District of Connecticut

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MIGUEL CEBALLO-CRUZ, 31, of Willimantic, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea to 33 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the sentencing occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2018, the DEA’s Hartford Task Force and Willimantic Police Department, while investigating a heroin/fentanyl overdose death that occurred in August 2017, received information that Xavier Diaz, also known as “Coco,” was operating a heroin distribution ring in Willimantic.  The investigation revealed that drug purchasers called a phone shared by Diaz and other members of the conspiracy to place an order for heroin.  Thereafter, a “runner” would meet the purchaser to complete the transaction.

Ceballo-Cruz was a runner for the Diaz organization, and he delivered the drugs involved in the August 2017 overdose death.  Several non-fatal overdoses have also been connected to drugs distributed by the Diaz organization.

Ceballo-Cruz, Diaz and other members of the organization were arrested on October 15, 2018.  On that date, a search of Diaz’s residence revealed more than 100 grams of heroin, a stolen firearm, and ammunition.  In addition, a search of a storage unit connected to the organization revealed more than $20,000 in cash.

On October 1, 2019, Ceballo-Cruz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.  He has been detained since February 2020 after he violated conditions of his release and his bond was revoked

Diaz pleaded guilty to the same charge and, on November 25, 2019, was sentenced to five years of imprisonment.

The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha M. Freismuth.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Hartford Police Chief Jason Thody today announced that ANTWANE WILLIAMS-BEY, also known as “Buck,” 30, has been charged with the drug-related murder of Valentin Santos Jr., 21, in Hartford on August 12, 2013.

On September 24, 2020, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Williams-Bey with causing the death of Valentin Santos Jr. through the use of a firearm.  The indictment alleges that Williams-Bey murdered Mr. Santos in relation to and in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and that he did so deliberately, maliciously and with premeditation.

Williams-Bey, formerly of East Windsor, has been detained in federal custody since February 2017 and is currently serving a federal sentence for a narcotics offense.  He appeared today via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish and entered a plea of not guilty.

If convicted of the charge, Williams-Bey faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life, or death if the government seeks the death penalty in the matter.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department.  The Task Force includes members of the FBI, Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LOUIS DeMAIO, 70, of Guilford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for tax evasion and obstruction offenses.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the sentencing occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, DeMaio was employed as an accountant in East Haven and, from approximately 2010 to 2018, also operated Almatt LLC, a temporary employment agency that provided day laborers to construction companies.  Although DeMaio listed an individual (“Individual A”) on paper as the owner of Almatt, Almatt was effectively owned and run by DeMaio.

As part of Almatt’s operating procedures, Almatt invoiced construction companies for the cost of labor provided and, from the payments received from the companies, paid the employees for services rendered.  Almatt and DeMaio then provided the employees with W-2 forms reflecting that Almatt had undertaken required federal tax withholdings.  However, Almatt and DeMaio failed to withhold taxes and subsequently failed to pay over those withholdings to the IRS.  Almatt also never filed yearly income tax returns or quarterly 941 forms reflecting federal withholding and payroll taxes owed.

In addition, DeMaio issued hundreds of thousands of dollars of checks from Almatt made out to himself and to family members who did not work at the business.  From 2010 through 2018, DeMaio and his family received more than $2.5 million from Almatt.  DeMaio failed to report any of these distributions on his federal personal income tax returns.

In 2015, the IRS initiated a civil examination of Almatt, and then expanded the examination to evaluate the completeness of DeMaio’s personal income tax returns.  When the IRS confronted DeMaio about his failure to report income paid to him by Almatt, DeMaio fabricated a story that a substantial portion of the payments he received from Almatt were loan repayments from Individual A.  DeMaio also provided an IRS revenue agent with a false notarized document that DeMaio had created to support his story.  When the civil investigation was referred to IRS Criminal Investigation, DeMaio confirmed the fake loan repayment story in an interview with IRS special agents.

The investigation revealed that DeMaio underreported his income by more than $2.5 million.  The tax loss as a result of DeMaio’s criminal conduct is $1,132,398.

Judge Arterton ordered DeMaio to pay full restitution, as well as interest and penalties.

On August 11, 2020, DeMaio pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion and one count of obstructing and impeding the due administration of Internal Revenue laws.

DeMaio, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on May 12, 2021.

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that RAYTHEON TECHONLOGIES CORPORATION (“RTC”) and its subsidiary, HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION (“HSC”), have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the government in which they will pay $515,6235 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act.

RTC, a Massachusetts-based corporation, and HSC, its wholly owned subsidiary, are military defense contractors that sell goods and services to the U.S. and to other defense contractors.

The Buy American Act of 1933 (the “BAA”) is domestic-preference legislation that attempts to protect U.S. businesses and labor by generally restricting the acquisition and use of end products or construction materials that are not categorized as “domestic.”   The government alleges that UTC and HSC sold various goods to the government pursuant to contracts containing domestic-preference requirements and, in the course of those sales, improperly certified that the goods were of domestic origin pursuant to the BAA when the goods were actually manufactured in Romania.  UTC and HSC also sold various goods to a third-party supplier for sale to the government and, in the course of those sales, improperly certified to the third-party supplier that the goods were of domestic origin pursuant to the BAA when the goods were actually manufactured in Romania.

The government contends that the certifications and invoices submitted to the government and to the third-party supplier were false claims for payment pursuant to the False Claims Act.  To resolve the government’s allegations, RTC and HSC have paid $515,625 for conduct occurring between 2006 and 2015.

This investigation was conducted by Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.  This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Larson.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHELLE LYNN GSCHLECHT, formerly known as RICHARD GSCHLECHT, 51, last residing in New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to one count of possession of child pornography.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding occurred via videoconference. 

According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 1996, Gschlecht was convicted in state court of sexual assault in the first degree related to the aggravated sexual abuse of a minor.  In July 2015, Gschlecht was convicted in state court of possession of child pornography.

In March 2019, Gschlecht began serving a 10-year term of state probation.  In July 2019, Gschlecht’s probation officer received information that Gschlecht was in possession of a cellphone that contained images depicting the sexual abuse of minors.  State probation officers arrested Gschlecht on July 31, 2019, after a review of her phone revealed images of child pornography.  Subsequent forensic analysis of the phone revealed approximately 174 images of child pornography, including images depicting the sexual abuse of prepubescent children and infants.

Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for April 8, 2021, at which time Gschlecht faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  The penalties in this matter are enhanced based on Gschlecht’s criminal history.

Gschlecht has been detained since her arrest.

This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the New Haven Police Department, with the assistance of the Connecticut’s Office of Adult Probation.  The case is being prosecuted by Nancy V. Gifford.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

We are frequently reminded these days of the difficult challenges faced by law enforcement officers.  Tomorrow, January 9, 2021, is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, a day dedicated to showing our support for law enforcement on the local, state, and federal levels.  Created in 2015, this day allows us to voice our appreciation to law enforcement officers for their service to us all.

The United States Attorney’s Office depends on our law enforcement colleagues to protect the American people from crime and violence, to ensure the security of our homeland, and to safeguard the most vulnerable among us.  The United States Attorney’s Office thanks the men and women of law enforcement for the dedication, sacrifice, and commitment to the rule of law they display every day.

We invite everyone to join us in celebrating National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day this Saturday, January 9th.  Support for law enforcement can be shown in many ways, including:

•           Wearing blue clothing
•           Sending a card of encouragement and thanks to a local and/or state police department or federal agency
•           Sharing a story about a positive experience with law enforcement on social media
•           Encouraging your children to write letters in support of law enforcement
•           Displaying a blue light in a window or a blue ribbon on the mailbox at home
•           Sharing this information with others.

Most importantly, if you see a police officer, thank the officer for his or her service to the community.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that DUCCI ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS, INC., of Farmington, will pay more than $3.2 million and implement internal reforms to resolve a criminal and civil investigation into alleged fraud committed by the company in connection with public construction contracts in Connecticut that were principally funded with U.S. Department of Transportation (“USDOT”) financial assistance.

The USDOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (“DBE”) program is intended to provide small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals a fair opportunity to compete for federally funded transportation contracts.  When a DBE participates in a contract funded with USDOT financial assistance, only the value of the work actually performed by the DBE counts toward a DBE goal.  A DBE must be performing a commercially useful function on the contract, which means that it is actually responsible for execution of the work of the contract and is carrying out its responsibilities by actually performing, managing and supervising the work involved.  A DBE performs a commercially useful function if it negotiates the price, quantity and quality of the materials to be used on the contract, pays for the materials and, when applicable, installs those materials.  A DBE does not perform a commercially useful function if its role is limited to that of an extra participant in a transaction, contract or project through which funds are passed in order to obtain the appearance of DBE participation.

In April 2007, the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation (“ConnDOT”) selected Ducci Electrical Contractors, Inc. (“Ducci”) to be the prime contractor for a construction contract valued at $79,234,692 to replace 11 miles of catenary, which is overhead line wire used to transmit electrical energy to trains.  The contract, which was funded with USDOT financial assistance, required Ducci to comply with DBE regulations and designated a DBE goal of 13 percent.  In its bid documents, Ducci proposed to subcontract to a particular DBE (“Company #1).

In March 2012, Ducci received a public construction subcontract valued at $6,699,999.60 relating to the Bus Rapid Transit system along a 9.4-mile corridor between New Britain and downtown Hartford.  The contract, also funded with USDOT financial assistance, designated a DBE goal of approximately 12 percent.  In its bid documents, Ducci proposed to subcontract $852,500 in work to Company #1.

The government contends that Ducci knew that Company #1 would not be performing a commercially useful function as a DBE on either contract.  Ducci terminated certain Ducci employees and immediately provided those employees to work for Company #1 on the 2007 contract, and controlled the employees that would work for Company #1 on the 2012 contract.  For both contracts, Ducci supervised Company #1 employees and provided Company #1 with the hours worked by those employees for billing and payroll purposes, provided Company #1 with Ducci-owned equipment, and negotiated for and ordered materials Company #1 purchased for the project.  Although Company #1 never performed a commercially useful function for either contract, Ducci submitted to ConnDOT and other entities periodic DBE update forms and certified payroll and payment verifications for work Ducci claimed Company #1 had performed that would qualify for DBE credit.

In a non-prosecution agreement with the government, Ducci admits that Company #1 was not performing certain commercially useful functions on the 2007 and 2012 contracts, and that it caused false statements to be submitted to the United States and ConnDOT, thereby depriving other DBE companies of that or other work.  Ducci represents in the non-prosecution agreement that it has undertaken various remediation measures to ensure its compliance with the DBE requirements on current and future federally funded construction projects.

As part of a civil settlement agreement with the government, Ducci has agreed to pay damages of $3,233,593.64, plus interest, to resolve civil False Claims Act allegations, and it has entered into a monitoring agreement with the Federal Transit Administration.

“The financial penalty and monitoring agreement imposed on Ducci, combined with remediation measures the company has pledged to undertake, should ensure that Ducci will lawfully comply with the requirements of all publicly-funded contracts going forward,” said U.S. Attorney Durham.  “Companies that lie to gain an unfair advantage over their competitors, thus preventing true disadvantaged businesses of opportunities to perform work on taxpayer-funded construction projects, will be held accountable.”

“Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) fraud diminishes the integrity of DBE programs by exploiting efforts to ensure a level playing field on which firms can compete fairly for federal contracts,” said Douglas Shoemaker, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG) Northeast Region.  “Our agents will continue to work with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to expose and shut down DBE fraud schemes that adversely affect public trust and DOT-funded transit programs in the State of Connecticut and throughout the United States.”

This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General.  This matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Gustafson, Sarah Gruber and Nancy Gifford.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that McCLENDON JONES, 40, of Bloomfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 70 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing narcotics.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 8, 2019, Jones sped away from investigators who were conducting a traffic stop in Hartford and his car sideswiped a city transit bus.  He eventually lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a fence on Mahl Avenue.  After Jones was apprehended, a search of the vehicle revealed approximately 47 grams of crack cocaine, 150 bags of packaged heroin, and a quantity of marijuana.  A subsequent search of Jones’ residence revealed $5,880 in cash and quantities of heroin, cocaine, crack, PCP, and marijuana.

Jones has been detained since his arrest.  On July 31, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”).

Jones’ criminal history includes felony convictions for narcotics distribution, firearm possession and assault offenses.

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

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MANUEL SANTIAGO, also known as “Pete” and “Green-eyed Pete,” 51, last residing in West Hartford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the sentencing occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2019, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force received information that Santiago was distributing half-kilogram quantities of cocaine.  Investigators knew that Santiago had a history as a large-scale narcotics supplier and that he was on federal supervised release following his 2013 convictions for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and money laundering.

On August 14, 2019, investigators arranged a controlled purchase of a half-kilogram of cocaine from Santiago.  Santiago was arrested at approximately 7:40 that evening after he arrived at a gas station parking lot in Hartford to complete the transaction.  A search of Santiago’s vehicle revealed a ziplock bag containing approximately 514 grams of cocaine.

A subsequent search of Santiago’s residence revealed approximately four kilograms of cocaine.

Santiago has been detained since his arrest.  On October 8, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.

New Haven – “We encourage people with information related to the activity yesterday at the U.S. Capitol to contact the FBI (https://tips.fbi.gov.)  If the District of Connecticut is the appropriate venue for the prosecution of individuals involved in that disgraceful and criminal activity, our office will aggressively pursue any such matter.”

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE RESTREPO, also known as “Crack Baby,” 39, of East Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl and crack cocaine.  Judge Meyer also ordered Restrepo to serve the first six months his supervised release in home confinement.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the sentencing occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force has been investigating drug trafficking and related criminal acts being committed by members and associates of the Los Solidos and Latin Kings street gangs.  Restrepo is a member of Los Solidos.  The investigation revealed that Restrepo and other gang members were distributing fentanyl and crack cocaine in Hartford and surrounding communities.  In March 2020, law enforcement learned that Restrepo was feuding with other members of Los Solidos and was selling narcotics in East Hartford.  Investigators subsequently made three controlled purchases of crack and one controlled purchase of fentanyl from Restrepo in East Hartford.

Restrepo was arrested on March 17, 2020.  At the time of his arrest, he possessed approximately 200 bags of fentanyl.

Restrepo has been detained since his arrest.  On August 12, 2020, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl and cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).

Restrepo’s criminal history includes drug and firearm convictions, including a 2007 federal conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

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

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that, on January 5, 2020, ANTONIO JOHNSON, 27, of Bridgeport, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill to 66 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing firearms.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the sentencing occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 2, 2017, DeWayne Joyner, also known as “Weezy,” and others stole a large quantity of heroin during an armed robbery of a narcotics stash house on Maplewood Avenue in Bridgeport.  Joyner discharged two rounds from a handgun while chasing a victim of the robbery.  The investigation revealed that Johnson had loaned a loaded handgun to Joyner to use during the robbery.

A subsequent court-authorized search of Johnson’s phone revealed multiple images of firearms, several of which Johnson had offered to sell or trade.

Johnson’s criminal history includes convictions for conspiring to commit robbery and witness tampering.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

One of the firearms identified in an image on Johnson’s phone was a stolen Glock pistol.  Law enforcement recovered the pistol after it was used in a shooting incident committed by juveniles within the Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport on January 15, 2019. 

Johnson was arrested on February 11, 2019.  A search of Johnson’s residence at the time of his arrest revealed two loaded Springfield XD .40 caliber handguns, one of which had an obliterated serial number, and a Polymer80, Inc., PF90C pistol frame with a Glock-brand slide with no serial number.  Analysis of one of the .40 caliber firearms connected it to a non-fatal drive-by shooting in Bridgeport on May 15, 2018.

On July 18, 2019, Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Johnson, who had been released on bond in this case, has been detained in state custody since March 9, 2020, after a state court-authorized search of his residence revealed another loaded pistol.  The state charges are pending.

Joyner was convicted in federal court of heroin distribution charges and, on September 21, 2020, was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment.

This matter was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Vizcarrondo.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.

New Haven – “This morning, an individual was shot and killed on Enfield Street in Hartford during an exchange of gunfire with members of an FBI-led joint task force who were on the scene to arrest another individual on a federal criminal complaint.  The Connecticut State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Inspection Division are jointly investigating this matter in coordination with the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRANDON SPENCE, also known as “Spun,” 33, of Hartford, was arrested today on a criminal complaint charging him with violating the conditions of his federal supervised release.

Following his arrest, Spence appeared via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish, who ordered Spence detained.

On February 5, 2019, Spence was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 24 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  Spence, who had been detained since his arrest in June 2018, was released from federal prison in February 2020.

As alleged in court documents, at approximately 9:30 a.m. on December 7, 2020, Hartford Police surveillance cameras captured Spence and another individual engaged in a dispute in a parking lot at 20 Enfield Street.  Spence pulled out a firearm, shot the individual in the leg, and then stole the victim’s vehicle.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the FBI Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSEPH ANTHONY CARBONE, 64, of Queens, New York, formerly of Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone

According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately May 2017 to August 2019, Carbone conspired with others to acquire and sell approximately 8,100 oxycodone pills in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.  Carbone and others acting at his discretion sold the pills at various locations in Connecticut, including at the Foxwoods Resort Casino. 

Carbone was arrested on August 5, 2019.  

Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for March 30, 2021, at which time Carbone faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Carbone is released on a $200,000 bond pending sentencing.   

This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Police Department, with the assistance of the Town of Groton and Stamford Police Departments, the New London State’s Attorney’s Office, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Paul Narducci, who has been cross designated as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in this matter.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DYLAN KOERNER, 29, of New Britain, formerly of West Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton to 70 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release for soliciting, receiving and distributing child pornography. 

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between July 2019 and October 2019, Koerner used a false identity and posed as a teenager on Kik, an internet mobile application, to solicit nude photographs from Kik users who were minor females as young as 12 years old.  He then traded those images with other Kik users to receive more images of child pornography.

On October 29, 2019, HSI agents executed a search warrant of Koerner’s residence and seized his cell phone, laptop and external hard drive.  Analysis of the seized devices revealed approximately 121 unique images, nine unique videos depicting child pornography, and numerous images and video depicting child erotica.

After earning his teaching certification in 2018, Koerner worked as an elementary school music teacher in Hartford, and as a substitute teacher at various elementary, middle and high schools in Connecticut.

On September 21, 2020, Koerner pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.

Koerner, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on May 4, 2021

This investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging XAVIER CRUZ, 26, of Bristol with firearm offenses.

The indictment was returned on December 21.  Cruz appeared yesterday via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson, entered a plea of not guilty to the charges, and is released on a $100,000 bond.

It is alleged that, on September 5, 2020, law enforcement found a backpack containing a loaded Smith and Wesson semiautomatic handgun in a parking lot in a residential area of Bristol.  The handgun’s serial number had been removed.  Investigators subsequently determined that Cruz had possessed the firearm before discarding it. 

Prior to September 2020, Cruz sustained felony convictions in state court for controlled substance offenses.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

The indictment charges Cruz with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Bristol Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara Levens and Margaret Donovan.

This prosecution has been brought through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that on December 22, 2020, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned a five-count indictment charging JOSEPHER Y. CARTAGENA, 24, of the Bronx, New York, with offenses stemming from his alleged role in a car theft ring operating in Connecticut and New York.

Cartagena has been detained since his arrest on December 23.  He appeared yesterday via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A.L. Merriam and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, Connecticut State Police and police departments in Connecticut and New York have been investigating a car theft ring that, for at least the past six months, has been conducting coordinated burglaries of car dealerships in Connecticut and elsewhere, often hitting multiple locations in one night.  The group’s members drive from New York to Connecticut, force entry into car dealerships, steal vehicle key fobs, and use them to identify and steal vehicles.  Group members also have burglarized mobile phone stores.  Cartagena is a member of this group, which is believed to be responsible for the theft of more than 40 vehicles in Connecticut, New York and elsewhere.  The value of the stolen property is estimated to be in the millions of dollars.

The indictment specifically alleges that, on July 28, 2020, Cartagena stole a 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon from a residence in Danbury and transported the vehicle to New York.  On July 29, Cartagena and others broke into an auto dealership in Milford and stole multiple key fobs and a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which they drove to New York.  On July 31, group members returned to the Milford dealership and used one of the stolen key fobs to steal a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland.

The indictment charges Cartagena with one count of conspiracy to possess and transport stolen vehicles, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years; two counts of transportation of a stolen vehicle, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count; and two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count.

It is alleged that Cartagena has fled from law enforcement in high-speed car chases on multiple occasions.  When law enforcement first attempted to arrest Cartagena on a federal arrest warrant, Cartagena dropped a firearm and was able to escape by ramming multiple FBI vehicles with his vehicle, which was stolen.  Investigators apprehended Cartagena late at night on December 23 after an all-day search.

A court-authorized search of Cartagena’s residence revealed hundreds of thousands of dollars of suspected stolen merchandise and approximately $89,000 in cash.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police, Danbury Police Department, Trumbull Police Department, Guilford Police Department, and Putnam County (N.Y.) Sheriff’s Department.  The investigation is being assisted by several additional police departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that on December 22, 2020, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging CHRISTOPHER MULKERN, also known as “Chucky,” 21, and EDWIN CORDERO, 20, both of Stratford, with federal car theft offenses.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, Connecticut State Police and local police are investigating multiple car theft rings in Connecticut.  Mulkern, Cordero and others have stolen numerous motor vehicles, and used the stolen vehicles to travel throughout Connecticut and to neighboring states to steal other vehicles and the valuables inside, including credit cards, cellular telephones, and firearms.  Mulkern and Cordero typically frequented upper middleclass neighborhoods to go “car-checking” or “jigging,” which involves an attempt to open the door of a motor vehicle and, if successful, steal the vehicle and/or valuables inside.

It is alleged that, on December 1, 2020, Mulkern and Cordero stole a Porsche Panamera from a residence in Westport, Connecticut.  Shortly after midnight on December 2, law enforcement in Westerly, Rhode Island, identified the stolen Porsche and attempted to stop the car.  The Porsche drove recklessly, at speeds of at least 86 mph, between Rhode Island and Connecticut, and evaded police who, for safety reasons, were forced to terminate pursuit.

It is further alleged that, at approximately 4 a.m. on December 2, Mulkern, Cordero and others used the stolen Porsche to steal a Dodge Challenger from a residence in Milford, Connecticut.  In the evening of December 2, Stratford Police spotted and attempted to stop the Porsche.  During the pursuit, the Porsche rammed a car stopped at a red light at an intersection, drove up on the sidewalk and through the red light, and then struck a second vehicle, causing the second vehicle to flip onto its roof.  The damaged Porsche then traveled on I-95 into Bridgeport, where Mulkern and Cordero were apprehended as they attempted to enter another stolen Audi A4 that was parked on Gregory Street.

It is alleged that a search of the stolen Audi revealed approximately 13 key fobs for other vehicles, and a search of the Porsche revealed five cellphones.  In addition, Mulkern possessed two stolen credit cards, and Cordero possessed a key fob for the stolen Dodge, which was subsequently located parked on Main Street in Bridgeport.

Mulkern has been detained since December 2.  Cordero, who was released after his state arrest, was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on December 15 and is currently released on a $30,000 bond.  Mulkern and Cordero are scheduled for arraignment on January 6 at 1 p.m. via videoconference.

The indictment charges Mulkern and Cordero with one count of transportation of a stolen vehicle and one count of possession of a stolen vehicle.  Both charges carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police and the Stratford, Milford, Stonington, Westport, Bridgeport, New Haven, Meriden, and Westerly (R.I.) Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah P. Karwan.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LORENZO MORALES-ARAMBULA, also known as “Viejo,” 59, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill to 156 months of imprisonment for trafficking cocaine and heroin. 

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding occurred via videoconference.

This matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force, FBI and New Haven Police Department that included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of heroin and cocaine, and seizures of bulk heroin and cocaine.  The investigation revealed that Duane Filyaw, Salvatore Orsini and others operated a heroin and cocaine trafficking ring in which they conspired to purchase narcotics from suppliers and then distribute the drugs to other suppliers and street-level dealers in and around New Haven.

Court-authorized wiretaps revealed that Filyaw and Orsini had established a heroin and cocaine supply connection with Morales-Arambula.  In multiple intercepted calls between Filyaw and Morales-Arambula, Morales-Arambula agreed to supply Filyaw with kilogram quantities of cocaine and heroin that Morales-Arambula would receive from sources in Mexico and northern California.  However, in January 2018, before the narcotics transactions with Filyaw could be completed, Morales-Arambula was detained in Michigan and charged in federal court with unlawful reentry of a removed alien.

During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than 500 grams of heroin, more than 300 grams of fentanyl, more than one kilogram of cocaine, three firearms, over $90,000 in cash, vehicles, jewelry and precious metals.

On April 19, 2018, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Morales-Arambula, Filyaw, Orsini and 16 other individuals with narcotics trafficking offenses.

Morales-Arambula has been detained since January 14, 2018.  On January 28, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and five kilograms or more of cocaine.

Morales-Arambula’s criminal history includes multiple federal convictions, including convictions for firearms, drug and immigration offenses, and for causing a riot a federal correctional facility in Texas in 2008.  He has been deported to Mexico twice, and subsequently reentered the U.S. without authorization.  On August 21, 2018, Morales-Arambula was sentenced in the Eastern District of Michigan to 46 months of imprisonment for unlawful reentry, and a consecutive 12 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release that followed a prior federal conviction.

Filyaw, of New Haven, and Orsini, of West Haven, have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.  The Connecticut Department of Correction, Milford Police Department and East Haven Police Department have assisted the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys H. Gordon Hall and Patrick F. Caruso through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CARLOS DELGADO, also known as “Los,” 51, of Mansfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall to 300 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for drug trafficking and firearm possession offenses.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the sentencing occurred via videoconference.

According to the evidence presented during a trial in this matter, in 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and Willimantic Police Department initiated a joint federal, state and local law enforcement investigation targeting an eastern Connecticut drug trafficking organization headed by Delgado.  The investigation revealed that Delgado was coordinating the shipment of kilogram quantities of cocaine through the U.S. Mail from Puerto Rico to various locations in eastern Connecticut.  Delgado and his associates distributed the drugs and then mailed cash proceeds from narcotics sales back to individuals in Puerto Rico.  During the investigation, investigators seized a package containing nearly one kilogram of cocaine that had been mailed from Puerto Rico to Delgado, and two packages containing $26,860 and $9,900 in cash, respectively, that Delgado had mailed to addresses in Puerto Rico.  Trial evidence established that Delgado had received more than 10 packages, each containing at least one kilogram of cocaine, from Puerto Rico.

Further investigation revealed that Delgado also received cocaine from a source in the Dominican Republic, and that he received heroin from a source in Mexico.

Delgado was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on July 9, 2018.  On that date, a search of Delgado residence, vehicle and a third location revealed more than one kilogram of heroin, narcotics packaging materials, five firearms, ammunition, and approximately $74,000 in cash.

Delgado has been detained since his arrest.

On January 21, 2020, a jury found Delgado guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine; and one count of possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin.  The jury found Delgado not guilty of one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  On January 22, 2020, the jury found Delgado guilty of one count of possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.

Delgado’s criminal history includes state convictions for narcotics, assault, burglary, larceny and other offenses, and a federal conviction in 2004 for trafficking in stolen credit card account numbers.  He was sentenced to 37 months of imprisonment for the federal offense, and a subsequent 18 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his federal supervised release.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force, Willimantic Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Connecticut State Police.  The DEA Task Force includes participants from the Bristol, East Hartford, Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Willimantic and Windsor Locks Police Departments, and the Food and Drug Administration.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and Patrick F. Caruso through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that RAPHEAL DANCER, 38, of Wallingford, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday to possessing unregistered firearms, in violation of the National Firearms Act.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden occurred via videoconference.

The National Firearms Act (NFA) regulates certain particularly dangerous or concealable firearms and requires, among other things, that such firearms be registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR).

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 24, 2020, federal law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Dancer’s Wallingford residence and found several firearms regulated under the NFA, and which were not registered to Dancer in the NFTR.  The firearms included a short-barrel rifle, nine silencers and three “Glock conversion devices.”  The conversion devices are designed to convert a semiautomatic pistol into a fully automatic weapon, and qualify as “machineguns” as the NFA defines the term.

Dancer pleaded guilty to one count of possessing unregistered NFA firearms, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

Dancer is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.

This matter has been investigated by the the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Conor M. Reardon and Marc H. Silverman.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL GRAMINS, 38, of North Carolina, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny to two years of probation, the first six months of which Gramins must spend in home confinement, for defrauding mortgage-backed securities customers of Nomura Securities International, where he was employed.  Judge Chatigny also ordered Gramins to perform 300 hours of community service.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding occurred via videoconference.

According to the evidence presented during his trial, Gramins was an Executive Director on the Residential Mortgage Backed Securities (“RMBS”) Desk at Nomura Securities International (“Nomura”) in New York where he principally oversaw Nomura’s trading of bonds composed of sub-prime and option ARM loans.  Between 2009 and 2013, Gramins and others defrauded customers of Nomura by fraudulently inflating the purchase price at which Nomura could buy a RMBS bond to induce their victim-customers to pay a higher price for the bond, and by fraudulently deflating the price at which Nomura could sell a RMBS bond to induce their victim-customers to sell bonds at cheaper prices, causing Nomura to profit illegally.  Gramins trained subordinates to lie to customers, provided them with the language to use in deceiving customers, and encouraged them to engage in the practice.

The victims of this scheme included hedge funds, insurance companies, and asset managers from Connecticut and elsewhere.

On June 15, 2017, a jury found Gramins guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud, and not guilty of one count of securities fraud and five counts of wire fraud.  The jury could not reach a verdict as to one count of securities fraud and one count of wire fraud.

In a settlement announced by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in July 2019, Nomura agreed to pay approximately $25 million in restitution to customers for its failure to adequately supervise traders in mortgage-backed securities, and an additional $1.5 million in penalties.

This matter has been investigated by the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Office of Inspector General.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Novick and Heather Cherry.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and David Magdycz, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Boston, announced that JOHN T. PERUGINI, 78, of Waterbury, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today to one count of possession of child pornography.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, HSI received information that Perugini had been paying for access to a commercial website that contained child sex abuse images and videos.  On October 29, 2019, agents seized Perugini’s computer equipment, including multiple external storage devices, from his residence.  Analysis of one of Perugini’s external storage devices revealed more than 500,000 images and videos of child sex abuse.

Perugini was arrested in a federal criminal complaint on November 8, 2019.

Possession of child pornography carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  Perugini is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford on March 17, 2021.

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

This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria del Pilar Gonzalez and Brendan Keefe.

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.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that FRANK CARR, also known as “FL,” 53, of Hamden, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny to 126 months of imprisonment, followed by eight years of supervised release, for distributing narcotics, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release that followed a prior federal narcotics conviction.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the sentencing occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation headed by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force and New Haven Police Department that targeted drug trafficking and related acts of violence by members, former members and associates of the “Island Brothers” street gang in New Haven.  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, also revealed that the drug trafficking organization had established a base of operation in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.  The investigation subsequently identified a second drug trafficking network that involved the large-scale distribution of heroin.

Investigators developed information that, in March 2019, while Carr was on federal supervised release, he provided a kilogram of cocaine to the leader of one of the drug trafficking networks.  In May and June 2019, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of cocaine and crack from Carr, including a purchase of approximately 78 grams of crack from Carr in exchange for $3,000 on May 23, 2019.

On July 9, 2019, a grand jury in New Haven returned a 15-count indictment charging Carr and 24 other individuals with federal narcotics offenses related to the distribution of crack cocaine, cocaine and heroin.  Two defendants were added in a superseding indictment that was returned on November 25, 2019.  In a subsequent superseding indictment, Carr was charged with attempted obstruction of justice for allegedly asking a potential witness in this case to provide false exculpatory information about Carr.

Carr has been detained since his arrest on July 10, 2019.  On October 28, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”).

This is Carr’s third federal conviction in the District of Connecticut.  In December 1996, he was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  In January 2013, he was sentenced to 63 months of imprisonment for distributing heroin.  Carr’s criminal history also includes state convictions for manslaughter with a firearm, weapons possession and drug offenses.

Judge Chatigny sentenced Carr to 120 months of imprisonment for distributing crack, and 24 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.  Six months of the 24-month supervised release sentence were imposed consecutively with the 120-month sentence in the underlying case.

This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force, New Haven Police Department, Milford Police Department, Hamden Police Department, East Haven Police Department, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan, Peter D. Markle, Elena L. Coronado and Tara E. Levens through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that ROBERT ECCLESTON, 56, of Canton, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with distribution of child pornography.

As alleged in court documents, covert FBI personnel in two different field offices outside of Connecticut have been monitoring various public groups on the social medial application Kik.  In August and September 2020, Eccleston, using the Kik username “hartfordctguy,” distributed numerous pornographic images and videos of children in these Kik groups, including images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of toddlers and prepubescent children.

Eccleston is employed as a Victim Services Advocate for the Hartford Superior Court in Hartford.

If convicted of the charge of distribution of child pornography, Eccleston faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

U.S. Attorney Durham 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.

Following his arrest, Eccleston appeared via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson.  He is detained pending a detention hearing that is scheduled for December 14 at 3 p.m.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Avon Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarala V. Nagala.

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.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DOMENICO SANDALO, 46, of Norwalk, pleaded guilty today to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Sandalo was previously convicted of federal narcotics trafficking offenses in 2011 and 2013.  In June 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, Stamford Police Department and Norwalk Police Department received information that Sandalo was in possession of a large quantity of cocaine, oxycodone pills and marijuana.  On June 7, 2019, Sandalo was arrested after investigators conducted a court-authorized search of Sandalo’s residence and seized approximately 600 grams of cocaine, six kilograms of marijuana, 77 oxycodone pills, 46 fentanyl pills, 771 THC vape cartridges, and $53,943 in cash.

Sandalo is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on March 10, 2021, at which time he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.  The penalties in this matter are enhanced based on Sandalo’s criminal history.

Sandalo is released on a $1.5 million bond pending sentencing.

The DEA’s Bridgeport HIDTA Task Force, includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford and Danbury Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria del Pilar Gonzalez.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RONEY SOSA, 24, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 87 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release for his role in a heroin and fentanyl trafficking ring.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation by the DEA New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department revealed that Nestor Sosa-Ortiz operated a Waterbury-based drug trafficking organization that received large quantities of heroin and fentanyl from suppliers in Connecticut and New York and distributed the narcotics throughout New Haven County.  The organization used an apartment located at 330 Bishop Street in Waterbury to store kilogram-quantities of heroin and fentanyl, and to process and package the drugs for street sale.

On May 18, 2019, Nestor Sosa-Ortiz was arrested in New York City on a separate federal heroin and fentanyl trafficking charge.  On that date, law enforcement intercepted a planned drug transaction and seized approximately two kilograms of fentanyl and two kilograms of heroin.  Roney Sosa drove a separate vehicle, which contained empty concealed apartment that could be used to transport narcotics, to the location of the planned drug transaction, but was not arrested at that time.

While he was detained pending trial in the New York case, Nestor Sosa-Ortiz continued to control his drug network while incarcerated by using smuggled cell phones to communicate with Roney Sosa and other co-conspirators.  Sosa regularly processed and packaged narcotics at the Bishop apartment on behalf of the organization.

Roney Sosa and several co-defendants were arrested on October 29, 2019.  On that date, investigators executed five search warrants and seized approximately six kilograms of suspected heroin/fentanyl, approximately 100,000 bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl packaged for street distribution, approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills disguised as Percocet pills, one firearm and approximately $50,000 in cash.

On June 9, 2020, Sosa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl.  He is currently detained.

Sosa-Ortiz pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department.  The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis and Lauren Clark through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, announced that GUY SMITH, 62, of Shelton, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today to one count of tax evasion.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Smith owns and operates Centerline Interiors LLC, a business that specializes in commercial interior construction.  Smith is also a professional poker player and has participated in poker tournaments at casinos in Connecticut and other locations around the U.S. and The Bahamas.  Smith withdrew funds from both his business and personal bank accounts for his gambling business.

For the 2012 through 2016 tax years, Smith furnished his tax preparer with a summary of Centerline’s income and expenses, which the tax preparer used to prepare Smith’s federal income tax returns.  Smith did not provide his tax preparer with any bank statements.  During these five years, Smith intentionally failed to report to his tax preparer, and to the IRS, approximately $482,000 in income he received from Centerline Interiors.  In addition, even though the IRS notified Smith on multiple occasions that he was required to report all of his gambling income on his federal tax returns, Smith concealed his gambling income from his tax preparer and paid no income taxes on more than $1 million in gambling winnings. 

For the 2012 through 2016 tax years, Smith failed to pay a total of $821,415 in federal income taxes.

Smith is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea on March 4, 2021, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.  Smith also has agreed to cooperate with the IRS to pay all outstanding taxes, interest and penalties.

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

This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry.

 John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging SAMUEL KLEIN, 64, of Greenwich with offenses stemming from an alleged investment fraud scheme.

The indictment was returned on December 7, 2020.  Klein appeared yesterday via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons and was released on a $500,000 bond.

As alleged in the indictment, Klein made false representations to a victim-investor, including that the victim-investor’s funds would be invested in distressed debt, when Klein knew that all of the investment funds would not be used for the stated purposes.  Based on these false representations, the victim-investor wrote a check in the amount of $200,000 to Visual Group LLC, an entity Klein controlled, for the purpose of making a purported investment in distressed debt.  Klein caused the check to be transported from New York to Connecticut and deposited into a bank account in the name of Visual Group LLC.  Klein subsequently solicited and received an additional $50,010 from the victim-investor by falsely representing that Klein needed to purchase title insurance in approximately that amount.

Klein knew that all of the funds he solicited from the victim-investor would not be used for his stated purposes, and that some of the funds would be utilized by Klein for personal and other expenditures.

The indictment charges Klein with one count of interstate transportation of property taken by fraud and one count of money laundering.  Both offenses carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Laraia.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that SHELDON STEPHENSON, 28, of North Lauderdale, Florida, pleaded guilty yesterday to a conspiracy charge stemming from his participation in an immigration marriage fraud scheme.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Jodian Stephenson operated Stephenson Immigration and Legal Services, LLC, in Bridgeport.  Between 2011 and 2017, Jodian Stephenson conspired with others, including Sheldon Stephenson, to arrange 28 sham marriages between U.S. citizens and non-citizens residing in the U.S. for the purpose of the non-citizens’ applying for and obtaining “lawful permanent residence” (“LPR”) status, also known as a “green card.”

As part of the scheme, Jodian Stephenson prepared several immigration documents needed as part of the non-citizen’s LPR application.  She had the applicant and spouse sign the documents and, in many cases, mailed the documents to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service immigration authorities for the applicant.  In some cases, Jodian Stephenson or her assistants prepared other false documents for the couple, such as a false lease that portrayed the couple as living together.

Jodian Stephenson typically charged between $17,000 and $20,000 to complete this process for a non-citizen, and the citizen spouse received between $2,000 and $4,000 for his or her participation.

In pleading guilty, Sheldon Stephenson admitted that he assisted Jodian Stephenson in arranging four such sham marriages.  Sheldon Stephenson helped to introduce the couples, helped them obtain marriage licenses, prepared their immigration paperwork, and coached them for their immigration service interviews.

Sheldon Stephenson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit immigration marriage fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.  He is released on a $50,000 bond while awaiting sentencing, which is not scheduled.

On August 19, 2019, Jodian Stephenson pleaded guilty to the same offense.  She also awaits sentencing.

Six other individuals, including U.S. citizens who entered into one or more fraudulent marriages with non-citizens, have been convicted for participating in this scheme.

This investigation is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s Office of Fraud Detection and National Security.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry K. Kopel.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that NICHOLAS SEPESKO, 70, of Hamden, was arrested yesterday on a federal criminal complaint charging him with mailing threatening letters, some of which contained white powder, to an individual.

Following his arrest, Sepesko appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven and was released on a $20,000 bond.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, between October 2018 and November 2020, Sepesko mailed multiple letters to an individual threatening to harm the victim and the victim’s spouse.  None of the letters contained a return address.  The last three letters Sepesko mailed to the victim contained not only threats, but also a white powdery substance.  In the most recent letter, Sepesko wrote that the white powder could be rat poison or Ricin.

The three letters containing the unknown powdery substance lead to physical responses by federal, state and local law enforcement and environmental protection agencies.  It is alleged that laboratory analysis of the substance contained in a letter mailed by Sepesko in early October contained calcium carbonate.  Test results of the substance contained in the other two letters are pending.

The complaint charges Sepesko with mailing threatening communications, and conveying false information and hoax.  Each offense carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a $250,000 fine, restitution and, with respect to a hoax, repayment of reimbursement for any municipal response.

U.S. Attorney Durham noted that this alleged crime and other like it will be vigorously prosecuted, as hoax letters containing white powder cause emotional distress for recipients and consume valuable time and resources of our first responders.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Wallingford Police Department, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police, Hamden Police Department and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed.

U.S. Attorney John H. Durham, Hartford State’s Attorney Sharmese L. Walcott, Acting Special Agent in Charge David Magdycz of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and East Hartford Police Chief Scott M. Sansom today announced that SAEED MUSTAPHA MOUSSA, 30, of East Hartford, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with child exploitation offenses related to his alleged sexual assault of a minor.

Moussa appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson via videoconference.  He has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on October 27, 2020.

As alleged in court documents, in September 2020, East Hartford Police received a report that Moussa’s cell phone contained videos of Moussa engaging in sexual activity with a young child.  East Hartford Police subsequently conducted a court-authorized search of Moussa’s residence and seized Moussa’s cell phone, computer equipment and computer storage media.  Investigators also executed a search warrant on Google for the contents of Moussa’s Google Photos account.

It is alleged that Moussa’s Google Photos account contained videos of Moussa sexually assaulting a girl who was approximately eight years old at the time the videos were taken.

The complaint charges Moussa with one count of production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

U.S. Attorney Durham 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.

U.S. Attorney Durham thanked the Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the East Hartford Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Michael T. Wiest, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Northeast Field Office, and Chief Louis J. Fusaro, Jr. of the Town of Groton Police Department, announced that RANDALL TILTON, 31, last residing in Groton, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to child pornography production offenses related to his sexual of abuse of seven young girls in three states over the course of several years. 

According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 1, 2019, Tilton was arrested on state sexual assault charges after he admitted in an interview with Town of Groton Police that he had sexually assaulted several minor victims, and that he had recorded some of the sexual assaults.  Subsequent examination of a laptop, tablet, cellphone and two flash drives seized from Tilton revealed that, beginning in approximately 2014, Tilton sexually assaulted seven girls who were between the ages of four months and eight years old.  Tilton photographed and video recorded many of these sexual assaults.  Some of the images depict a minor victim bound and restrained while Tilton sexually assaulted her.  Tilton distributed some of the images and videos of these sexual assaults on the dark web through the Tor network.

Tilton’s electronic devices also included thousands of images and videos of the sexual abuse of other minors, including sadomasochistic images of minors in bondage, sexual assaults on infants, and sexual acts on the corpse of a minor.

When he was arrested, Tilton was employed as a forward auxiliary mechanic in the U.S. Navy.  The investigation revealed that Tilton sexually assaulted children in Connecticut, New Hampshire and California.

Tilton pleaded guilty to seven counts of production of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years on each count.

At sentencing, which is scheduled for March 1, 2021, the government will argue for a sentence of 210 years of imprisonment.

Tilton has been detained since his arrest.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Town of Groton Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.

U.S. Attorney Durham thanked the New London State’s Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit alleging that the Town of Wolcott, Connecticut, has discriminated against persons with disabilities in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, alleges that Wolcott violated the Fair Housing Act by refusing to allow the operation of a group home for adults with disabilities because of the disabilities of the proposed home’s residents. The department’s complaint further alleges that the Town amended its zoning regulations to prohibit any community residence for adults with disabilities from operating in the Town, in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

“The Fair Housing Act protects the right of individuals with disabilities to live and pursue happiness in this free country without suffering the indignity and injustice of discrimination dressed up as ‘zoning laws’ enacted or enforced as a result of misguided stereotypes and warped fears,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “Disability discrimination is unconscionable, unlawful, and unnecessarily injures people. The Fair Housing Act prohibits municipalities from applying their zoning laws in a manner that discriminates because of disability. The Civil Rights Division is committed to eliminating illegal discriminatory barriers and ensuring that the Fair Housing Act protects the right of persons with disabilities to enjoy homes of their choosing.”

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to eliminating discrimination against people with disabilities,” said U.S. Attorney John H. Durham for the District of Connecticut. “This lawsuit is a step toward ensuring a future in which all people are granted equal opportunity and full integration in our society.”

“Persons with disabilities have a right to housing that meets their needs, including group homes,” said Anna María Farías, Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). “HUD will continue working with the Justice Department to take appropriate action when discriminatory policies and practices unlawfully deny housing opportunities to those who need them the most.”

This case arose when the Town of Wolcott denied a special use permit to a property owner and group home operator who sought to open a residence for 13 adults with mental health disabilities. At the time, the Town’s zoning ordinance permitted the operation of community residences of up to 15 adults with disabilities so long as certain conditions were satisfied. The owner and operator filed a complaint with HUD after their special use permit application was denied.

The lawsuit seeks a court order prohibiting Wolcott from applying its zoning regulations in a manner that discriminates against persons with disabilities. The lawsuit also seeks monetary damages to compensate victims, as well as payment of a civil penalty. A related case challenging Wolcott’s conduct was filed by the owner and operator of the proposed residence. That case, SELF Inc. et al. v. Town of Wolcott, is pending before the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on disability, race, color, religion, national origin, sex and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of housing discrimination can call the Justice Department at 1-800-896-7743, or submit a report online at civilrights.justice.gov. Individuals may also contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or through its website at https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp.

The complaint is an allegation of unlawful conduct. The allegations must still be proven in federal court.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Hartford Police Chief Jason Thody today announced that, on November 17, 2020, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 11-count indictment charging KYLE PITTS, also known as “Bark,” 37, of West Hartford; CURON JOHNSON, also known as “Buck,” 31, of East Hartford, and JABARI WALCOTT, also known as “Jabari Walcott-Greene,” 22, of Hartford, with narcotics distribution offenses related to the distribution of fentanyl in the Hartford area.

Pitts and Walcott appeared today via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish and pleaded not guilty to the charges.  Johnson’s arraignment has not been scheduled.

As alleged in court documents, in the summer of 2020, Hartford Police learned that Pitts and others were selling fentanyl, and that Pitts was using his West Hartford apartment to store fentanyl.  Between August and October 2020, Hartford Police and the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force made multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from Pitts, Johnson and Walcott.

Pitts and Johnson were arrested on federal criminal complaints on November 4, 2020.  It is alleged that Pitts possessed a distribution quantity of fentanyl at the time of his arrest.  Walcott was arrested on state charges on October 14, 2020.  At the time of his arrest, it is alleged that he possessed distribution quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine.  The three defendants have been detained since their arrests.

The indictment charges Pitt, Johnson and Walcott each with one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl.  Each defendant is also charged with one or more counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl.  Pitts is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and Walcott is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”).

Each charge in the indictment carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that HERIBERTO BATIZ, 55, formerly of New Britain and New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden to 10 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his federal supervised release.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the sentencing occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2004, Batiz was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking crack cocaine.  He was released from federal prison in July 2011.  While Batiz was on supervised release, he repeatedly sexually abused an 11-year-old girl.

Batiz was convicted in state court of two counts of illegal sexual contact with a minor and, in October 2016, was sentenced to consecutive sentences of seven years of incarceration, followed by five years of special parole.  He is currently in state custody.

Judge Bolden ordered the 10-month federal sentence to run consecutively with Batiz’s state sentence.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Slater.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an indictment charging MICHAEL WEINSTEIN, 27, of New Haven, with unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

Weinstein was arrested on a federal criminal complaint charging him with the offense on November 18, 2020, and the indictment was returned on December 1.  He is currently released on a $100,000 bond.

As alleged in court documents, in October 2020, law enforcement observed Facebook video posts of Weinstein firing a handgun at a Connecticut shooting range, and possessing ammunition.

The indictment alleges that, on October 14, 2020, Weinstein possessed .40 caliber ammunition manufactured by Speer.  Prior to that date, Weinstein was convicted in state court of criminal possession of a gun, conspiracy to commit robbery in the third degree, and robbery in the first degree.

It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

If convicted of the charge, Weinstein faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Conor M. Reardon.

This prosecution has been brought through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that ANTHONY FAUSTINI, 57, of Bridgeport, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today to making a false statement under oath in a bankruptcy matter.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding before U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 12, 2018, Faustini filed a personal Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut.  In the petition, Faustini noted that his unpaid debts were approximately $86,862.  However, Faustini failed to disclose to the court that he knew that he was the beneficiary of a $100,000 life insurance policy held against the life of his mother.  Nine days later, on March 21, 2018, Faustini’s mother passed away.

On April 18, 2018, Faustini testified under oath regarding his bankruptcy petition.  In response to questioning from the Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee, Faustini falsely indicated that he had listed all items of value in his petition, and he failed to mention his vested interest in the $100,000 life insurance policy.  In response to a specific question as to whether “anybody died and left you any money,” Faustini responded “No.”

On June 20, 2018, the bankruptcy court entered an order granting Faustini a discharge of his debts.  The next day, Faustini contacted the life insurance company to determine the status of the claim payment and to confirm that the company had his correct address.  On June 26, 2018, the insurance company issued a check for $100,246 to Faustini.

The Office of the U.S. Trustee for the District of Connecticut subsequently received information about the life insurance payment made to Faustini and conducted a “Rule 2004” deposition examination of Faustini on June 5, 2019.  During the examination, Faustini made several false statements, including that he had not known about the life insurance policy when he filed his bankruptcy petition, that did not find out about the policy until he received the check, and that he did not know how the insurance company knew to send the check to his address.

Judge Hall scheduled sentencing for February 25, 2021, at which time Faustini faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.  Faustini also has agreed to pay restitution of $64,955, which accounts for funds collected from Faustini after the fraud was identified.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JASON KELLER, 35, originally of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to one count of receipt of child pornography.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in September 2018, Keller, using the moniker “Eddie Buttered Toast,” contacted a 14-year-old female in Connecticut and claimed he was a 17-year-old boy from Chicago.  At the time, Keller was living in the Philippines.  Keller then sent the minor victim a series of grooming emails that eventually coaxed the minor victim into sending photos of herself engaged in sexually explicit conduct to Keller.  Some of the emails Keller sent to the minor victim included sexually explicit images of himself.

On December 19, 2018, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Keller.  Keller was located and arrested in the Philippines in June 2019.  He was removed from the Philippines and returned to the U.S. on December 12, 2019.  He has been detained since his arrest.

Receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  A sentencing date is not scheduled.

This matter has been investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Marshals Service, International Investigations Branch, with the assistance of the Philippine Bureau of Immigration, Fugitive Search Unit.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Clark.

U.S. Attorney Durham thanked the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for its assistance in this matter.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JEFFREY PEARLMAN, 53, of Edgewood, N.J., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton to three years of probation for engaging in a kickback scheme related to fentanyl spray prescriptions.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately September 2012 until November 2015, Pearlman was employed by Insys Therapeutics, an Arizona-based pharmaceutical company that manufactured and sold Subsys, a fentanyl-based sublingual spray that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration solely for the management of breakthrough pain in cancer patients.  The company first hired Pearlman as a sales representative and subsequently promoted him to the position of District Sales Manager.  As a District Sales Manager, Pearlman was responsible for managing the company’s sales representatives who called on licensed healthcare providers in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island.

An investigation revealed that Insys Therapeutics representatives, including Pearlman and the sales representatives he managed, were inducing medical practitioners around the country to prescribe Subsys over other similar medications by paying the medical practitioners to participate in hundreds of sham “Speaker Programs.”  The Speaker Programs, which were typically held at high-end restaurants, were ostensibly designed to gather licensed healthcare professionals who had the capacity to prescribe Subsys and educate them about the drug.  In truth, the events were usually just a gathering of friends and co-workers, most of whom did not have the ability to prescribe Subsys, and no educational component took place.  “Speakers” were paid a fee that ranged from $1,000 to several thousand dollars for attending these dinners.  At times, the sign-in sheets for the Speaker Programs were forged to make it appear that the programs had an appropriate audience of healthcare professionals.

In 2013, Pearlman attended a dinner at a New Haven restaurant where Heather Alfonso, who at the time was an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) at Comprehensive Pain and Headache Treatment Center (CPHTC) in Derby, was paid a speaker fee even though no other healthcare professionals were present, and no presentation of Subsys took place.

In a meeting that occurred with Alfonso in the spring of 2013, Pearlman told the provider that the more prescriptions of Subsys that Alfonso wrote, the more Speaker Programs Pearlman could provide.  In June 2013, when these prescriptions were not initially being written as planned, Pearlman emailed Natalie Levine, an Insys sales representative who was responsible for calling on Alfonso and reiterated that per the “verbal agreement” Pearlman had made with Alfonso, Alfonso needed to write more Subsys prescriptions or Pearlman was “going to have tremendous difficulty in justifying more [speaker] programs.”

As a result of this scheme, Medicare Part D plans authorized payment for nearly 400 Subsys prescriptions written by Alfonso, causing millions of dollars of losses.  Pearlman personally profited from this scheme through inflated quarterly bonuses he received that were based, in large part, on the sales results of the sales representatives he managed.

Pearlman was arrested on September 29, 2016.  On August 8, 2018, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the anti-kickback law.

Alfonso and Levine pleaded guilty to related charges.  On June 24, 2019, Levine was sentenced to three years of probation, including six months of home confinement.  On November 26, 2019, Alfonso was sentenced to three years of probation.

Several other individuals affiliated with Insys Therapeutics, and medical practitioners involved in this kickback scheme, have been charged and convicted in other Districts across the U.S.  On May 2, 2019, a federal jury in Boston found John N. Kapoor, the founder and former Executive Chairman of Insys Therapeutics, and four other former Insys executives guilty of racketeering conspiracy.  January 23, 2020, Kapoor was sentenced to 66 months of imprisonment.

In June 2019, Insys Therapeutics agreed to pay a total of $225 million to resolve criminal and civil investigations of the company.

The investigation in the District of Connecticut was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas P. Morabito, Sarah P. Karwan and Richard M. Molot.

U.S. Attorney Durham encouraged individuals who suspect health care fraud to report it by calling the Health Care Fraud Task Force (203) 785-9270 or 1-800-HHS-TIPS.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MEMET BEQIRI, also known as Matt Beqiri, 33, of Tolland, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to two years of probation for fabricating E. coli test results at his meat processing business.  Judge Thompson also ordered Beqiri to pay a $15,000 fine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Beqiri is the owner and general manager of New England Meat Packing, LLC, located in Stafford Springs, a federally inspected business engaged in the slaughtering, processing, selling and transporting of meat and meat food products for human consumption.  Pursuant to the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan developed and implemented by New England Meat Packing to comply with regulatory requirements, the company is required to perform one generic E. coli carcass swab for every 300 animals slaughtered and to periodically collect ground beef samples for E. coli testing.

Between November 3, 2016 and September 9, 2017, Beqiri authorized the preparation and submission in the company’s Lab Sample Report binder, which the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) reviews, a total of 36 documents relating to 52 separate carcass swabs and ground beef samples on behalf of New England Meat Packing.  The 36 documents were each on the letterhead of a certified laboratory that tests food product samples to ensure safety and wholesomeness and signed by the laboratory director.  The documents stated that the required E. coli testing of samples submitted by New England Meat Packing had been conducted and completed, and that all 52 samples tested negative for E. coli.  In fact, none of the 52 carcass swabs and samples had been submitted or tested by the identified laboratory, or any other laboratory, and the 36 documents were fraudulently prepared using laboratory letterhead obtained from previous testing that New England Meat Packing had conducted with that laboratory.

During the investigation of this matter, Beqiri admitted to an investigator with USDA’s FSIS that the documents were fraudulent, and that his business did not collect and submit the samples to the certified laboratory because he did not correlate the potential impact on food safety with his sampling program and wanted to create the appearance he was compliant with all USDA HACCP testing requirements.

There have been no known instances of illnesses reported by anyone who consumed the meat in any of the states where the meat was distributed.

On August 20, 2019, Beqiri pleaded guilty to one count of making and using a false document and aiding and abetting.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Office of Investigations, Enforcement and Audit.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Slater.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAKEEM GRANT, 32, of Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer to possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, and while he was on supervised release following a prior federal conviction for the same offense.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2017, Grant was convicted in state court of possession of a pistol without a permit.  On April 23, 2018, Hartford Police arrested Grant after he was found in possession of a loaded .40 caliber handgun outside of nightclub that has been a hotspot for shootings and violence on Main Street in Hartford.  He subsequently pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and, on March 28, 2019, was sentenced to six months of imprisonment, with credit for time served, and three years of supervised release.  Grant was released from federal prison approximately one month later.

On August 28, 2020, Hartford Police arrested Grant after they found him in possession of a loaded Taurus G2S .40 caliber handgun.  He has been detained since his arrest.

Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for February 16, 2021, at which time Grant faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and additional penalties for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department.  The Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.

John H. Durham. United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JEFFREY L. BACON, 61, of Bristol, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before to one count of soliciting child pornography.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2018, Bacon began communicating with a 15-year-old girl through the Kik messaging application after he had met the girl in a Kik chat group for teens.  Knowing that he was communicating with a minor, Bacon sent the girl sexually explicit pictures of himself and described various sexual acts that he wanted to engage in with the girl.  The girl told her mother who reported the communications to the police.

On October 30, 2018, a law enforcement officer assumed the girl’s Kik identity to continue to correspond with Bacon.  Bacon asked the undercover officer, who was posing as the girl, to remind Bacon of her age.  The officer responded with “15.”  From October 30 to November 1, Bacon repeatedly sent sexually explicit pictures and videos of himself to the undercover officer.  Bacon also requested sexually explicit pictures in return.  During their conversations, Bacon asked the undercover officer if he could pick her up from school so he could see her.  Bacon suggested they could go to the mall where the girl could try on clothes while Bacon watched and engaged in a sexual act.  Bacon also discussed going to a motel with the girl to engage in sexual acts with her.

On November 19, 2018, Bacon was arrested on related state charges.  During a subsequent forensic examination of Bacon’s laptop computer, investigators found images of child pornography, including images depicting prepubescent females engaged in sexual acts with adults.

Bacon was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on July 26, 2019.

Bacon is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on March 3, 2021, at which time he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  He is released on a $100,000 bond and is under electronic monitoring pending sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Enfield Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an indictment charging NATHANIEL BONILLA, 31, of Bristol, with three counts of theft of mail by a postal employee.

Bonilla was arrested today.  Following his arrest, he appeared via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish, entered a plea of not guilty, and was released on a $50,000 bond.

As alleged in the indictment, Bonilla, a mail processing clerk at the U.S. Postal Service’s Process and Distribution Center in Hartford, opened mail envelopes with a razor blade and removed cash and dozens of gift cards or prepaid debit cards for his own personal use.

If convicted, Bonilla faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years on each count.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.

U.S. Attorney Durham encouraged individuals who believe they are a victim of theft related to this case to file a complaint by calling 888-USPS-OIG, or by visiting https://www.uspsoig.gov/form/file-online-complaint.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LARRY HALL, also known as “Chuito” and “Bobo,” 49, of Naugatuck, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the sentencing occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury and Naugatuck Police Departments into a heroin and cocaine trafficking operation headed by Keith Jordan of Waterbury.  The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical surveillance and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Jordan was receiving large quantities of heroin from various suppliers, including Pedro Santos, of Waterbury, and selling to drug to other distributors and street-level customers.  Jordan also purchased and distributed cocaine.

During the investigation, a wiretap identified Hall as Santos’ heroin supplier, and revealed that Hall was supplying other drug sellers with raw heroin on credit.

On March 13, 2019, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Hall, Jordan, Santos and 26 other individuals with various offenses related to the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine.

Hall and several codefendants were arrested on March 20, 2019.  In association with the arrests, investigators seized approximately 3,000 bags of heroin, 400 grams of cocaine, 350 grams of fentanyl/heroin mixed, 400 grams of heroin, 10 grams of crack, 20 pounds of marijuana, fentanyl patches, a one-kilogram press, four handguns, approximately $120,000 in cash and four vehicles.

Approximately $30,000 of the cash seized was found in Hall’s residence.

Hall has been detained since his arrest.  On November 4, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin.

Jordan and Santos pleaded guilty to related charges.  On September 18, 2020, Santos was sentenced to 66 months of imprisonment.  Jordan awaits sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force, Waterbury Police Department and Naugatuck Police Department, with the critical assistance of the U.S. Secret Service, New York Field Office.  The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys S. Dave Vatti and Nathaniel J. Gentile through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JUSTIN WILLIAMS, 42, of Rocky Hill, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of wire fraud arising from an auto loan fraud scheme.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Williams worked as a salesman and de facto general manager at a used car dealership located at 1075 Newfield Street in Middletown, known variously as Car Nation, LLC, Car Nation CT, LLC, and Middletown Motorcars, which was owned and operated by George Hajati.  In connection with automobile loan applications for multiple borrowers, Williams, Hajati and others submitted documents and statements to victim lenders that falsely represented the borrower’s employment, salary, sources of income, and amount of a down payment.  The false documents included fictitious or altered borrower pay stubs and income verification letters purportedly from the Social Security Administration.  Williams submitted loan applications indicating that borrowers made salaries they did not make, worked at jobs they did not work, received income from the Social Security Administration they did not receive, and made down payments they did not make.  In some instances, the borrower was not aware of, and did not authorize, Williams’ use of his or her personal identifying information to obtain automobile loans in these ways.

Between approximately November 2015 and June 2016, Williams defrauded lenders of $300,037.02 through this scheme.

Williams was arrested on a criminal complaint on January 16, 2020.

Williams was previously convicted of federal fraud charges related to a Hartford-area scheme to defraud mortgage lenders, and he was on federal supervised release at the time of the auto loan fraud.

At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Williams faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.  He also faces additional penalties for violating the conditions of his supervise release.

Williams has been released on a $100,000 bond since his arrest.

Hajati pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud stemming from this scheme.  He also was previously convicted of federal fraud charges related to the Hartford-area mortgage fraud scheme and was serving a term of supervised release.  In June 2020, he was sentenced to 27 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay $654,952.56 in restitution for his role in the auto loan fraud scheme, and was sentenced to an additional 21 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Conor M. Reardon and David T. Huang.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Manchester Police Chief William Darby announced that LUIS CIURO, 36, of East Hartford, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today to one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the court proceeding before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley occurred via videoconference.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 15, 2019, Manchester Police received a call reporting that a woman was yelling and displaying a gun outside of an apartment building on John Olds Drive in Manchester.  Law enforcement had previously received information that an individual was operating a fentanyl mill in an apartment within the same building.

Responding officers conducted surveillance of the building and saw Ciuro exit the building and place a black bag into the trunk of a car.  After Ciuro and another individual entered the car and it drove away, officers conducted a traffic stop.  An officer opened the trunk of car and retrieved the bag that Ciuro had carried from the building.  The bag contained one shoebox that contained approximately $70,000 in cash, and a second shoebox that contained two loaded handguns, both of which had been reported stolen.  After Ciuro admitted to law enforcement that used an apartment on John Olds Drive to store and process narcotics, a search of the apartment revealed approximately 687 grams of fentanyl, .69 grams of PCP, four grams of psilocybin mushrooms, and various drug-packaging materials.

Ciuro’s criminal history includes a federal conviction for conspiring to distribute crack cocaine.  On January 4, 2008, he was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 84 months of imprisonment for that offense.

Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for February 12, 2021, at which time Ciuro faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

The penalties in this case are enhanced based on Ciuro’s criminal history.

Ciuro is detained pending sentencing.

This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and the Manchester Police Department.  The Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes today announced that five men were arrested yesterday on federal narcotics charges related to the distribution of heroin and crack cocaine in New Haven.

According to statements made in court, these prosecutions are part of a coordinated law enforcement effort to address rising drug-related violence in the Newhallville section of New Haven.

On November 9, 2020, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned indictments charging:

HERMAN BELLAMY, 43, of East Haven, with two counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin;

TYRONE DUPREE, 24, of Hamden, with three counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin, and one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine base (“crack”) and heroin;

CORNELIUS IVORY, 34, of New Haven, with two counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin, and one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine base and heroin;

SHANTE DAVIS, 44, of West Haven, with four counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine base and heroin;

ELIGHI AGNEW, also known as “Lil Bro,” 32, with three counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine base and heroin, and one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine base.

Each charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Dupree is currently detained, and Bellamy, Ivory, Davis and Agnew are released under supervision by the U.S. Probation Office while awaiting trial.

U.S. Attorney Durham 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 FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force and the New Haven Police Department.  The Task Force includes members from the New Haven, Milford, East Haven and West Haven Police Departments, the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Department of Correction.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile, S. Dave Vatti and Douglas P. Morabito through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DARRY JOSE GUERRERO, also known as “Domi,” 29, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 87 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release for his role in a heroin and fentanyl trafficking ring.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation by the DEA New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department revealed that Nestor Sosa-Ortiz operated a Waterbury-based drug trafficking organization that received large quantities of heroin and fentanyl from suppliers in Connecticut and New York and distributed the narcotics throughout New Haven County.  The organization used an apartment located at 330 Bishop Street in Waterbury to store kilogram-quantities of heroin and fentanyl, and to process and package the drugs for street sale.  After Nestor Sosa-Ortiz was arrested in New York City on a separate federal heroin and fentanyl trafficking charge in May 2019, he continued to control his drug network while incarcerated by using smuggled cell phones to communicate with various co-conspirators.

The investigation revealed that Guerrero helped to maintain the Bishop Street apartment, and that he processed and packaged narcotics on behalf of the organization.

Guerrero and several co-defendants were arrested on October 29, 2019.  On that date, investigators executed five search warrants and seized approximately six kilograms of suspected heroin/fentanyl, approximately 100,000 bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl packaged for street distribution, approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills disguised as Percocet pills, one firearm and approximately $50,000 in cash.

On June 18, 2020, Guerrero pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

Sosa-Ortiz pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

Guerrero, who was released on a $50,000 bond, was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service at the conclusion of today’s court proceeding.

This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department.  The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis and Lauren Clark.