. Dearington 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and William Tong, Connecticut Attorney General, today announced that Dr. EVELYN LLEWELLYN has entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments in which she will pay $658,294 to settle allegations that she received payments from the Medicare and Medicaid programs for psychology services that were not provided.

Llewellyn is a psychologist licensed by the State of Connecticut.  She is married to Dr. Michael Lonski, PhD, who is also a psychologist licensed by the State of Connecticut.  Llewellyn and Lonski maintained separate medical practices in psychology operated out of their home offices in Greenwich.  Lonski was responsible for submitting claims for reimbursement to insurance programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, for the psychology services allegedly performed by Lewellyn and Lonski.

The government alleges that Llewellyn received payment for claims submitted by Lonski to the Medicare and Medicaid programs for psychology services allegedly provided by Llewellyn to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries that were, in fact, not provided.

To resolve the governments’ allegations, Llewellyn has agreed to pay $658,294, which covers the time-period from November 11, 2014, through and including February 5, 2020.

On December 12, 2022, Lonski pleaded guilty in Hartford federal court to health care fraud.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 12.

This matter was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard M. Molot and Susan L. Wines, and by Assistant Attorney General Joshua 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.

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 RAFAEL MUZZI, 27, a citizen of Brazil formerly residing in Naugatuck, has been charged in a 14-count indictment with fraud and money laundering offenses stemming from an alleged investment fraud scheme.

As alleged in the indictment, in 2017 and 2018, Muzzi, at times using two entities he formed, Solace Investments LLC and Asseno LLC, induced victim-investors to provide him funds based on the representation he would use the funds for trading currencies in foreign exchange markets using a trading software program that he told his victims he had developed.  Muzzi represented to victims that his software program had a feature that would cause trading to cease in the event of a certain loss in value, thus minimizing downside risk.  Muzzi failed to invest a substantial portion of invested funds as he represented, and instead diverted those funds for his own personal use, and to pay other individuals who had invested with him.

It is alleged that, through this scheme, Muzzi defrauded at least 12 victim-investors out of a total of more than $550,000.

The indictment further alleges that Muzzi sent victims fabricated monthly account statements that falsely overstated their return on investment and their account balances.  These misrepresentations induced some victim-investors to provide him with additional investment funds.  Muzzi also provided victims with purported tax documents reflecting fictitious investment profits, causing victims to report and pay taxes on profits that they had not realized.

As alleged in court documents, in response to victim complaints, the State of Connecticut’s Department of Banking investigated Muzzi’s conduct, issued orders finding that Muzzi and Solace Investments had violated state securities laws, ordered them to make restitution to victims, and fined Muzzi $300,000.  On September 6, 2020, Muzzi traveled to Brazil and did not return.

On August 23, 2022, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Muzzi with 12 counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering.

Muzzi was arrested on April 1, 2023, in Panama, and subsequently waived his right to contest his extradition to the U.S.  He appeared in Hartford federal court on April 28, pleaded not guilty to the charges in the indictment, and was ordered detained.  A detention hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.

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 investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Banking, Securities Division.

U.S. Attorney Avery thanked Interpol and Panamanian authorities for their assistance in apprehending this defendant, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for coordinating the extradition proceedings in this matter.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Conor M. Reardon and Michael S. McGarry.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on April 28, 2023, CORNELIUS CONEY, also known as “C Nizzy,” 35, of Waterbury, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in July 2021, Waterbury Police retrieved a bag from Coney’s vehicle, which had been towed by a private towing company.  The bag contained a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun that had been reported stolen, approximately 50 grams of crack cocaine, approximately 50 does bags containing fentanyl, a digital scale, and other items.  Subsequent lab analysis revealed the presence of Coney’s DNA on the firearm.

Coney was arrested on September 21, 2021.  On January 3, 2023, he pleaded guilty to possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Coney has been detained since his arrest.

This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Waterbury Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and John T. Pierpont, Jr.

U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Waterbury for its close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.

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 violent crime and gun violence, 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PEDRO DIAZ, 45, of Red Lion, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force of a drug trafficking network led by Landdy Rodriguez, also known as “Oso,” of Waterbury.  In August 2021, investigators intercepted phone calls during which Rodriguez arranged for Ramon Oquendo, also known as “Mimo,” of Waterbury, to supply fentanyl to other drug distributors, including Diaz.  After Diaz engaged in a drug transaction with Rodriguez and Oquendo in Waterbury in August 2021, a Pennsylvania State Trooper stopped Diaz’s car in Pennsylvania and seized 48 grams of fentanyl.

Diaz was arrested on November 14, 2021.  On January 6, 2023, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

Rodriguez and Oquendo are awaiting sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police and the Waterbury Police Department.  The Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Danbury, Milford, Norwalk, Stamford and Stratford Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth L. Gresham, John T. Pierpont, Jr., and Brendan J. Keefe 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that EDWIN REYES, 40, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin and fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force began an investigating an organization that was trafficking large quantities of heroin, fentanyl and other narcotics in Connecticut and western Massachusetts.  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical surveillance, revealed that Reyes and other members of the organization were receiving bulk quantities of heroin and fentanyl from out-of-state suppliers.  They then stored, processed and packaged the heroin/fentanyl in multiple locations, including apartments located at 280 Collins Street in Hartford where some members of the organization also resided, and then distributed the drug in the Hartford area, and also the Springfield and Holyoke, Massachusetts area.  A significant amount of drug trafficking activity occurred at the Neighborhood Supermarket, located at 316 Farmington Avenue in Hartford.

The investigation also revealed that members of the drug trafficking organization possessed and used firearms in connection with their drug trafficking activity.

During the investigation, law enforcement executed 12 search warrants in Connecticut and Massachusetts and seized approximately 10 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl, much of which was packaged for resale in hundreds of thousands of bags.  Investigators also seized numerous vials of Xylazine, which is a horse tranquilizer used by narcotics traffickers as a heroin/fentanyl additive. Seven firearms, gun magazines, numerous rounds of ammunition, and a bullet proof vest were also seized.

Fourteen individuals were charged with various narcotics, firearms and immigration offenses as a result of this investigation.

Reyes was arrested on June 29, 2017, and was released on a $200,000 bond in December 2017.  On October 15, 2021, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.  He failed to appear for his sentencing on September 19, 2022, and was located and arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol in Texas on November 22, 2022.  He has been detained since that date.

The DEA’s Hartford 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, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.  Agencies assisting the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals Service and Connecticut State Police.

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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, today announced that ANDREW FRANCOEUR, 36, of Manchester, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday in Hartford federal court to offenses related to his illegal possession, manufacture, and sale of firearms.

According to court documents and statements made in court, as part of an ongoing investigation into the proliferation of privately made firearms (“PMFs” or “ghost guns”) in Connecticut, ATF investigators determined that Francoeur was buying firearm parts from a Missouri company, having the parts shipped to him, and manufacturing guns inside a shipping container on a property in Suffield.  Francoeur sold some of the firearms he manufactured.

In August 2022, while Francoeur was incarcerated in state custody for drug and firearm offenses, investigators retrieved two storage bins used by Francoeur that contained firearm parts, a .22 caliber rifle, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, 25 high-capacity magazines, M-80 explosives, firearm gear, and other items.  

Francoeur’s criminal history includes felony convictions for firearm, drug, burglary, and failure to appear 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.

Francoeur pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, and one count of manufacturing and dealing in firearms without a license, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 6, 2023.

This investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Reed Durham.

This case is part of 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSHUA BENTZ, 39, of Bristol, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for illegally trafficking firearms from South Carolina to Connecticut.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2020, ATF and Hartford Police recovered multiple firearms that had been purchased in South Carolina.  In July 2020, one of the firearms was found in the possession of a convicted felon.  In September and October 2020, additional firearms were recovered at the scenes of two separate homicides in Hartford.  The investigation revealed that Alberto Vazquez, of Hartford, conspired with Bentz and others to purchase firearms from a licensed gun dealer in Columbia, South Carolina, transport them to Connecticut, and sell them to felons and other customers in the Hartford area. 

Vazquez, Bentz, and their coconspirators purchased approximately 37 firearms through this scheme.  Twenty-eight of these firearms were purchased by Bentz’s wife, Tywonda Bentz, in South Carolina between May and July 2020.

Bentz was arrested on April 21, 2021.  On November 23, 2021, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license, to unlawfully transport firearms, and to make false statements to law enforcement.

Bentz, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on August 24.

Vazquez, whose criminal history includes convictions for felony weapon possession, robbery, and larceny offenses, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license and to unlawfully transport firearms, unlawful transportation of firearms, and unlawful possession of firearms by a felon.  On October 11, 2022, he was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment.

Tywonda Bentz pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Hartford Police Department; the Columbia (S.C.) Police Department; and the Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Department.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara E. Levens through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SHAN THOMPSON, 25, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for making false statements to federal law enforcement agents investigating gang-related violence in Waterbury.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, and Waterbury Police have been conducting a long-term investigation into drug trafficking and numerous acts of violence being committed by gang members in Waterbury.  In November 2018 and September 2019, Thompson made false statements to FBI special agents about a shooting incident that occurred in the area of Wolcott Street in Waterbury on November 22, 2017, which resulted in the deaths of two individuals.

Thompson has been detained in state custody since February 2018.  On February 2, 2023, he pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of making a false statement to a government agent.

This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, ATF and Waterbury Police Department, with the assistance of the Watertown Police Department, New Milford Police Department and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone, John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Natasha M. Freismuth, and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildesen 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CALVIN ROBERSON, also known as “Cutty,” 40, of Waterbury, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to offenses related to the kidnapping and murder of a Massachusetts man in 2020.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 24, 2020, Roberson and another individual kidnapped Francisco Roman, Jr., 28, at gunpoint from a residence in Chicopee, Massachusetts.  Roberson and his associate threatened to harm Roman if he did not comply with their orders, handcuffed him, and stole cash, marijuana, and other items from Roman.  Roberson and his associate forced Roman into the rear of Roman’s 2010 Acura ZDX, and transported Roman and the other stolen property to Connecticut.  Roberson’s associate shot and killed Roman while the car was en route to Hartford.  They then drove the car to Shultas Place in Hartford and left it parked on the street.

Shortly before 9 p.m. on December 26, 2020, Hartford police and fire personnel responded to Shultas Place and found the car engulfed in flames.  After the fire was extinguished, investigators discovered Roman’s body with multiple gunshot wounds in the rear of the vehicle.

Roberson was arrested on February 11, 2021.

Roberson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit kidnaping, and one count of causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm.  At sentencing, Roberson faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life.  He has been detained since his arrest.

As to Roberson’s associate, who is awaiting trial, U.S. Attorney Avery that charges are 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 the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, FBI’s Springfield Gang Task Force, Massachusetts State Police, Hampden County (Mass.) District Attorney’s Office, Hartford Police Department’s Major Crimes Division, Chicopee Police Department and Springfield Police Department, with the assistance of the Waterbury Police Department and the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Angel M. Krull.

U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts for their assistance in this matter.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANANTHAKUMAR THILLAINATHAN, MD, 45, of Stratford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for health care fraud and illegal kickback offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Thillainathan is a medical doctor and the owner and president of MDCareNow LLC, a medical practice with offices in Stratford and Milford.  MDCareNow has been a participating provider enrolled as both an internal medicine group and as a behavioral health clinician group in the Connecticut Medicaid program.  Between approximately June 2019 and May 2022, Thillainathan submitted or caused to be submitted to Connecticut Medicaid approximately $839,724 in fraudulent claims for psychotherapy services that he knew patients did not receive from his employees.  Thillainathan knew that the billed psychotherapy Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes, which identify the nature and complexity of the services provided, were not supported by medical records provided by his employees, and that the services were not provided.  The investigation revealed that Thillainathan submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid for reimbursement that falsely represented his employees had rendered 60-minute psychotherapy sessions when, in fact, his employees only had very brief conversations with patients, had only left a voicemail for patients, or had no contact with patients at all.

In addition, in violation of his Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (CTMAP) provider agreement, Thillainathan paid a third-party “patient recruiting” company for each Connecticut Medicaid patient the company recruited and provided with transportation to MDCareNow for medical services.  Thillainathan paid the patient recruiting company approximately $100 per patient for an initial visit to MDCareNow and approximately $40 per patient for any subsequent visit.  Between approximately November 2019 and May 2021, Thillainathan paid the patient recruiting company for the recruitment of approximately 1,018 Connecticut Medicaid patients, and Connecticut Medicaid reimbursed MDCareNow a total of approximately $1,071,328 for services provided to these patients.

Judge Underhill ordered Thillainathan to pay $1,674,880 in restitution, with $500,000 due within 60 days.

On November 3, 2022, Thillainathan pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud and one count of kickbacks involving federal health care programs.

While he was released on bond and awaiting sentencing, Thillainathan surrendered his Connecticut Controlled Substance Certificate of Registration.  Despite no longer holding a valid controlled substance license, Thillainathan wrote at least 34 prescriptions for controlled substances, including 14 prescriptions for oxycodone.  Thillainathan’s bond was revoked, and he has been detained since January 13, 2023.

Thillainathan, a citizen of Sri Lanka and a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney’s Office, the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office and the Connecticut Department of Social Services.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather L. Cherry and Elena L. Coronado.

People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment yesterday charging SHAWN R. FULLER, 36, of Hamden, with cocaine distribution and mail theft offenses.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, Fuller, a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier in Meriden, was under investigation for stealing mail packages.  On April 17, 2023, an investigator observed Fuller at the Meriden post office opening two mail packages, removing two items from the packages, and placing the items in the trunk of his car.  He then notified his supervisors that he had to leave work for the day.  Hamden Police subsequently stopped Fuller’s car for a motor vehicle violation.  After a police K9 alerted officers to the possible presence of narcotics, a search of the trunk of the car revealed approximately four kilograms of a substance containing cocaine.  Fuller was arrested at that time.

The indictment charges Fuller with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and three counts of theft of mail by a postal employee, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five 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.

Fuller is released on a $100,000 bond.

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the Hamden and West Haven Police Departments.  The 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.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Dearington and Brendan J. Keefe.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARIUSZ KALINOWSKI, 48, of Woodstock, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to seven months of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for a tax fraud offense.  Judge Bryant also ordered Kalinowski to pay a $16,500 fine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Kalinowski owns and operates Kalinowski General Construction, Inc., based in Webster, Massachusetts, which provides residential and commercial construction services in Connecticut and Massachusetts.  For the 2010 through 2013 tax years, Kalinowski failed to report on his personal federal tax returns $927,828 in income from his business and, as a result, failed to pay approximately $174,746 in taxes on that income.

On November 29, 2022, Kalinowski pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return.

Kalinowski has paid the IRS the $174,746 in taxes he owed.

Kalinowski, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on June 20.

This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer R. Laraia and Peter S. Jongbloed.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARQUIS WILLIAMS, 46, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 78 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for operating a mail theft, identity theft, and bank fraud scheme.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from at least 2018 through November 2019, Williams and his then-girlfriend, Dara Morrison, stole mail from hundreds of residential mailboxes in Connecticut.  The mail pieces contained checks, driver’s licenses, passports, social security cards, banking information, and other personally identifying information from businesses and individuals throughout Connecticut, including elderly nursing home residents.  Williams and Morrison used stolen identities to produce fake identification, and then used the fake identification to cash or deposit stolen checks.  Williams and Morrison also used the stolen checks to create additional, forged copies of checks that they then cashed or deposited into accounts they opened using stolen identities.  Morrison also used and attempted to use stolen credit cards.

Williams was arrested on November 14, 2019.  In association with his arrest, investigators searched his residence and vehicles and found numerous drivers’ licenses and identification cards with photographs of Williams or Morrison, but with different names and addresses; multiple passports, social security cards, drivers’ licenses, and other documents in the names of victims; approximately 50 debit and credit cards in the names of victims; notebooks containing handwritten identifying information of victims; approximately 130 checks, some showing signs of alteration, written from and to potential victims; items used to alter checks and make false identifications; and trash bags filled with stolen mail.

More than 70 bank fraud victims were identified during the investigation.

Judge Bryant ordered Williams to pay $116,152.26 in restitution to his victims.

On May 19, 2022, Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

Morrison pleaded guilty to the same offense.  On April 18, 2023, after Morrison had been detained for approximately 37 months, Judge Bryant sentenced her to time served.

Williams’ and Morrison’s criminal histories include prior federal convictions for similar crimes.  In 2002, Williams was sentenced to 51 months of imprisonment for conspiracy, identity fraud and credit card fraud offenses. 

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service and the Hamden, Wallingford, Waterford, Guilford, and Old Saybrook Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Oakes and Hal Chen.

U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the State’s Attorneys for the Judicial Districts of New Haven, Fairfield, Middlesex, Ansonia/Milford, New London, Norwich, and Stamford/Norwalk for their cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.

Individuals who believe they are a victim of mail theft may file a complaint by calling 888-USPS-OIG or by visiting https://www.uspsoig.gov/form/file-online-complaint.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TYRIQ MARTIN, 22, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford 15 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing ammunition.

According to court documents and statements made in court, a court-authorized search of Martin’s Snapchat account in the spring of 2022 revealed numerous photos and videos of Martin in possession of firearms.  On June 15, 2022, New Haven Police arrested Martin in the area of Ferry Street and Chatham Street on an outstanding state warrant for firearm and narcotics offenses.  At the time of his arrest, Martin possessed a loaded Polymer 80 privately made firearm.  A subsequent search of the car Martin was seen driving revealed 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

In July 2021, Martin was convicted in state court of conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, stemming from the shooting of two victims, for which he was sentenced to five years of incarceration, execution suspended after 16 months, and three years of probation.

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.

Martin has been detained since his arrest.  On January 9, 2023, he pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition by a felon.

Martin is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow in state court on related charges.

This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the New Haven Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis and Rahul Kale through the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.

PSN, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts, 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LATRELL S. MOORE, 33, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 118 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for robbery and firearm offenses.  

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 5, 2019, Moore committed an armed robbery of the Dunkin Donuts located on Lordship Boulevard in Stratford, taking approximately $400.  On August 12, 2019, he robbed the Santander Bank located on Grand Avenue in New Haven, taking approximately $2,000.

Moore was arrested on related state charges on August 14, 2019.  At the time of his arrest he possessed a loaded .38 caliber revolver and a .25 caliber semiautomatic handgun.

Moore’s criminal history includes convictions for criminal weapon possession and possession of narcotics.  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.

Moore has been detained since his arrest.  On March 30, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a robbery, one count of bank robbery, and one count of count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

Judge Chatigny ordered that the 118-month federal sentence is in addition to the approximately 43 months Moore has already served since his arrest.

State charges against Moore are pending.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police and the Stratford, New Haven, and Bridgeport Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JULIO BAYRON-ARRIOLA, 49, a citizen of Guatemala last residing in Stamford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 27 months of imprisonment for illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on six occasions between 2009 and 2020, Bayron-Arriola was encountered in the U.S. and subsequently removed to Guatemala.  During that time, he was charged federally and convicted in the District of Arizona three times:  In 2010, he was convicted of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and in 2012 and 2017, he was convicted of illegal reentry.

On December 25, 2021, Bayron-Arriola was arrested by Stamford Police.  He was subsequently convicted of a state threatening offense.  On November 14, 2022, he pleaded guilty in federal court to illegal reentry.

Bayron-Arriola has been detained since his arrest.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with the assistance of the Stamford Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia E. King.

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today that it has secured an agreement to resolve a lawsuit alleging that New London, Connecticut, landlord Richard Bruno violated the Fair Housing Act by sexually harassing female tenants and applicants. The settlement also resolves claims against Domco LLC and Domco II LLC, which, along with Bruno, owned the properties where the alleged harassment occurred.

Under the consent decree, subject to approval by the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, defendants are required to pay $350,000 to compensate individuals harmed by the harassment and pay a $50,000 civil penalty to the United States. With this settlement, which is part of the department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative, the department has obtained over $10 million for victims of sexual harassment.

“No person should ever have to endure sexual harassment in order to get or keep housing,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “When landlords and housing providers sexually harass those seeking a roof over their head, they undermine human dignity, and violate the sense of safety and privacy in one’s home that we all deserve. As the Justice Department commemorates National Fair Housing Month, we stand more committed than ever to holding housing providers accountable for their unlawful behavior and seeking relief for survivors.”

“Mr. Bruno abused his power as a landlord to sexually harass and victimize his vulnerable tenants for years,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery for the District of Connecticut. “This settlement serves as an important reminder to the Connecticut community that sexual harassment by landlords is a violation of federal law, and this office will not hesitate to seek justice for any victims of such intolerable conduct.”

Special Agents from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General supported the Justice Department’s work in this matter.

“The allegations of sexual harassment in this case in violation of the Fair Housing Act are serious,” said Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  “Every person deserves to find and stay in housing without facing sexual harassment from a landlord.  HUD OIG is dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners to seek justice for survivors and to hold housing providers accountable for sexually assaulting or harassing HUD tenants.”

Under the consent decree, Bruno is permanently prohibited from owning and managing residential rental properties in the future. The property owners must hire an independent property manager to manage their properties, obtain fair housing training and implement non-discrimination policies and complaint procedures to prevent sexual harassment at their properties in the future.

The Justice Department’s lawsuit, filed in February 2019, alleged that from at least 2011 through 2016, Bruno sexually harassed female tenants and applicants of rental properties owned or co-owned by Bruno, Domco LLC and Domco II LLC. According to the complaint, Bruno engaged in harassment that included making unwelcome sexual advances and comments, engaging in unwanted sexual touching, demanding or pressuring female applicants to engage in sexual acts to obtain rental privileges, evicting or threatening to evict female tenants who objected to or refused sexual advances, entering the homes of female tenants without their consent, asking to take and taking pictures and videos of the bodies of his tenants and their female children and establishing, maintaining and forcing his tenants and their minor female children to view “dungeons” or “sex rooms” in the rental properties.

Bruno, a former resident of Waterford, Connecticut, has been incarcerated since 2017. He is serving a 16-year sentence in federal prison, following his guilty plea to charges related to producing child pornography with a tenant’s minor child in one of the properties he managed.

The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country. The goal of the department’s initiative is to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers, or other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative in October 2017, the department has filed 30 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $10 million for victims of such harassment.

This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William M. Brown, Jr. and Stewart Dearing of the District of Connecticut in coordination with Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division enforces the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals may report sexual harassment or other forms of housing discrimination by submitting a report online or by contacting the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut at: (203) 821-3700.

Individuals may also report such discrimination by contacting HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSEPH AMADEO, 38, of North Branford, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to a child exploitation offense.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2020, HSI began investigating Amadeo for his involvement in an online community of individuals who sent and received child pornography images and videos on the dark web.  On March 24, 2021, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of Amadeo’s residence and seized Amadeo’s computer and other electronic devices.  Analysis of the devices revealed thousands of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, many as young as infants. He was arrested on June 3, 2021.

Amadeo pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson on July 12 in Hartford. 

Amadeo is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.

Amadeo is a registered sex offender on the Connecticut Sex Offender Registry based on a 2013 state conviction involving child pornography. 

This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda S. Oakes and Nancy V. Gifford.

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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DONNA CARNEY, 67, of Canton, was sentenced today by U.S. Circuit Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in Bridgeport to one month of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for defrauding a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) program.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in approximately 1995, Carney began receiving Section 8 tenant-based rental assistance under HUD’s housing choice voucher program.  From approximately 2004 to 2019, Carney failed to report to HUD that she was married to her landlord and therefore had an interest in the home in which she lived, failed to report certain others living in her home, and falsely claimed that unauthorized residents were live-in aides.

Judge Merriam ordered Carney to pay $33,594.

On October 12, 2022, Carney pleaded guilty to theft of government property.

Carney, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on June 29.

This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General for Investigations and the Canton Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherry.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WILFREDO ROSADO-RODRIGUEZ, also known as “Turtle,” 40, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for his role in a large-scale heroin trafficking ring.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Rosado-Rodriguez was a close associate of Ivan Rosario, also known as “Ghost,” who headed a Bridgeport-based heroin trafficking organization that, between approximately April 2015 and March 2017, received at least 30 kilograms of heroin that had been transported from Mexico to Bridgeport hidden inside motorcycles equipped with secret compartments.  The organization then distributed the drug in the Bridgeport area.

Rosado-Rodriguez’s primary role was transporting the organization’s cash proceeds to money launderers. In October 2015, law enforcement stopped a car Rosado-Rodriguez was driving and seized approximately $120,000 in suspected drug proceeds that he was couriering to New York.

On March 16, 2017, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Rosario, Rosado-Rodriguez and five other individuals with heroin trafficking and related offenses.  Rosado-Rodriguez was arrested on October 28, 2021.  On September 20, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

Rosado-Rodriguez has been detained since his arrest.

Rosario was convicted of a related charge and, on July 18, 2019, Judge Bryant sentenced him to 210 months of imprisonment.

This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, DEA’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Bridgeport Police Department and Stratford Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Ruff and Natasha M. Freismuth 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.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and William Tong, Connecticut Attorney General, today announced that KELLY STUTZMAN (“Stutzman”), and her business, K-ASSIST, LLC (“K-Assist”), entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments and paid more than $234,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the federal and state False Claims Acts.

K-Assist is a private behavioral health practice that provided in-home behavioral health services in the greater New Haven area.  K-Assist is enrolled as a Behavioral Health Clinician Group and Stutzman is enrolled as a Professional Counselor in the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (“CMAP”), which includes the state’s Medicaid program.

The Government alleged in its civil investigation that Stutzman and K-Assist submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid for psychotherapy services.  Stutzman and K-Assist falsely represented that a licensed provider had rendered the services when, in fact, an unlicensed individual rendered the services.  To resolve the allegations under the federal and state False Claims Acts, Stutzman and K-Assist agreed to pay $234,064.89 in order to reimburse the Medicaid program for conduct occurring from February 1, 2018 through August 1, 2019.

Under the False Claims Act, the government can recover up to three times its actual damages, plus penalties of $13,085 to $27,018 for each false claim.

In a separate state criminal proceeding, Stutzman pleaded nolo contendre to health insurance fraud.  As part of that plea, Stutzman agreed to pay $63,764.23 in restitution and be subject to a three-year suspended jail sentence and five-year conditional discharge.

This case stems from a larger investigation into fraudulent activity in the area of behavioral health services, which has been jointly conducted by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office and the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General, with support from the Connecticut Department of Social Services.

This 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 or the Health Care Fraud Task Force at (203) 777-6311.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JEVAUGHN WATSON, also known as “Russ,” 29, of Ansonia, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 44 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for a drug trafficking offense, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release that followed a previous federal conviction.

This matter stems from an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force into a drug trafficking organization headed by Tajh Wiley, also known as “Yung,” of Norwalk.  The investigation, which included a court-authorized wiretap of Wiley’s phone, revealed that Wiley conspired to distribute quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana and distributed drugs throughout Connecticut and elsewhere with the assistance of other associates.

Wiley, Watson, and six others were arrested in June 2021.  In association with the arrests, investigators executed multiple search warrants and seized approximately a kilogram of fentanyl, a kilogram of cocaine, approximately 83 grams of crack cocaine, more than 12 pounds of marijuana, two press machines and other items and materials used by Wiley and his co-conspirators to process and package illegal drugs.  Investigators also seized from Wiley jewelry valued at more than $100,000, and a 2021 Mercedes-Benz valued at approximately $146,000.

On July 25, 2022, a jury found Wiley guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and marijuana, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).  The jury found Watson guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute marijuana.

On February 23, 2017, Watson was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 46 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for distributing heroin to a 25-year-old woman who subsequently died of an overdose in August 2016.  He was released from prison in February 2020 and was on supervised release when he participated in Wiley’s drug trafficking conspiracy.

Watson has been detained since his arrest on June 9, 2021.

On December 28, 2022, Judge Arterton sentenced Wiley to 12 years of imprisonment.

This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bridgeport Police Department, Fairfield Police Department, Norwalk Police Department, Stamford Police Department, Stratford Police Department, Yonkers (New York) Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service.  The 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.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elena L. Coronado, Robert S. Dearington, Patrick J. Doherty, and Margaret M. Donovan 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.