District of Connecticut
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Connecticut Man Sentenced to Prison for $2.5 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DOMINICK N. DONOFRIO, 73, last residing in Middlefield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 36 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for defrauding a client of more than $2.5 million.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Donofrio was the president and owner of Windstar Financial Services, Inc. (“Windstar”) based in Madison, Connecticut. In January 2013, Wisconsin-based Randall Robert Binversie Holdings (“Binversie”), which was interested in purchasing a renewable fuel business, hired Donofrio to provide business and financial consulting services. In early 2014, Donofrio informed Binversie of the opportunity to purchase Tioga Fuel, a home heating oil company in Philadelphia, and its properties (collectively, the “Tioga properties”), and convinced Binversie that the purchase price was $2,050,567. In fact, Donofrio had fraudulently marked up the purchase price by approximately $1,300,000. Donofrio subsequently completed the transaction.
In pleading guilty, Donofrio admitted that he defrauded Binversie of more than $2.5 million. The loss amount includes the difference between the actual purchase price and the inflated purchase price of the Tioga properties; more than $987,000 in fraudulent consulting, negotiation, and legal fees Binversie paid in 2013 and 2014; approximately $87,000 that Donofrio stole from Tioga Fuel’s account during the acquisition; and approximately $136,000 that Donofrio obtained from Binversie as interest payments on a fictitious $1.25 million “loan,” an amount that Donofrio represented to Binversie that Windstar had fronted during the acquisition.
On July 30, 2019, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania returned an indictment charging Donofrio with the offense. Donofrio was a fugitive until his arrest on July 24, 2024, in Mystic, Connecticut. After he failed to appear for a pretrial conference in Philadelphia on July 22, 2025, he was again arrested on December 3, 2025, and has been detained since that date. The case was transferred to the District of Connecticut for further prosecution. On February 4, 2026, he pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Francis of the District of Connecticut and Anita Eve of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Cheshire Man Who Defrauded Pandemic Relief Program is SentencedRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TONY STERLIN CANTAVE, 46, of Cheshire, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to three months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for defrauding a COVID-19 pandemic relief program.
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the distribution of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDLs”), through the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”), which provided working capital to eligible small businesses to meet operating expenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2020, Cantave applied for EIDL funding through the SBA. The application contained several materially false statements, including that the business for which Cantave sought the loan, Arbitrage 1 Media, was an ongoing, legitimate business involved in the limousine and transportation business, and that he was not more than 60 days delinquent in his child support obligations. After the SBA reviewed and approved the fraudulent EIDL application, Cantave received $96,200. He then used the proceeds from the loan to pay for personal and non-business expenses, including $16,607.26 to pay off an automobile loan.
Judge Bolden ordered Cantave to pay $109,605.21 in restitution.
On June 24, 2025, Cantave pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money and one count of making an illegal monetary transaction.
Cantave, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on July 15.
This is Cantave’s third federal conviction. In December 1999, he was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 18 months of imprisonment for a firearm offense, and in February 2015, he was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 13 months of imprisonment for his participation in a U.S. Postal Service money order fraud scheme.
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
New York Man Who Sexually Exploited Minor Girls Sentenced to 50 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on May 8, 2026, JAMES PAGLIARO, 27, of Middletown, New York, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 600 months of imprisonment and a lifetime of supervised release for sexually exploiting minor girls with whom he initiated contact through social media apps.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between April 2024 and March 2025, Pagliaro sent sexually explicit messages, many of which included sexually explicit photographs of himself, to thousands of minor girls on social media applications, including Snapchat and TikTok, in an apparent attempt to ensnare and cultivate child “sex slaves.” He successfully coerced at least four girls, including a 15-year-old girl in Connecticut, a 15-year-old girl in the United Kingdom, a 15-year-old girl in New Jersey, and a 16-year-old-girl in Florida, into producing hundreds of sexually explicit images and videos for his sexual gratification. He also traveled to Connecticut at least three times to engage in sexual conduct with the 15-year-old Connecticut victim, whom he forced to engage in sex acts and threatened with violence.
A forensic evaluation of Pagliaro’s phone revealed that he exchanged tens of thousands of text messages with his victims, including many messages highlighting their age, and spoke with them on phone and video calls on hundreds of occasions. Pagliaro initially professed his love to his victims, promising them that he would marry them once they turned eighteen, but later threatened them, sending photographs of guns, ammunition and knives and telling the Connecticut victim, for example, that he could murder someone’s entire family without having any trouble sleeping at night and that she should “keep that in mind.” Pagliaro also forced his victims to create humiliating, degrading, and dangerous videos as punishments for their perceived failures, which included sending explicit videos on the wrong social media platform, and he encouraged at least one victim to commit suicide. He also had the Connecticut victim sign a three-page slavery contract purporting to memorialize her “eternal slavery” to Pagliaro and encouraged her to recruit other minors to engage in sexual conduct with him.
The forensic evaluation of Pagliaro’s phone revealed that he also possessed thousands of other videos and images of children in sexually explicit conduct, including videos depicting the sexual exploitation of infants and toddlers.
“This defendant exploited social media apps to cast a wide net to ensnare young girls into committing sexually degrading acts for his own gratification,” said U.S. Attorney Sullivan. “When successful, he used grooming techniques and psychological manipulation to coerce, abuse, and terrorize his victims. This prosecution and the Court’s imposition of a long prison term should serve as a stark warning for anyone who may use technology to prey upon children. I thank HSI and our local law enforcement partners who investigated this matter, brought justice to his victims, and protected countless others from additional harm.”
“Pagliaro is a depraved child predator who has earned every day of his 50-year sentence,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming. “He contacted hundreds of children online and successfully ensnared several girls, making them first believe they were in a real, loving relationship before slowly exerting more control, more abuse, and more violence. The victims in this case exhibited extraordinary bravery coming forward despite Pagliaro’s threats against them and their families and we hope that this sentence brings some comfort and peace as they move toward healing. HSI remains relentless in its pursuit of justice for survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation.”
Pagliaro was arrested on March 19, 2025. On February 13, 2026, he pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography, enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, and traveling to engage in sexual activity with a minor. He has been detained since his arrest.
This investigation was conducted by HSI New England, HSI Hudson Valley, the Orange County (N.Y.) Sheriff’s Office, and the Danbury, Ridgefield, and Watertown Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon.
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.
New Haven Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Third Federal Conviction, Violating Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RONNELL ROGERS, 33, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 72 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for distributing fentanyl and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 5, 2022, Rogers was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 37 months of imprisonment for narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses, and a consecutive 14 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction for unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon. The sentence was subsequently reduced by seven months and Rogers was released from federal prison in March 2024 and began serving a three-year term of supervised release.
On May 2, 2024, New Haven Police arrested Rogers during a traffic stop that followed a controlled purchase of fentanyl. At the time of his arrest, Rogers possessed fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin packaged for distribution, including meth pills shaped like cartoon characters that could be mistaken for candy.
Judge Dooley sentenced Rogers to 63 months of imprisonment for the narcotics offense, and an additional nine months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.
Rogers has been detained in federal custody since May 30, 2024, when his supervised release was revoked. On October 10, 2025, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl.
This matter was investigated by the New Haven Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel George.
Meriden Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Federal Prison for Narcotics and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL LUISI, 53, of Meriden, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 72 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2024, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and New Britain Police Department investigated a drug trafficking organization, headed by Wilfredo Ortiz, that was operating out of Supreme Automotive, a car dealership located on Main Street in New Britain. The investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical and electronic surveillance, and several controlled purchases of narcotics, primarily cocaine, from Ortiz and other members of the conspiracy. Luisi had an ownership interest in Supreme Automotive and was involved in the acquisition and distribution of cocaine.
Luisi, Ortiz, and several other members of the drug trafficking organization were arrested on November 14, 2024. In association with the arrests, investigators conducted court authorized searches of Supreme Automotive and residences and other locations connected to the organization and seized more than five kilograms of cocaine, more than 200 grams of fentanyl, approximately 30 grams of heroin, a kilogram press, seven firearms, ammunition, approximately $75,000 in cash, and 26 vehicles. A search of Luisi’s former residence in Berlin revealed evidence of narcotics distribution, a Bushmaster rifle, a Glock 9mm handgun, a Polymer 80 handgun (“ghost gun”), and $36,120 in cash.
On April 7, 2025, Luisi pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Ortiz pleaded guilty and, on March 9, 2026, was sentenced to 135 months of imprisonment.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles Police, and the New Britain, Hartford, West Hartford, Waterbury, Naugatuck, East Hartford, Brookfield, Milford, Norwich, Orange, North Haven, Meriden, Berlin, and Manchester Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth, Reed Durham, and David Nelson.
Hartford Man Charged with Drug Distribution and Firearm Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI, today announced that KENNY LAPORTE, 39, of Hartford, has been charged by indictment with drug distribution and firearm possession offenses.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, an investigation determined that Laporte was distributing large quantities of fentanyl and other narcotics to customers and other drug sellers in the Hartford area and was using a residence on Amity Street in Hartford to store the drugs. In April and May 2025, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of distribution quantities of fentanyl from Laporte.
Laporte was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on May 29, 2025. On that date, a search of the Amity Street residence and a garage behind the residence revealed approximately 1.7 kilograms of fentanyl, 150 grams of powder cocaine, 25 grams of crack cocaine, 22 grams of heroin, nine handguns, ammunition, jewelry, and $21,000 in cash. Laporte possessed an additional $1,675 in cash at the time of his arrest.
Laporte’s criminal history includes felony convictions for narcotics, firearm, and assault offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
On April 28, 2026, a grand jury in New Haven returned a seven-count indictment charging Laporte with five counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, controlled substances, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count; one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and one count unlawful possession of firearms by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan 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.
Laporte appeared today in Hartford federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges in the indictment. He is released on a $100,000 bond pending trial.
This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shan Patel.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Norwich Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAMEL PIRES, 28, of Norwich, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for unlawfully possessing a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 26, 2024, a Groton City Police officer attempted to stop Pires who was driving his vehicle erratically. Pires increased his speed before turning into the driveway of a residence. The officer approached Pires and determined he was intoxicated. A search of Pires revealed that he possessed marijuana packaged for distribution, and a search of his vehicle revealed a loaded 9mm Canik TP9 Elite SC handgun. Pires was arrested on state charges at that time.
Pires’ criminal history includes a conviction for a firearm possession offense stemming from an incident in 2020 when he shot at an individual during a fight, and a conviction for assaulting a police officer. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
On January 12, 2026, Pires pleaded guilty in federal court to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. He has been detained since his state arrest.
This matter was investigated by the Groton City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Gresham.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Manchester Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal Prison for Narcotics and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE C. RIVERA, 37, of Manchester, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 66 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2024, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and New Britain Police Department investigated a drug trafficking organization, headed by Wilfredo Ortiz, that was operating out of Supreme Automotive, a car dealership located on Main Street in New Britain. The investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical and electronic surveillance, and several controlled purchases of narcotics, primarily cocaine, from Ortiz and other members of the conspiracy.
During the investigation, law enforcement identified Nelson Alejandro-Capo as a supplier of cocaine to Ortiz. Alejandro-Capo, using co-conspirator Eli Samuel O’Farrill-Fernandez as a middleman, supplied Ortiz with approximately six kilograms of cocaine. On October 10, 2024, Alejandro-Capo met with Rivera at Rivera’s former residence in Rocky Hill. On October 26, 2024, Rivera was intercepted over a wiretap talking with O’Farrill-Fernandez and discussing the purchase of 100 grams of cocaine.
Rivera, Ortiz, O’Farrill-Fernandez, and several other members of the drug trafficking organization were arrested on November 14, 2024. In association with the arrests, investigators conducted court authorized searches of Supreme Automotive and residences and other locations connected to the organization and seized more than five kilograms of cocaine, more than 200 grams of fentanyl, approximately 30 grams of heroin, a kilogram press, seven firearms, ammunition, approximately $75,000 in cash, and 26 vehicles. A search of Rivera’s Rocky Hill residence revealed approximately 206 grams of fentanyl, approximately 278 grams of cocaine, drug processing materials, a loaded handgun and an additional gun magazine, and $13,364 in cash.
On November 25, 2025, Rivera pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Released on a $150,000 bond, he is required to report to prison on July 6.
Ortiz, Alejandro-Capo, and O-Farrill-Fernandez pleaded guilty and are currently serving prison terms of 135 months, 144 months, and 120 months, respectively.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles Police, and the New Britain, Hartford, West Hartford, Waterbury, Naugatuck, East Hartford, Brookfield, Milford, Norwich, Orange, North Haven, Meriden, Berlin, and Manchester Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth, Reed Durham, and David Nelson.
Bronx Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Theft OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and J. Buck Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, announced that TULIO NUNEZ, 25, of the Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to offenses related to the theft of U.S. Mail.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 2, 2023, Nunez drove to Campbell Avenue in West Haven and parked in front of a postal collection box. Nunez’s associate then exited the vehicle, opened the service door of the collection box using a counterfeit postal arrow key, removed a basket filled with mail, and placed it in the passenger seat of the vehicle. Law enforcement officers who were conducting surveillance of the postal collection box then converged on the vehicle. Nunez unsuccessfully attempted to flee by reversing his vehicle and striking a law enforcement vehicle before he and his associates were apprehended and charged with state offenses.
On September 23, 2025, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Nunez with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, possession of a key adopted by the post office, and theft of mail.
Nunez pleaded guilty to all three counts of the indictment. At sentencing, which is scheduled for July 27, he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Nunez has been released on a $10,000 bond since his federal arrest on September 25, 2025.
This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the West Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Lembo and Shan Patel.
Cheshire Nurse Who Illegally Distributed Controlled Substances is SentencedRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHELE RENE MUZYKA, 61, of Cheshire, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to one day of imprisonment, time already served, and three years of supervised release, for illegally distributing controlled substances. Judge Bolden also ordered Muzyka to pay a $25,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement began investigating Muzyka, an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), after pharmacists in New Britain and Middletown made complaints that Muzyka was prescribing high doses of benzodiazepines and amphetamines to clusters of patients who appeared to know each other or were related, and at times were picking up each other’s prescriptions. At least one pharmacist stopped filling prescriptions written by Muzyka because the pharmacist was concerned that the prescriptions were unlawfully written or were fraudulent.
An undercover investigation subsequently determined that, between January 2024 and June 2025, Muzyka unlawfully distributed amphetamines, such as Adderall, and benzodiazepines, such as Xanax and alprazolam, to individuals who did not have a legitimate medical need. During office visits, Muzyka did not conduct medical examinations of certain patients and did not confirm conditions that would medically require treatment using these controlled substances. Muzyka charged patients $200 in cash for the office visits in which she prescribed the controlled substances, including to an undercover agent who posed as a Medicaid beneficiary. Although she was enrolled as a Medicare and Medicaid provider, Muzyka declined to accept the undercover agent’s Medicaid plan and instead charged her $200 cash fee. Medicaid paid $287.58 for the unlawful prescriptions written for the undercover agent.
The investigation also determined that between February 2020 and June 2023, five individuals to whom Muzyka prescribed amphetamines and benzodiazepines died of overdoses due to the combined effects of fentanyl, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, and other drugs.
Muzyka was arrested on June 23, 2025. On January 21, 2026, she pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, distribution of, and dispensing of controlled substances.
Muzyka has surrendered her controlled substance licenses and her APRN license.
This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, with assistance from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Drug Control Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Boyles.
Stamford Resident Charged with Child Exploitation, Destruction of Evidence OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging ADAM WOLFE, 27, of Stamford, with child exploitation and destruction of evidence offenses.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in November 2023, HSI and Ridgefield Police began investigating Wolfe for possessing child sex abuse material. On November 22, 2023, investigators interviewed Wolfe at his former residence in Ridgefield and Wolfe gave consent for a search of his iPhone and laptop. Forensic analysis of the laptop revealed thousands of individual child sex abuse images that were recovered from the “recycle bin” of the laptop. Analysis of the iPhone revealed that Wolfe had deleted a TOR browser, which is often used to access child pornography on the dark web, during his interview with law enforcement on November 22, 2026.
Wolfe was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on September 30, 2024.
The indictment charges Wolfe with one count of 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; one count of possession of child pornography, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; and one count of destruction, alteration, or falsification of records, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Wolfe has been released on a $50,000 bond since his arrest. His arraignment is not yet scheduled.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan 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 Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Ridgefield Police Department, and the Watertown Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Waterbury Man Sentenced to Prison for Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TIMEEK HEATH, 42, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell in New Haven to 18 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for drug and firearm trafficking offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in August and September 2024, investigators made two controlled purchases of distribution quantities of fentanyl from Heath. Lab analysis of the fentanyl revealed that it contained dangerous additives including xylazine and tramadol. On September 5, 2024, Heath sold a loaded Glock, Model 23, .40 caliber pistol to the same purchaser of the drugs, an individual he knew was a convicted felon. A trace of the firearm revealed that it was stolen from a car at a gas station in Waterbury in 2024.
On November 10, 2025, Heath pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl, and one count of firearms trafficking.
Heath is currently detained.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Twice Deported Guatemalan National Living in Hartford Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut announced that JONY GALEANO LOPEZ-GARCIA, also known as Yoni Lopez Garcia, 27, a citizen of Guatemala residing in Hartford, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in November 2017, Lopez-Garcia was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona. He was deported to Guatemala in December 2017 and warned that he could not return to the U.S. for a period of five years. Lopez-Garcia subsequently reentered the U.S. in January 2018. He was convicted in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas of illegally entering the U.S. In February 2018, he was deported to Guatemala and warned that he could not return to the U.S. for a period of 20 years. Lopez-Garcia subsequently unlawfully reentered the U.S.
It is further alleged that on November 27, 2025, Hartford Police arrested Lopez-Garcia under the name Yoni Lopez Garcia and charged him with assault first degree, conspiracy to commit assault first degree, assault third degree, carrying a dangerous weapon, threatening second degree by physical threat, and other offenses.
Lopez-Garcia, who was released on bond in his state case, was arrested today. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and was ordered detained.
If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Lopez-Garcia faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Peruvian National Unlawfully in U.S. Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Distraction Theft and Identity Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ANGEL GIANCARLO BELLIDO COSIO, also known as “Jesus Requejo,” 36, a citizen of Peru unlawfully residing in the U.S., was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 36 months of imprisonment for his participation in a distraction theft and identity theft scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation into a series of distraction thefts of wallets from victims, typically elderly women, at Trader Joe’s grocery stores, TJ Maxx stores, and other retail stores in Connecticut and elsewhere. The investigation revealed that Bellido Cosio and at least two other Peruvian nationals rented vehicles to travel throughout the U.S. in order to steal wallets from unwary victims and then use the victims’ credit and debit cards to purchase electronic devices and other items at other stores. Bellido Cosio and his co-conspirators stopped at shipping providers along their route to ship the goods they purchased to a co-conspirator’s address in New Jersey. Bellido Cosio was living in Paterson, New Jersey, at the time of the offense.
Court documents detail Bellido Cosio’s role in the theft from at least 10 victims in Connecticut, Rhode Island, North Carolina, and Tennessee, and the purchase of more than $53,000 in goods using the victims’ credit or debit cards.
Rental records reveal that Bellido Cosio and his co-conspirators rented vehicles 14 times for a total of 144 days and drove the vehicles more than 65,000 miles around the U.S. during the scheme.
Bellido Cosio and a co-conspirator, Angel Eugenio Bances Chaponan, were arrested on March 13, 2024, shortly after they stole a wallet from a victim at store in Orange, Connecticut, and used the victim’s credit card to purchase a MacBook for approximately $2,850 and an iPad Pro for approximately $1,050.
On January 30, 2026, Bellido Cosio pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. He has been detained since his arrest and faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term.
Bances Chaponan and a third co-conspirator, Erick Christian Luna de la Cruz, pleaded guilty to related charges. On September 17, 2024, Bances Chaponan was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment. Luna de la Cruz awaits sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Manchester (Conn.) Police Department, with the assistance of the Orange (Conn.) Police Department, the Fairfax County (Va.) Police Department, the Spartanburg County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Office, the Spartanburg Police Department, the Warwick (R.I.) Police Department, the Cary (N.C.) Police Department, and the Metropolitan Nashville (Tenn.) Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan J. Guevremont and Michael S. McGarry.
Dominican National Living in Waterbury under False Identity Pleads Guilty to Passport Fraud, Identity Theft OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ, 46, a citizen of the Dominican Republic unlawfully residing in the United States, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to passport fraud and identity theft offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2025, an individual who had been recently released from prison (the “victim”) applied for a Connecticut identification card at the Waterbury branch of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”). When processing the victim’s application, the DMV determined that there was already an active driver’s license for the victim that had been issued in 2001 and renewed multiple times. An investigation determined that Rodriguez, who lived in Waterbury, was the unlawful holder of the driver’s license and had assumed the victim’s identity. Investigators discovered that the victim’s identity had two different FBI fingerprint profiles, and that the Waterbury Police Department had arrest records and booking photographs of Rodriguez posing at the victim.
On March 5, 2020, Rodriguez used the name, date of birth, and place of birth of the victim to apply for a U.S. passport in Waterbury. He received the passport and used it for travel and identification purposes.
Rodriguez was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on December 30, 2025, after he submitted the false passport to the U.S. Department of State and falsely represented himself as the victim and as a U.S. citizen.
Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of using a passport secured by a false statement, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of two years. Judge Oliver scheduled sentencing for July 27.
Rodriguez has been detained since his arrest.
This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles and the Waterbury Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
West Haven Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing NarcoticsRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LEVERN MARION, 37, of West Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 72 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for distributing narcotics.
According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation that included surveillance, trash pulls, traffic stops, and a controlled purchase of narcotics revealed that Marion was distributing controlled substances in and around New Haven. Marion was arrested on March 27, 2024. On that date, a court authorized search of a residence on Washington Avenue in New Haven that Marion used to store drugs revealed approximately 800 grams of cocaine, approximately 175 grams of crack cocaine, and numerous wax folds containing fentanyl.
On October 22, 2025, Marion pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and a quantity of fentanyl.
Marion, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on June 3.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the New Haven Police Department. The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont, Jr.
Man Who Trafficked Fentanyl and Cocaine into Waterbury Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JORDAN JAMISON, also known as “J” and “JO,” 30, of Waterbury, Connecticut, and Paramus, New Jersey, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 144 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for trafficking fentanyl and cocaine. Judge Oliver also ordered Jamison to pay a $350,000 fine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, a DEA New Haven District Office Task Force investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics, physical and electronic surveillance, and other investigative techniques, determined that Jamison and an associate were trafficking fentanyl and cocaine into the Waterbury area, utilizing an apartment on High Street in Naugatuck and a house on Hunthill Road in Waterbury to store and package narcotics, and distributing the drugs to a network of street-level sellers.
On February 5, 2025, Jamison and his associate travelled together on a flight to California and, later that day, attempted to mail a package from Monterey Park to Connecticut. Investigators seized the package, which contained approximately one kilogram of fentanyl and three kilograms of cocaine.
On February 11, 2025, a court-authorized search of the Naugatuck stash location revealed approximately 5.4 kilograms of fentanyl and 1.4 kilograms of cocaine packaged for street distribution, and more than 300 grams of xylazine, an animal tranquilizer used by narcotics traffickers as a fentanyl additive.
Jamison has been detained since his arrest on February 13, 2025. On January 29, 2026, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine.
In April 2020, Jamison was sentenced in New Haven federal court to two days of imprisonment, a $3,600 fine, and forfeiture of $6,056, for a heroin trafficking offense stemming from his role in a Waterbury-based narcotics trafficking ring.
This investigation has been conducted by the DEA New Haven District Office (NHDO) Task Force, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, DEA Los Angeles Airport Group, DEA New Jersey Division Office, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Paramus Police Department, and Hackensack Police Department. The NHDO Task Force includes members 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.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan J. Keefe and Natasha M. Freismuth.
Five Charged with Trafficking Cocaine Through the Mail from Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI, and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that the following five individuals have been charged by indictment with offenses related to the trafficking of cocaine through the U.S. Mail from Puerto Rico to Connecticut:
EDGARDO CASTRO PEREZ, 36, of Tolland, Connecticut, and San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico
ROSELYN OSORIO-SOTO, 38, of Tolland, Connecticut, and San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico
EDGAR CASTRO PEREZ, 27, of Hartford
JUAN JOSE TORRES-ORTIZ, 42, of Hartford
ENRIQUE ARROYO-ROBLES, 28, of HartfordAs alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in June 2025, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and U.S. Postal Inspection Service began investigating a drug trafficking organization that was coordinating the shipment of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Connecticut through the U.S. Mail. Typically, Osorio-Soto and Edgardo Castro Perez mailed the cocaine parcels from post offices in Puerto Rico to various addresses in central Connecticut. Torres-Ortiz collected the packages and transported them to secondary locations where Edgar Castro Perez and Arroyo-Robles stored them until the cocaine was distributed further. Members of the organization used residences on Merlot Way in Tolland and Woodland Drive in Hartford to store narcotics, drug paraphernalia, cash, and firearms. During the investigation, investigators identified at least 12 suspicious parcels shipped to Connecticut and seized and searched four parcels, each of which contained multiple kilograms of cocaine.
It is further alleged that on September 17, 2025, Torres-Ortiz picked up a parcel after it had been delivered to an address in Middletown and drove to Hartford where he transferred the parcel to Edgar Castro Perez, who then drove to the residence in Tolland. Investigators stopped Castro Perez in the driveway of the residence and seized the parcel, and found that it contained approximately three kilograms of cocaine. On that date, a court-authorized search of the Tolland residence revealed four automatic firearms, three semi-automatic handguns, gun magazines, ammunition, and $133,292 in cash. A search of the Hartford residence revealed a loaded .45 caliber handgun.
The five defendants were originally charged by federal criminal complaint. Arroyo-Robles was arrested on March 31, 2026; Edgardo Castro Perez, Osorio-Soto, and Edgar Castro Perez were arrested on April 1, 2026; and Torres-Ortiz was arrested on April 2, 2026. Arroyo-Robles possessed a distribution quantity of cocaine and $2,321 in cash at the time of his arrest.
On April 8, 2026, a grand jury in Bridgeport returned an indictment charging each of the defendants with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted of this charge, based on the quantity of drug attributed to each defendant, Edgardo Castro Perez, Osorio-Soto, and Torres-Ortiz face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life; Edgar Castro Perez faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years; and Arroyo-Robles faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
The indictment also charges Edgar Castro Perez and Torres-Ortiz with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 500 grams or more of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and Arroyo-Robles with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of cash and firearms seized during the investigation.
Osorio-Soto, Edgar Castro Perez, Torres-Ortiz and Arroyo-Robles were arraigned on April 22, 2026, entered pleas of not guilty, and are released on $50,000 bonds. Edgardo Castro Perez, who has been detained since his arrest, is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon in Hartford federal court.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan 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 ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The Task Force includes members from the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the East Hartford, Hartford, New Britain, West Hartford, Wethersfield, and Newington Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reed Durham.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Homeland Security Task Force: Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that CARLOS GONZALEZ NAVA, 26, a citizen of Mexico unlawfully residing in the U.S., waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday in New Haven federal court to drug trafficking and firearm possession offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2025, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations began investigating a series of suspicious parcels that were being mailed from southern California to multiple addresses in New London. The investigation revealed that a drug trafficking organization was shipping large quantities of narcotics, primarily heroin and cocaine, through the U.S. Mail to Connecticut, and that Gonzalez Nava was the primary recipient of the drugs. In November 2025, a court-authorized search of one intercepted parcel revealed nearly a kilogram of heroin, and in February 2026, a search of another intercepted parcel revealed approximately 400 grams of cocaine.
Gonzalez Nava was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on March 11, 2026. On that date, a search of his New London residence revealed four firearms, including semi-automatic pistols and a shotgun.
Gonzalez Nava pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and a quantity of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford on July 16.
Gonzalez Nava has been detained since his arrest.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF New Haven comprises agents and officers from the FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor, and Connecticut State Police, with prosecutions led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Natasha M. Freismuth.
West Hartford Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that NELSON ALEJANDRO-CAPO, 37, of West Hartford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 144 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for trafficking cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2024, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and New Britain Police Department investigated a drug trafficking organization, headed by Wilfredo Ortiz, that was operating out of Supreme Automotive, a car dealership located on Main Street in New Britain. The investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical and electronic surveillance, and several controlled purchases of narcotics, primarily cocaine, from Ortiz and other members of the conspiracy.
Investigators identified Alejandro-Capo as a supplier of cocaine to Ortiz. Alejandro-Capo, using co-conspirator Eli Samuel O’Farrill-Fernandez as a middleman, supplied Ortiz with approximately two kilograms of cocaine on September 24, 2024, and approximately four kilograms of cocaine on October 12, 2024.
Ortiz and several other members of this drug trafficking organization were arrested on November 14, 2024. In association with the arrests, investigators conducted court authorized searches of Supreme Automotive and residences and other locations connected to the organization and seized more than five kilograms of cocaine, more than 200 grams of fentanyl, approximately 30 grams of heroin, a kilogram press, seven firearms, ammunition, approximately $75,000 in cash, and 26 vehicles.
Alejandro-Capo was arrested on November 22, 2024. On December 17, 2025, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Alejandro-Capo has been detained since February 6, 2026, when his bond was revoked.
Ortiz and O-Farrill-Fernandez pleaded guilty and are currently serving prison terms of 135 months and 120 months, respectively.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles Police, and the New Britain, Hartford, West Hartford, Waterbury, Naugatuck, East Hartford, Brookfield, Milford, Norwich, Orange, North Haven, Meriden, Berlin, and Manchester Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth, Reed Durham, and David Nelson.
Hartford Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Offenses, Violating Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MORRIS CARTER III, also known as “Mo,” 37, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 156 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for firearm offenses and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.
According to the evidence introduced during his trial, in the early morning of February 19, 2023, Carter was involved in a fight a convenience store in the south end of Hartford. Surveillance footage shows Carter possessing a firearm and beating a convenience store patron in the head with a firearm magazine, which ejected ammunition during the altercation. Carter then fled the store, drove toward Wethersfield, and threw two handguns out the car window. Wethersfield Police stopped the car on Nott Street, found a loaded magazine under the passenger seat, and arrested Carter. Later that morning, a Wethersfield resident called police after discovering one of the discarded guns at the end of her driveway. Officers responded and found both discarded firearms, a magazine, and ammunition in the area. Investigators also recovered the ammunition from the convenience store.
Carter has been detained since his arrest. On August 15, 2025, a jury found him guilty of one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Carter’s criminal history includes a federal conviction in 2013 for conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, crack cocaine, and he was on federal supervised release when he committed the firearm violations in 2023.
Judge Dooley sentenced Carter to 136 months of imprisonment for the firearm violations and a consecutive 20 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hartford Police Department, and the Wethersfield Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel J. Gentile and Sean P. Mahard.
Guatemalan National Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CARLOS EGBERTO JIMENEZ-TUN, also known as Carlos Egberto-Jimenez, 28, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to six months of imprisonment for illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2019, Jimenez was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol in Texas as part of a criminal alien smuggling investigation. U.S. Border Patrol determined that Jimenez was in the U.S. illegally and he was deported to Guatemala in July 2019. In September 2019, U.S. Border Patrol encountered Jimenez in Texas again. He was arrested for being in the U.S. illegally and was deported to Guatemala in November 2019.
Jimenez subsequently unlawfully reentered the U.S. Between November 2023 and October 2025, Jimenez was arrested, convicted, and sentenced multiple times in Connecticut Superior Court for larceny, failure to appear in court, interfering and resisting arrest, and violating probation.
On January 16, 2026, Jimenez was arrested in Bridgeport by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations following his release from state custody and has been detained since his arrest. On January 27, 2026, he pleaded guilty to unlawful reentry.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Danbury Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Cocaine Through the Mail from Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ROMAN SANTIAGO JR., 42, of Danbury, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to a cocaine trafficking offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from September 2024 to February 2025, Santiago engaged in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy that involved the shipment of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Connecticut through the U.S. Mail. During the investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted multiple packages that were mailed from Puerto Rico to various addresses in Connecticut. Each package was intended for Santiago and contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine.
Santiago was arrested on February 12, 2025. At time of his arrest, a search of residence revealed a package of cocaine that had been mailed from Puerto Rico, and additional quantities of cocaine and fentanyl.
In total, investigators seized more than 11 kilograms of cocaine during the investigation.
Santiago pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. He is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for July 23.
This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the 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 State Police, the Hartford Police Department, and the Plainville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan Guevremont and Christopher Lembo.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Connecticut and North Carolina Residents Charged with Tax Fraud OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a 20-count indictment charging MICHAEL JOSEPH MEADE, 61, of Old Saybrook, Connecticut, and CHET LEE WEST, 70, of Nebo, North Carolina, with numerous tax fraud offenses.
The indictment was returned on April 8, 2026, and Meade and West were arrested and presented today. Meade is detained pending a hearing that is scheduled for tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. in New Haven federal court, and West is released on a $25,000 bond pending his arraignment in the District of Connecticut, which is scheduled for May 7.
The indictment alleges that Meade, who has owned and operated Innovative Components LLC, and subsequently Liquidlevel.com LLC, a Southington-based business engaged in the manufacturing and sale of liquid level float control mechanisms, has a federal tax obligation of approximately $2.5 million for the years 2001 through 2010, 2012, and 2013. Since approximately 2016, Meade has attempted to evade the payment of his tax obligation in various ways, including by withdrawing large amounts of cash and purchasing cashier’s checks from his business accounts and using the funds for personal expenditures; depositing company funds into a family member’s trust account; transferring company funds to cryptocurrency wallets and accounts that he controlled; establishing new business bank accounts with a different company name, Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs), Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), and using nominees; notifying customers that he was no longer connected with his business and directing them to send payments to the newly opened bank account associated with a new TIN; using a shell company to purchase a personal vacation property in Maine; and opening bank accounts using a false social security number.
The indictment further alleges that, beginning in 2021, Meade conspired with West to structure various financial transactions in an effort to obstruct the IRS from assessing and collecting Meade’s federal tax obligation. Meade and West also conspired to provide fraudulent tax-related information to customers of Meade’s business and to cause false information and false documents to be filed with the IRS.
The indictment charges Meade with one count of tax evasion, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and six counts of failure to file a tax return, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of one year on each count. The indictment charges Meade and West each with one count of conspiracy to obstruct and defeat the Internal Revenue Service, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, five counts of attempts to interfere with administration of internal revenue laws, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years on each count, and seven counts of aiding or assisting the filing of false documents, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years on each count.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan 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 Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael S. McGarry and Peter S. Jongbloed.
Two Bridgeport Men Charged with Robbing Jewelry Store in ClintonRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI today announced that KELIJAH RICHARDSON, also known as “KeKe,” “Keek,” and “Lijh,” 28, and ANIBAL RIVERA, also known as “Go,” “Greenlight Go,” and “greenlightgo.1,” 27, both of Bridgeport, have been charged by indictment with robbing a jewelry store in Clinton earlier this year.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the FBI New Haven Violent Crimes Task Force, together with state and local law enforcement agencies, has been investigating at least 20 robberies and burglaries, and attempted robberies and burglaries, of jewelry stores and kiosks that occurred between September 2025 and February 2026 in Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts. In each instance, the suspects, wearing dark clothing, masks, and gloves, entered the jewelry stores and kiosks, used hammers or other tools to break jewelry showcases, and stole jewelry. They then fled in vehicles that had no license plates or stolen or obstructed license plates.
The indictment, which was returned by a grand jury in Bridgeport on March 18, 2026, alleges that on February 3, 2026, Richardson and Rivera robbed the KAY Outlet in Clinton. The retail value of items stolen during the theft is approximately $184,000.
The indictment charges Richardson and Rivera with interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery), an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Richardson, who was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on March 9, 2026, appeared today in Bridgeport federal court and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge. He is released on a $250,000 bond.
Rivera has been detained since his arrest on February 3, 2026, on a state warrant stemming from an alleged robbery of approximately $259,000 in jewelry from a location in the Buckland Hills Mall in Manchester on September 17, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan 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 ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI New Haven Violent Crimes Task Force with the assistance of state and local law enforcement agencies. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to Prison for Assaulting Federal Officers During ArrestRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LUIS PETERSON ROHR FERREIRA BORGES, 25, a citizen of Brazil illegally residing in the U.S., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to nine months of imprisonment for assaulting a federal officer.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ferreira Borges has a case pending in Connecticut Superior Court stemming from an arrest on September 16, 2023. In that case, he is charged with assault of public safety, emergency medical, public transit or health care personnel; assault in the third degree; breach of peace in the second degree; interfering with an officer; and intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the first degree. On October 10, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an arrest warrant for Ferreira Borges charging him with being present in the U.S. in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
On June 25, 2025, federal law enforcement officers, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations officers, apprehended Ferreira Borges in the area of Zion Street in Hartford. Ferreira Borges was non-compliant and resisted arrest. After being placed in a government vehicle, he kicked, flailed, and screamed obscenities at the ERO officers. As the vehicle traveled to the federal building on Main Street in Hartford, Ferreira Borges began raising and moving his leg, which was inches away from the ERO officer who was driving the vehicle, and Ferreira Borges stated he was going to kick the officer in the neck. Ferreira Borges then started to bite another ERO officer who tried to control him, and spit on the ERO officer who was driving the vehicle.
Ferreira Borges has been detained since his arrest. On January 22, 2026, he pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer. He faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term.
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Connecticut CPA Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that EDWARD J. SODLOSKY, 72, of Middlebury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to three months of imprisonment and one year of supervised release for tax evasion. Judge Bolden also ordered Sodlosky to pay a $50,000 fine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Sodlosky, a self-employed Certified Public Accountant, owned and operated Edward J. Sodlosky, Certified Public Accountant (“EJS-CPA”) in Naugatuck. From 2016 through 2022, Sodlosky prepared and filed annual joint income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service on behalf of himself and his spouse. He also filed annual partnership income tax returns for an entity named FinGLTD, which he owned with his spouse. During this seven-year period, Sodlosky cashed more than 2,000 client payment checks to hide income generated by EJS-CPA. As a result, a substantial amount of EJS-CPA’s business receipts was diverted from EJS-CPA’s bank accounts, and not reported in his joint income tax returns (Forms 1040 and 1040-SR) or partnership income tax returns (Form 1065).
Sodlosky deposited funds derived from the cashed checks, as well as client payment checks to EJS-CPA, into a network of business, personal, and nominee accounts. He maintained, controlled, and used 15 different bank accounts to deposit business receipts and to evade income taxes. Through this scheme, Sodlosky failed to report to the IRS $1,379,694.21 in additional income, resulting in a tax loss to the government of $422,720.
Sodlosky has paid the IRS $422,720, but still owes substantial interest and penalties.
On November 19, 2025, Sodlosky pleaded guilty to tax evasion.
Sodlosky, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on May 27.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.
Former Connecticut Tax Preparer Sentenced to 18 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DIANA MILLER-LLOYD, also known as “Diana Rabin” and “Diana Lloyd,” 45, of Port Orange, Florida, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 18 months of imprisonment and one year of supervised release for preparing numerous false tax returns.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Miller-Lloyd formerly resided in Middlefield and operated Lloyd Forenzique & Accounting Services Corporation, a tax return preparation business in Connecticut. She established the business in 2017 in Windsor, and subsequently moved it to Branford in 2019 and to Guilford in 2021. Before 2017, Miller-Lloyd provided tax preparation services under the business name Lloyd Forensic & Accounting Services. Miller-Lloyd routinely obtained substantial federal tax refunds for her clients, many of whom had annual incomes exceeding $500,000, by disregarding information provided by the clients and their employers, and by fabricating and improperly deducting charitable contributions and business expenses, including advertising, repairs and maintenance, travel, meals, utilities, insurance, and legal services.
As a result of these fraudulent deductions, for the 2016 through 2021 tax years, Miller-Lloyd attempted to obtain for her clients at least $1,062,293 in either fraudulent refunds or fraudulent reductions on owed tax payments. The IRS detected apparent fraudulent activity on several of the filed returns before refund monies were paid, resulting in an actual loss to the government of $472,913.
In addition, Miller-Lloyd at times used the professional credentials of another person, who was a certified public accountant, to defend filed returns when audited by the IRS.
Judge Nagala ordered Miller-Lloyd to pay to the IRS restitution of $467,717.
On October 1, 2025, Miller-Lloyd pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false and fraudulent income tax returns.
In 2010, Miller-Lloyd was convicted in New York for grand larceny related to the preparation of false tax returns.
Miller-Lloyd, who is released on a $25,000 bond, is required to report to prison on July 13.
This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.
New Haven Man Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI today announced that MARCOS ALEX MENDEZ TORRES, 26, of New Haven, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with multiple child exploitation offenses including traveling to engage in sexual activity with minors he met and coerced online.
As alleged in court documents, Mendez Torres used the social media usernames “nozuto” and “demoniodedinero” to communicate with girls online. In 2022, Mendez Torres began communicating with an approximately 11-year-old girl in Pennsylvania over the online game platform Roblox. Between 2022 and 2024, he used social media applications, including Discord and Snapchat, to communicate with the girl. Between 2023 and 2024, Mendez Torres also communicated via social media with another girl in Ohio beginning when she was approximately 12 years old. In March 2024, Mendez Torres traveled to Pennsylvania to meet with and to engage in sexual activity with the then-13-year-old girl residing there. He then traveled back to Connecticut before returning briefly to Pennsylvania and continuing on to Ohio with the intention of engaging in sexual activity with the then-12-year-old girl residing there.
The criminal complaint charges Mendez Torres with coercion and enticement of a minor, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum of life; travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with children, an offense that carries a maximum of term of imprisonment of 30 years; and transfer of obscene materials to a minor, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Mendez Torres has been detained since June 26, 2024, when he was arrested by the Connecticut State Police on child exploitation and kidnapping charges relating to a 15-year-old girl in Connecticut. He was transferred to federal custody and appeared yesterday in Hartford federal court.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan noted that investigators are seeking to identify additional victims and encouraged victims, witnesses, and anyone with helpful information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or to contact the FBI online at tips.fbi.gov.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a criminal complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis L. Beyerlein.
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.
Ansonia Man Admits Distributing Fentanyl and CocaineRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw today announced that JOSUE MUNIZ, 35, of Ansonia, pleaded guilty yesterday in New Haven federal court to a fentanyl and cocaine distribution offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Stamford Police Department learned that an individual, subsequently identified as Muniz, was trafficking fentanyl and cocaine in the Naugatuck Valley. Investigators conducted multiple undercover purchases of narcotics from Muniz in November and December 2024. On December 20, 2024, after investigators coordinated a purchase of narcotics, Muniz was arrested at a car dealership in Milford where he was employed. Muniz possessed approximately 58 grams of fentanyl at time of his arrest, and related searches of his vehicle and Ansonia residence revealed quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine.
Muniz pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. A sentencing date is not scheduled.
Muniz, whose criminal history includes state felony convictions for narcotics offenses, has been detained since his arrest.
This matter has been investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Stamford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Lembo.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Former New Britain Tax Preparer Charged with Tax Fraud OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned a 37-count indictment yesterday charging JESSLY GUZMAN, 36, of Hughestown, Pennsylvania, with tax fraud offenses stemming from the preparation and filing of numerous false federal tax returns.
As alleged in the indictment, Guzman, who formerly resided in New Britain, Connecticut, prepared tax returns for clients through her business Jacky’s Multiservices LLC, based in New Britain. In addition, in approximately 2013, Guzman established Molina and Family Construction LLC (“MAFC”), a purported construction business in New London. Insofar as it was ever a going concern, MAFC ceased operations in approximately 2014. During the 2019 through 2022 tax years, Guzman falsified information on certain tax returns she prepared for clients to reduce her clients’ tax liability, increase their tax refund, or increase the size of their tax credits. On some returns, Guzman fabricated Forms W-2 to trusted taxpayer clients that fraudulently indicated that those clients were employees of MAFC. The W-2s reflected false wages from the company and false federal income tax withholdings. Guzman then caused the false W-2s to be filed with the Social Security Administration and the IRS. For some clients, Guzman also prepared and included false Schedules C reporting business expenses and losses, a false Schedule E reporting rental property expenses and losses, and false education expenses, education credits, and child and dependent care expenses.
The indictment also alleges that Guzman prepared and filed false tax returns for her and her spouse claiming wages from MAFC and the withholding of federal taxes.
The indictment charges Guzman with 33 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of a false income tax return, and four counts of make and subscribing a false income tax return. The charges carry a maximum term of imprisonment of three years on each count.
Guzman’s arraignment is pending.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan 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 has been conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed.
Connecticut Woman Sentenced to Prison for Lying to Obtain U.S. Citizenship After Committing Torture and War Crimes in BosniaRead the Press Release
A woman who was a naturalized U.S. citizen from Bosnia and Herzegovina was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to 30 months in prison for naturalization fraud based on lies about her prior criminal conduct to obtain U.S. citizenship.
According to statements made in court and court documents, Nada Radovan Tomanić, 53, of West Virginia, served with the Zulfikar Special Unit of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s, during the armed conflict in the region. Along with other Zulfikar Special Unit soldiers, Tomanić participated in the severe physical and psychological abuse of Bosnian Serb civilian prisoners, including torture and inhuman treatment amounting to a war crime.
When applying for U.S. naturalization in 2012, Tomanić, who resided in Hartford at the time, falsely denied having served in a detention facility or in any other situation involving the detention of others. She also falsely denied having committed a crime for which she had not been arrested — specifically, the crime of inflicting serious bodily harm under the Criminal Law of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia.
Tomanić’s deception extended beyond her written naturalization application. During her interview with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer, she was placed under oath and was legally obligated to answer questions truthfully. Despite that obligation, she again lied about her service in a detention facility and her past criminal conduct.
“The defendant tortured and abused prisoners in Bosnia and then lied to U.S. immigration authorities to live in the U.S. and become a citizen,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Human rights violators are not welcome in the United States. Thanks to the courage of the victims, and the diligence and dedication of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, the defendant has been held accountable for exploiting our immigration system and evading responsibility for her crimes.”
“I sincerely appreciate the investigative work of our law enforcement partners both here in the U.S. and in Bosnia who have disregarded the passage of decades to ensure that justice is served,” said U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan for the District of Connecticut. “There is no statute of limitations for human decency.”
“This case has always been about more than lying on naturalization documents,” said Special Agent in Charge P.J. O’Brien of the FBI New Haven Field Office. “Over the course of this investigation Tomanić’s violent history of targeting people based on their ethnicity and religion came to light, and we hope that yesterday’s sentencing gives some measure of justice to her victims. The FBI, along with our partners at the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office of Fraud Detection and National Security will continue to investigate crimes of this nature to ensure the sanctity of the immigration process for all who righteously apply for U.S. Citizenship.”
Tomanić pleaded guilty on Nov. 10, 2025, to one count of procuring citizenship contrary to law.
The FBI investigated the case, with coordination provided by the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS), along with the FBI’s International Human Rights Unit (IHRU). The Justice Department thanks authorities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, to include the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Srpska Ministry of Interior, Serbian authorities, and the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, who were instrumental in providing assistance that aided in furthering the investigation.
Trial Attorney Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anastasia King and Angel Krull for the District of Connecticut prosecuted the case, with assistance from HRSP historians. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance.
Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or through the FBI’s online tip form at www.tips.fbi.gov/, or Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or through ICE’s online tip form at www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.
Connecticut Woman Sentenced to Prison for Lying to Obtain U.S. Citizenship After Committing Torture and War Crimes in BosniaRead the Press Release
A Connecticut woman who was a naturalized U.S. citizen from Bosnia and Herzegovina was sentenced yesterday to 30 months in prison for naturalization fraud based on lies about her prior criminal conduct to obtain U.S. citizenship.
According to statements made in court and court documents, Nada Radovan Tomanić, 53, of West Virginia, served with the Zulfikar Special Unit of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s, during the armed conflict in the region. Along with other Zulfikar Special Unit soldiers, Tomanić participated in the severe physical and psychological abuse of Bosnian Serb civilian prisoners, including torture and inhuman treatment amounting to a war crime.
When applying for U.S. naturalization in 2012, Tomanić falsely denied having served in a detention facility or in any other situation involving the detention of others. She also falsely denied having committed a crime for which she had not been arrested — specifically, the crime of inflicting serious bodily harm under the Criminal Law of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia.
Tomanić’s deception extended beyond her written naturalization application. During her interview with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer, she was placed under oath and was legally obligated to answer questions truthfully. Despite that obligation, she again lied about her service in a detention facility and her past criminal conduct.
“The defendant tortured and abused prisoners in Bosnia and then lied to U.S. immigration authorities to live in the U.S. and become a citizen,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Human rights violators are not welcome in the United States. Thanks to the courage of the victims, and the diligence and dedication of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, the defendant has been held accountable for exploiting our immigration system and evading responsibility for her crimes.”
“I sincerely appreciate the investigative work of our law enforcement partners both here in the U.S. and in Bosnia who have disregarded the passage of decades to ensure that justice is served,” said U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan for the District of Connecticut. “There is no statute of limitations for human decency.”
“This case has always been about more than lying on naturalization documents,” said Special Agent in Charge P.J. O’Brien of the FBI New Haven Field Office. “Over the course of this investigation Tomanić’s violent history of targeting people based on their ethnicity and religion came to light, and we hope that yesterday’s sentencing gives some measure of justice to her victims. The FBI, along with our partners at the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office of Fraud Detection and National Security will continue to investigate crimes of this nature to ensure the sanctity of the immigration process for all who righteously apply for U.S. Citizenship.”
Tomanić pleaded guilty on Nov. 10, 2025, to one count of procuring citizenship contrary to law.
The FBI investigated the case, with coordination provided by the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS), along with the FBI’s International Human Rights Unit (IHRU). The Justice Department thanks authorities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, to include the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Srpska Ministry of Interior, Serbian authorities, and the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, who were instrumental in providing assistance that aided in furthering the investigation.
Trial Attorney Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anastasia King and Angel Krull for the District of Connecticut prosecuted the case, with assistance from HRSP historians. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance.
Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or through the FBI’s online tip form at www.tips.fbi.gov/, or Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or through ICE’s online tip form at www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.
British Citizen Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, today announced that JOHN O’ROURKE, also known as JOHN CASEY, 27, a citizen of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
O’Rourke appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and was ordered detained.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, O’Rourke has used several other aliases including “John O’Rouke,” “Michael Casey,” “John Joyce,” “Robert Davanzo,” “David Collins,” and “James McCormack.” On October 7, 2024, U.S. Border Patrol apprehended O’Rourke, under an alias, and four other individuals near Fort Covington, New York, close to Canadian border. An investigation revealed that O’Rourke did not have legal status in the U.S. and, on October 15, 2024, he was removed by foot from New York to Canada.
It is further alleged that on February 18, 2025, O’Rourke was arrested under the name John Casey in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and charged with state offenses including evading responsibility and breach of peace. Continued investigation revealed that O’Rourke has pending cases stemming from arrests under various aliases in Suffolk County, New York, in November 2023; Everett, Washington, in September 2025; Linden, New Jersey, in December 2025; and Snohomish County, Washington, in January 2026. He also has a pending arrest warrant for a larceny offense issued by Connecticut Superior Court judge in Danbury, Connecticut, and is being sought by law enforcement in Surrey, England.
O’Rourke was arrested on March 2, 2026, in Pleasonton, California, on an arrest warrant issued by a judge in Torrington, Connecticut, charging O’Rourke with larceny in the first degree, making home improvements without a valid home improvement certificate, and mispresenting or impersonating a registered contractor.
O’Rourke has been detained since his arrest.
If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, O’Rourke faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Twice Deported Ecuadorian National Previously Convicted of Sex Abuse, Other Offenses, Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE RAUL MAITA, 55, a citizen of Ecuador, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to unlawful reentry of a removed alien.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 1996, Maita was granted status as a legal permanent resident in the United States following approval of an application based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen. In February 1998, Maita was convicted in Westchester County Court in New York of sexual abuse first degree involving sexual contact by forcible compulsion. The victim of the offense was nine years old. Maita was sentenced to five years of probation and was required to register as a sex offender. In November 2000, Maita was convicted in New York of failure to register as a sex offender. In August 2001, he was convicted of driving while intoxicated and for violating his probation stemming from his sexual abuse conviction. Maita’s probation was revoked and he was sentenced to one year of incarceration. In October 2003, Maita was deported to Ecuador.
Maita illegally reentered the U.S. and, in November 2006, he was convicted in Westchester County Court of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. In April 2007, he was convicted in New York of failure to register as a sex offender. In April 2008, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Maita and, in October 2008, he was convicted in the Southern District of New York of unlawful reentry. In August 2009, Maita was again removed to Ecuador. He subsequently unlawfully reentered the U.S.
On September 20, 2025, Maita, who identified himself as “Jose P. Maita” and provided a false date of birth, was arrested by the Connecticut State Police in Southbury on charges of illegal operation of a motor vehicle without a license and illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Maita was subsequently released on bond.
On November 4, 2025, the U.S. District Court in New Haven issued a criminal complaint charging Maita with unlawful reentry. Maita was located and arrested by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations on March 18, 2026, in Waterbury. He has been detained since his arrest.
Judge Oliver scheduled sentencing for July 2, at which time Maita faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Previously Deported Guatemalan National with Murder for Hire Conviction Admits Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced MARIO RAMIRO ARAGON-RUANO, also known as Mario Ramiro Aragon and Jose Juana-Zapata, 43, a citizen of Guatemala, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to unlawful reentry of a removed alien.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2006, Aragon-Ruano, using the name Jose Juana-Zapata, was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona. He was deported to Guatemala later that month and warned that he could not return to the U.S. for a period of five years. He subsequently reentered the U.S. and was arrested in 2007.
In August 2008, Aragon-Ruano was convicted, under the name Mario Ramiro Aragon, in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on a federal charge of murder for hire, and was sentenced to 87 months of imprisonment. In September 2013, he was again deported to Guatemala.
In July 2019, U.S. Border Patrol encountered Aragon-Ruano in Arizona. In January 2020, he was convicted in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona for illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported and he was sentenced to 13 months and one day of imprisonment. He was deported to Guatemala a third time in July 2020.
Aragon-Ruano subsequently unlawfully reentered the U.S. On January 10, 2026, he was arrested by Waterbury Police and charged with criminal trespass in the first degree and breach of peace in the second degree. After Aragon-Ruano was released on bond on those state charges, he was arrested by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations on January 12, 2026, in Waterbury.
Aragon-Ruano has been detained since his arrest. Judge Oliver scheduled sentencing for July 1, 2026, at which time Aragon-Ruano faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
New Britain Couple Who Imported and Sold Counterfeit Goods are SentencedRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MELISSA CRUZ, 37, and JOSE RAMIREZ, 41, both of New Britain, were sentenced today in Hartford federal court for offenses stemming from their participation in a conspiracy to import and sell counterfeit goods. U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver sentenced Cruz to one year of probation and a $20,000 fine, and Ramirez to one year of probation and a $10,000 fine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2021 and 2024, Cruz and Ramirez conspired with others to sell counterfeit clothing, luxury and designer handbags and purses, and jewelry bearing counterfeit trademarks to customers across the U.S., some of which they imported from outside the U.S. Cruz and Ramirez used Facebook to conduct live shows during which Cruz showcased, advertised, and sold the counterfeit goods. In total, Cruz and Ramirez made more than $4 million in gross sales for the counterfeit merchandise through various electronic peer-to-peer payment services including CashApp, Paypal, and Venmo.
Between March 2022 and March 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized multiple international parcels containing dozens of counterfeit handbags from Thailand, China, and Hong Kong that were addressed to Cruz and Ramirez’s residence in New Britain. On December 19, 2024, law enforcement conducted a court-authorized search of the residence and seized nearly 2,000 units of counterfeit goods.
Judge Oliver ordered Cruz and Ramirez to pay restitution in the total amount of $10,711.25.
Cruz and Ramirez each previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to willfully infringe a copyright.
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The case prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon.
Ecuadorian National Deported after Child Sex Assault Conviction Admits Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CARLOS CABRERA-ZARUMA, 45, a citizen of Ecuador, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to unlawful reentry of a removed alien.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Cabrera-Zaruma illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico in 2000. In 2008, he was convicted and sentenced in Connecticut Superior Court of sexual assault in the second degree against a victim under the age of 16, and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He was deported to Ecuador in September 2010. Cabrera-Zaruma subsequently unlawfully reentered the U.S. and returned to Connecticut. On September 6, 2025, he was arrested in Danbury and charged with motor vehicle violations.
Cabrera-Zaruma has been detained since his federal arrest on October 7, 2025. He is scheduled to be sentenced in Hartford on June 29. The offense carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Southington Man Sentenced to Prison for Gun and Drug Offenses Stemming from 2020 Shooting in HartfordRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERIC D. COX, 43, of Southington, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 29 months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release for firearm and narcotics offenses stemming from a shooting in Hartford in 2020.
According to the evidence presented during his trial, on September 4, 2020, Cox engaged in a violent altercation near Hartford Hospital in Hartford. During the altercation, in which Cox was slashed with a knife, Cox pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots at the individual who slashed him and others in the vicinity, which resulted in a bystander being shot multiple times. Hartford Police responded to the incident and found several cartridge casings on Jefferson Street where the stabbing and shooting occurred, and a hospital employee found a discarded .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol outside the entrance of the hospital’s emergency department and notified law enforcement. Police searched Cox’s car after the incident and found a bag containing approximately 28 grams of cocaine. Subsequent analysis of the firearm revealed the presence of Cox’s DNA.
Cox’s criminal history includes a federal conviction in 2008 for a crack cocaine distribution offense.
On November 21, 2025, a jury found Cox guilty of one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of possession of cocaine.
Cox, who is released on $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on August 6.
The Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office prosecuted the other individual involved in the altercation.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford Police Department, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Dearington and Mary G. Vitale.
North Haven Man Charged with Robbing Berlin Bank While on Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI, and Berlin Police Chief Matthew J. McNally today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging THOMAS MARRA, 55, of North Haven, with bank robbery.
The indictment alleges that, on December 31, 2025, Marra robbed the Webster Bank on Webster Square Road in Berlin.
If convicted of the offense, Marra faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Marra has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on January 7, 2026.
In May 2023, Marra was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 60 months of imprisonment for a narcotics trafficking offense. He was released from prison in June 2025 and was on federal supervised release at the time of the alleged bank robbery. Marra faces additional penalties if he is found to have violated the conditions of his supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan 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 case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Berlin Police Department, and the North Haven Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan J. Guevremont and Brendan J. Keefe.
Former Milford Resident Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Fraud and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARC ANTHONY ALEXANDER, 45, formerly of Milford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell in New Haven to 30 months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release for fraud and firearm offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2022, a business known as “Traveling Graces, LLC” was registered with the State of Connecticut with Melanie Ham as its registered agent and “Dr. Marc Anthony Alexander” as its manager. Between July 2023 and December 2023, Alexander and Ham misrepresented to a Connecticut resident (the “victim”), who Alexander had met on a dating app, that Traveling Graces was a legitimate business and they were looking for investors. The victim provided two bank checks totaling $167,000 to Alexander and Ham, which they used for their own purposes.
In May 2024, Alexander met with an employee of the residential community in which he resided and claimed to be an FBI agent who required additional parking spaces assigned to him for professional reasons. He wore clothing that falsely identified him as an FBI agent, showed a fake FBI identification badge, and possessed a Hellcat 9mm pistol in a holster.
Alexander’s criminal history includes convictions for fraud and other offenses. In April 2017, he was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 96 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for his involvement in a scheme related to the theft and negotiation of postal money orders that defrauded the U.S. Postal Service of more than $300,000, and his role in a separate scheme that involved the fraudulent sale of financed vehicles, which defrauded lenders of more than $1 million. Alexander was released from federal prison in February 2023.
In February 2024, while he was on supervised release, Alexander was arrested by Stamford Police for illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs, illegal operation of a motor vehicle under suspension, illegal operation of a motor vehicle without minimum insurance, and failure to drive in a proper lane. In November 2024, Alexander is alleged to have used a bank statement he manipulated with false information to facilitate the purchase of a vehicle from a car dealership in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Alexander also falsely reported his address to his probation officer, left Connecticut without permission, and opened nine new lines of credit, all in violation of the terms and conditions of his supervised release.
Alexander has been detained in federal custody since January 13, 2025. On February 26, 2025, he was sentenced in Hartford federal court to two years of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release from his prior federal conviction. On January 29, 2026, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
On November 19, 2025, Ham pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She awaits sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.
Former Computer Systems Administrator at Federal Public Defender’s Office Charged with Stealing Government PropertyRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Noah Fallon, Acting Investigations Branch Chief for the Federal Protective Service, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging PETERSON BERNADEL, 39, of Meriden, with offenses related to the theft of government property.
The indictment alleges that Bernadel was a Computer Systems Administrator (CSA) at the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Connecticut (FDO). As a CSA, he had physical access to the FDO’s inventory of digital and electronic devices, including computers, tablet computers, cellular telephones, and other devices. He also had the ability to add, remove, and edit information contained in their digital inventory record-keeping system. Bernadel stole property from the FDO, including iPads, Apple and Dell computers, a Mavic drone, and a Canon digital camera, and exchanged the items for cash at pawn shops. He also falsified an inventory record related to an Apple laptop computer that he had stolen and pawned.
The indictment, which was returned on March 24, 2026, charges Bernadel with eight counts of theft of government property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count, and one count of falsifying records and information, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
Bernadel was arrested on April 1, 2026. He is released on a $50,000 bond pending trial.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan 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 matter is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel George.
Chinese National Unlawfully Residing in U.S. Sentenced to Prison for Identity Theft and Vehicle Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that HUACHUN ZHENG, also known as “Ri Yuan,” 43, a citizen of China last residing in Queens, New York, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 30 months of imprisonment for offenses related to a series of vehicle thefts from dealerships utilizing personal information from identity theft victims.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Zheng, who did not have legal status in the U.S, and others used stolen personal and financial information and stolen or counterfeit identity cards from multiple identity theft victims to apply for loans to purchase or lease luxury vehicles from a car dealership in Greenwich. They then transported the vehicles to New York and sought to resell them.
On September 27, 2022, Zheng, using a stolen identity, obtained $94,742.73 in financing to purchase a 2019 Porsche Panamera from the Greenwich dealership. After the fraud scheme came to light, the dealership repossessed the vehicle before it could be resold. Zheng’s co-conspirators fraudulently obtained financing and purchased other vehicles from the dealership.
The investigation revealed that Zheng and his co-conspirators used stolen identity information to perpetrate other frauds. On September 10, 2022, Zheng was arrested in Nassau County, New York, in connection with a scheme in which he and others passed fraudulent checks to purchase jewelry. At the time of that arrest, Zheng was driving a Maserati that had been purchased from a dealership in Jamaica, New York, and was registered in the name of the victim whose identity Zheng used to purchase the Porsche Panamera from the Greenwich dealership later that month.
Zheng has been detained since his arrest on January 28, 2025. On January 6, 2026, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Zheng faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term.
This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Greenwich Police Department and the New York City Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena L. Coronado.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Recovers and Forfeits More Than $600K in Cryptocurrency from Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI, today announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office, working with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, has recovered and forfeited more than $600,000 in cryptocurrency associated with a fraud scheme.
As alleged in court documents, in September 2025, a Connecticut resident identified as “T.M.” received a letter purporting to be from “Ledger Security & Compliance.” The letter claimed that T.M.’s Ledger device, which is a device used for storing cryptocurrency, needed to undergo a new mandatory security check. In reality, when T.M. followed the instructions in the letter, the fraudsters were able to compromise T.M.’s Ledger device and steal approximately $234,000 in cryptocurrency.
The FBI and Connecticut State Police traced the cryptocurrency transactions through multiple cryptocurrency wallets and successfully seized approximately $600,000 worth of Tether, a form of cryptocurrency. The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture complaint (3:26-cv-28) alleging that the Tether cryptocurrency was the proceeds of wire fraud and that it was involved in money laundering. On March 31, 2026, the U.S. District Court entered a decree of forfeiture.
Generally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office first seeks to forfeit the cryptocurrency, then works with the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section to, in many cases, return it to crime victims so that victims have clear title to the property without risk of further litigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Nelson.
More information on cryptocurrency fraud schemes and where to report related criminal activity is available here: https://www.ic3.gov/CrimeInfo/Cryptocurrency.
Twice Deported Peruvian National Previously Convicted of Narcotics and Other Offenses Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that CESAR RUBEN YLLESCAS, 52, a citizen of Peru, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with unlawful reentry of a removed alien.
As alleged in court documents, between 1995 and 2015, Yllescas was arrested, convicted, and sentenced multiple times in Connecticut Superior Court and Chicopee, Massachusetts District Court for narcotics offenses, threatening, assault, failure to appear in court, and illegal operation of a motor vehicle. In June 2016, Yllescas was deported to Peru. He subsequently reentered the U.S., was convicted in federal court of unlawful reentry and, in December 2019, was sentenced to 10 months of imprisonment. In May 2020, Yllescas was again deported to Peru.
It is further alleged that Yllescas again illegally reentered the U.S. On March 20, 2026, he was arrested by the West Springfield, Massachusetts Police Department for motor vehicle-related charges and on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in court in 2015 for a violation of probation. After Yllescas was released on bond on those state charges, he was arrested by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations on March 23, 2026, in West Springfield.
Yllescas appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford and was ordered detained.
If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Yllescas faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
New Jersey Man Who Engaged in Sexual Activity with Minor, Gave Her Cocaine, Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MIGUEL FRANCISCO GUZMAN, 31, of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 168 months of imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release for child exploitation and drug distribution offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 18, 2025, Guzman began messaging on Snapchat with a girl under the age of 13 (“minor victim”) in Connecticut. Guzman solicited sexually explicit images from the minor victim and sent sexually explicit images of himself to the minor victim. Later that night, Guzman travelled to Connecticut and engaged in sexual conduct with the minor victim. He also coerced the minor victim into ingesting cocaine.
A court-authorized search of Guzman’s Snapchat account revealed that, between March and May 2025, Guzman attempted to solicit sexually explicit images and arrange sexual encounters with other minors.
Guzman has been detained since his arrest on August 12, 2025. On November 6, 2025, he pleaded guilty to one count of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and one count of distribution of a controlled substance to a person under age 21.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of local police in Connecticut and the Woodbridge Township (N.J.) Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Boyles, with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.
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.
Milford Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Enticing Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSHUA BAILEY, 46, of Milford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 144 months of imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release for enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 12, 2024, Elizabeth Jordan, after sustained pressure from Bailey, engaged in sexual activity with a minor and livestreamed the activity to Bailey using Facebook messenger. A subsequent search of Bailey’s phone revealed a series of screenshots of Jordan and the minor engaged in sexual activity.
Bailey and Jordan have been detained since August 2024 when they were arrested for related state offenses. On November 3, 2025, they each pleaded guilty in federal court to enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.
Judge Nagala ordered Bailey to pay $5,000 pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, and $10,000 pursuant to Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.
Jordan, 43, of West Haven, is awaiting sentencing.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the West Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Former State Senator Convicted of Scheming to Obtain Public Election FundsRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal jury in New Haven has found former Connecticut State Senator DENNIS A. BRADLEY, JR., 43, of Bridgeport, guilty of defrauding Connecticut’s program for publicly funding political campaigns during his 2018 run for State Senate.
According to the evidence presented during the trial, in his 2018 campaign for State Senate representing the 23rd District, Bradley and others conspired to defraud the Connecticut State Election Enforcement Commission (“SEEC”), the Citizens’ Election Fund, and the State of Connecticut by making material misrepresentations concerning Bradley’s compliance with state election law and the requirements and restrictions of the Citizens’ Election Program (“CEP”), a voluntary public election-financing program under which candidates can apply to SEEC for grants to fund their primary and general election campaigns. Bradley and his co-conspirators violated CEP rules, then engaged in a scheme to trick SEEC into awarding his campaign undeserved CEP grants by making misrepresentations and omissions to disguise the nature of a March 15, 2018, campaign launch event at Dolphin’s Cove restaurant in Bridgeport.
Although CEP rules imposed a $2,000 limit on Bradley’s expenditure of personal funds, Bradley used more than $7,000 in personal funds to pay for the Dolphin’s Cove campaign event, including an open bar, food, printed invitations, a band, a DJ, and a videographer. In an attempt to hide the Dolphin’s Cove campaign event from SEEC, Bradley and his co-conspirators claimed it was a “Thank You Party” for Bradley’s law firm. At least eight donors gave to Bradley’s campaign at the Dolphin’s Cove event, but Bradley and his co-conspirators altered and falsified the contribution cards so that none were dated March 15, 2018.
CEP rules required complete and truthful disclosures of Bradley’s campaign contributions and expenditures. In April, May, and June 2018, Bradley’s campaign filed disclosure statements with SEEC that fraudulently omitted that Bradley had held the Dolphin’s Cove campaign event, omitted that Bradley had incurred or paid more than $7,000 in expenses for that event, omitted that Bradley’s campaign had accepted contributions at the event, and misrepresented the dates of those contributions.
On May 24, 2018, Bradley applied for a CEP grant to fund his Democratic primary campaign. On July 10, 2018, relying on the false and misleading information contained in Bradley’s filings, SEEC issued the campaign $84,140 in public funds. On August 14, 2018, Bradley won the Democratic primary with approximately 55 percent of the vote.
After issuing a CEP primary grant to Bradley, SEEC began investigating a citizen complaint regarding Bradley’s campaign, including the Dolphin’s Cove campaign event. On August 21, 2018, Bradley emailed a letter to SEEC in which he denied all the allegations in the citizen complaint as “frivolous and manipulative” and falsely stated, “This was in no shape or form a political event. … In fact, we did not collect any donations at this event and have no donations dated 03/15/2018.”
On October 12, 2018, after Bradley attempted to obtain an additional $95,710 CEP grant to fund his general election campaign, his campaign treasurer, Jessica Martinez, repeated similar false statements under oath to SEEC. Bradley then once again repeated those lies at a SEEC meeting considering whether to award his campaign the general election grant. SEEC eventually denied Bradley that grant. On November 6, 2018, Bradley won the general election.
The jury found Bradley guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud. Each offense carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Bradley is released on a $300,000 bond pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled.
Martinez pleaded guilty to a related charge and has been sentenced. A cooperating campaign volunteer also pleaded guilty to a charge stemming from her role in the offense and awaits sentencing.
This case has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan N. Francis and David E. Novick.
Extradited Kenyan National Sentenced for Role in Business Email Compromise SchemeRead the Press Release
JOHN MURIUKU WAMUIGAH, 36, a citizen of Kenya, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to approximately 23 months of imprisonment, time already served, for his participation in a business email compromise scheme that operated out of multiple countries, including the United States.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Wamuigah participated in a business email compromise scheme masterminded by his co-conspirator, Okechuckwu Valentine Osuji, a Nigerian national. Osuji and his co-conspirators targeted specific individuals and businesses by masquerading as trustworthy entities in electronic communications to obtain money. They used unwitting and witting “money mules,” including victims of romance scams, to receive fraud proceeds in their bank accounts and then either transferred those funds from the money mule accounts to accounts under the co-conspirators’ control or converted the stolen proceeds to cash for further transfer. Over the years-long operation of the scheme, numerous victims were tricked into transferring funds into bank accounts the victims believed were under the control of legitimate recipients as part of normal business operations. In reality, the bank accounts were controlled by Osuji and his co-conspirators. The victims included a Connecticut-based financial company, a Colorado-based lending company, an Alaska-based nonprofit performing arts organization, a New York-based food and beverage company, and many others.
As a result of the scheme, losses and intended losses totaled more than $12 million.
Wamuigah’s role in the scheme involved his altering or forging invoices, contracts, and wire transfer instructions at Osuji’s direction. Osuji used the forged documents to trick victims into sending money to bank accounts he and others controlled.
Wamuigah was arrested in Malaysia in 2022 at the request of the United States and extradited to the United States in 2025. On October 17, 2025, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Wamuigah will be transferred to ICE custody and removed to Kenya.
On May 1, 2024, a jury in New Haven found Osuji guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. On December 4, 2024, he was sentenced to 96 months of imprisonment. On October 15, 2024, co-conspirator Tolulope Bodunde, a citizen of Nigeria was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment.
This matter was investigated by the FBI New Haven Field Office and the Stamford Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Royal Malaysia Police, and Malaysian Attorney General’s Chambers provided valuable assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Wamuigah from Malaysia.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel and the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.
Dominican National Charged in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Extradited to U.S.Read the Press Release
ANGEL DELAROSA, 40, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, has been extradited to the United States to face narcotics and firearms trafficking charges.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the FBI and the Homeland Security Task Force New Haven (HSTF New Haven) have been investigating a narcotics and firearms trafficking organization led by Delarosa while he resided in the Dominican Republic. Delarosa, a former resident of Waterbury, coordinated the distribution of narcotics and firearms in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey through multiple redistributors in those locations. During the investigation, investigators made more than 30 controlled purchases from redistributors totaling more than one kilogram of fentanyl, more than 200 grams of methamphetamine, and 17 firearms. Laboratory analysis of the purchased fentanyl revealed that some of it was mixed with bromazolam, which is a relatively new synthetic benzodiazepine that was unscheduled at the time it was sold, and which is increasingly found as a component in mixtures of drugs resulting in overdoses.
It is alleged that the Delarosa made statements to sources suggesting that he had the ability to direct violence against individuals in the U.S.
On July 8, 2025, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment under seal charging Delarosa with one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of methamphetamine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and one count of engaging in a firearms trafficking conspiracy, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.
On December 9, 2025, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned a 15-count indictment charging six of Delarosa’s alleged co-conspirators with related offenses.
On January 30, 2026, Delarosa was arrested in the Dominican Republic at the request of the United States. He appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven, pleaded not guilty to the charges in the indictment, and was ordered detained pending trial.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan 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 prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF New Haven comprises agents and officers from the FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor, and Connecticut State Police, with prosecutions led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.
This investigation was assisted by FBI New York, FBI Newark, FBI Tampa, FBI Orlando Resident Agency, FBI Legal Attaché (LEGAT) Office in Santo Domingo, and the New Haven, East Haven, North Haven, Milford, and Waterbury Police Departments.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Dominican authorities provided significant assistance in securing Delarosa’s arrest and extradition.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan J. Guevremont.