District of Connecticut

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRIAN GRINNELL, 36, of Lakewood, Ohio, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 121 months of imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for posing as a teenage girl on social media, coercing a minor female to send him sexually explicit photos and videos of herself, and, after threatening the victim, posting some of those videos on TikTok.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2020, Grinnell posed as a 15-year-old girl and met a female, who at the time was under the age of 12, on Omegle, an online chat website and mobile application that allows users to interact with strangers.  Shortly thereafter, he began communicating with the minor victim on Snapchat.  Grinnell told the minor victim to take sexually explicit photos and videos of herself and send them to Grinnell over Snapchat.  After the minor victim began to feel threatened by Grinnell, she unfriended and blocked Grinnell’s account.

Grinnell subsequently contacted friends of the minor victim on TikTok and stated that unless the minor victim got in touch with him, he would post a video of the minor victim naked on TikTok.  Grinnell then posted sexually explicit videos of the minor victim on TikTok.  When a friend of the minor victim, who is also a minor, begged Grinnell not to post additional videos of the minor victim, Grinnell stated “I want a video of you begging me to not put them up. And you have to be topless in the video. If you don’t want any more of your friend stuff going out.”  After the friend told Grinnell that they would call the police, Grinnell responded “How are they gonna find me?”  Grinnell then proceeded to post another video of the minor victim on TikTok.

Grinnell subsequently shared additional videos of the minor victim with undercover officers, and bragged about how many videos he had and how easy it would be for him to get more videos from other minors.

Investigators arrested Grinnell on September 23, 2020, and seized his iPhone and other items.  Analysis of the iPhone revealed numerous images and videos of child pornography.

Grinnell has been detained since his arrest on September 23, 2020.  On April 19, 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.

Judge Shea ordered Grinnell to pay a $10,000 special assessment.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Canaan Police Department, with assistance from the Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Prosecutor’s Office and Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara E. Levens through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that the government has reached a settlement agreement with the City of Waterbury to ensure that people with disabilities can physically access polling locations.

This settlement agreement resolves a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Justice stating that the City of Waterbury was using polling sites that were inaccessible to people with disabilities.  After receiving the complaint, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Connecticut’s U.S. Attorney’s Office spoke with city officials and people with disabilities, surveyed polling locations, and reviewed information provided by the city.  The investigation determined that certain polling locations in Waterbury did not fully comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, including excessively sloped parking areas, narrow doorways, steep ramps, and inaccessible door hardware.  These noncompliant features rendered the city’s voting program inaccessible to voters with certain disabilities.

“Every voter has a fundamental right to vote in person at his or her local polling place, and this settlement agreement protects this right by ensuring voting access to Waterbury’s polling places to individuals with mobility disabilities,” Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle said. 

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle noted that the City of Waterbury cooperated in the investigation and voluntarily entered into the agreement. The city has already made improvements to bring the polling locations into compliance, and the agreement is effective for two years during which time the U.S. Attorney’s Office will monitor the city’s compliance.

This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney William M Brown, Jr., of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Connecticut, and Senior Trial Attorney Elizabeth Johnson, of the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section.

Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that any place of public accommodation or public entity in Connecticut is not accessible to persons with disabilities may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 203-821-3700.

Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Justice Department’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (800) 514-0383 (TTY).  More information about the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. A copy of the settlement agreement will be found on www.ada.gov.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that MATTHEW V. BLACKWELL, 40, of Woodbridge, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sarah A.L. Merriam in New Haven to one count of tax evasion.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Blackwell was the Vice President of Operations at a family-owned food company based in Orange.  Between approximately 2012 and 2016, Blackwell embezzled $927,143 from the company by creating false purchase orders and invoices that he presented to the company controller, who had no knowledge of their fraudulent nature. The company issued payment checks that Blackwell deposited in a business checking account that he had opened and controlled. 

In pleading guilty, Blackwell admitted that he willfully filed federal income tax returns that omitted the embezzled income for the 2012 through 2016 tax years, resulting in a tax loss of $285,361 to the IRS.

Judge Merriam scheduled sentencing for March 2, 2022, at which time Blackwell faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $100,000.  Blackwell has agreed to pay $285,361 in back taxes, as well as interest and penalties.

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

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

Acting United States Attorney Leonard C Boyle, Special Agent in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI’s New Haven Division, and Special Agent in Charge Joleen D. Simpson of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England announced that a federal jury in New Haven today found DREW RANKIN, 60, the former chief executive officer of the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Corporation (“CMEEC”); JAMES SULLIVAN, 55, former chairperson of the CMEEC Board of Directors, and JOHN BILDA, 57, former City of Norwich representative on the CMEEC Board of Directors, guilty of an offense related to the theft of federal funds. 

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

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

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

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

On November 6, 2018, a grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Rankin, Sullivan and Bilda, as well as Edward DeMuzzio, a City of Groton representative and the secretary of the CMEEC Board of Directors, and Edward Pryor, the former chief financial officer of CMEEC, with one count of conspiracy and three counts of theft concerning a program receiving federal funds.  The jury found Rankin, Sullivan and Bilda guilty of one count of theft concerning a program receiving federal funds, and not guilty of conspiracy and a second count of theft concerning a program receiving federal funds.  DeMuzzio and Pryor were found not guilty on each of the three counts.  One count of theft concerning a program receiving federal funds was dismissed during the trial.

At sentencing, Rankin, Sullivan and Bilda face a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.  A sentencing date is not scheduled.

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

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TONY TUAN PHAM, also known as “Anh Nguyen,” 52, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for coaching federal inmates and prospective inmates, who would not otherwise require substance abuse treatment, how to lie to gain admission into a Federal Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”) program that, if completed successfully, would result in a shortened prison term.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the Residential Drug Abuse Program (“RDAP”) is a 500-hour substance abuse treatment program that is administered by the BOP.  In order to gain admission to the RDAP, a federal inmate must meet certain criteria, including having a diagnosable and verifiable drug or alcohol abuse disorder.  By successfully completing the RDAP, an inmate can qualify for up to 12 months in early release from custody.

Pham was a “Managing Partner” of Michigan-based RDAP Law Consultants, LLC.  Pham, and others he supervised at RDAP Law Consultants, contacted federal criminal defendants and inmates through unsolicited emails and telephone calls with offers to assist, for a fee, those individuals in applying to, and qualifying for, the RDAP.  Although Pham knew that many of the company’s clients did not abuse alcohol or drugs and were ineligible for the RDAP, he coached them how to feign or exaggerate a drug or alcohol disorder, and to make false statements to the BOP so they could gain admission to the RDAP.

Between September 2012 and January 2019, RDAP Law Consultants earned at least $2,628,137 in client fees through this scheme.

Pham had recently been released from federal prison and was living in a residential reentry center (“halfway house”) when the scheme began.

Pham was arrested on January 23, 2019.  On December 4, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of wire fraud.

Pham, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on January 14, 2022.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan N. Francis and Trial Attorney Avi Perry of the Department of Justice’s Fraud Section.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of West Virginia and the Western District of Michigan for their assistance in this matter.

The Department of Justice announced yesterday that it has awarded more than $17.5 million in grants to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. Funding will support efforts across the country to address violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. The Justice Education Center, Inc., based in West Hartford, was awarded $161,479 to administer PSN grant funds in the District of Connecticut.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), part of the department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), will administer the 88 grant awards, which are being made to designated fiscal agents to support local PSN projects that work in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.

“This latest Project Safe Neighborhoods grant is critical to addressing the violent crime threatening cities and towns all across our country,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Ensuring the safety of all Americans is the highest priority for the Department of Justice, but when it comes to violent crime, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. We have to work closely with local public safety agencies as well as community organizations to craft individual strategies unique to each community’s needs. Programs like Project Safe Neighborhoods and the funding it provides allow us to do just that.”

District of Connecticut grant funds will help to maintain gang task forces in PSN cities,  including Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport and Waterbury, and allow the U.S. Attorney’s Office to continue to coordinate with federal, state and local partners to investigate gun crimes and determine if federal prosecution is appropriate.  Funds will also be used to promote and

encourage active community involvement, and enhance emotional wellness, education and technology training opportunities as a prevention to gang and gun violence.

With approval from BJA, the Fiscal Agent will begin the process of making subawards for PSN grant projects.

“Our office has had a long-running partnership with The Justice Education Center, which, for years, has worked to improve public safety and help young people turn away from gun crime by promoting positive alternatives, including educational and career opportunities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Leonard C Boyle.  “We are pleased that these grant funds will allow this relationship to continue, and look forward to working with The Justice Education Center to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s cities.”

“Investing in our communities, supporting victims and building a justice system that both keeps people safe and earns their trust – these are mutually reinforcing goals that stand at the heart of Project Safe Neighborhoods,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon for OJP. “The Office of Justice Programs is pleased to join with our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and with jurisdictions across the country, as we work together to meet the challenges of crime and violence and achieve our shared aspirations of public safety and community trust.”

In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime issued by Deputy Attorney General Monaco, is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.

This fall, U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country have enhanced their violent crime reduction efforts to ensure alignment with the department’s comprehensive violent crime reduction strategy. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices have engaged in outreach to law enforcement and other agencies and organizations serving communities to identify the most significant drivers of violence in their districts. Working together with a broad coalition of stakeholders, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are addressing the most pressing violent crime issues in their district to make our neighborhoods safer for all.

PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies, community stakeholders and other agencies and organizations that work to reduce violent crime.

For a list of all grantees, please visit: FY21-Project-Safe-Neighborhoods-Awards.pdf (ojp.gov)                                           

The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at  www.ojp.gov.

A Russian national was sentenced today in Hartford federal court to 48 months in prison for operating a “crypting” service used to conceal the Kelihos malware from antivirus software, which enabled hackers to systematically infect approximately hundreds of thousands of victim computers around the world with malicious software, including ransomware.

According to court documents, Oleg Koshkin, 41, was convicted by a federal jury on June 15 of one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse and one count of computer fraud and abuse.

“The defendant provided a critical service used by cybercriminals to evade one of the first lines of cybersecurity defense, antivirus software,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Cybercriminals depend on services like these to infect computers around the world with malware, including ransomware.  The Criminal Division and our law enforcement partners are committed to investigating and prosecuting anyone who criminally operates these services to the fullest extent of the law."

“Koshkin’s unscrupulous websites provided a vital service to cyber criminals, allowing them to hide their malware from antivirus programs and use it to infect thousands of computers all over the world,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Leonard C Boyle of the District of Connecticut. “We will continue to work closely with our investigative partners to root out and prosecute individuals involved across the ransomware spectrum, wherever they try to hide.”

“Today’s sentencing of Oleg Koshkin serves as another example of the risk and consequences awaiting those who choose to commit cybercrimes against the American public,” said Special Agent in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI’s New Haven Division. “For years, Koshkin and his co-conspirators worked to evade our most basic cyber defenses in order to spread malware on a truly global scale. While our work to bring Koshin to justice comes to a close, the FBI will continue to tirelessly defend our country from the ever-evolving cyber threats posed by criminals, terrorists and hostile nation-states.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Koshkin operated the websites “crypt4u.com,” “fud.bz,” and others. The websites promised to render malicious software fully undetectable by nearly every major provider of antivirus software. Koshkin and his co-conspirators claimed that their services could be used for malware such as botnets, remote access trojans, keyloggers, credential stealers, and cryptocurrency miners.

Koshkin worked with Peter Levashov, the operator of the Kelihos botnet, to develop a system that would allow Levashov to crypt the Kelihos malware multiple times each day. In September 2018, Levashov pleaded guilty to various fraud, conspiracy, computer crime and identity theft offenses.

Koshkin provided Levashov with a custom, high-volume crypting service that enabled Levashov to distribute Kelihos through multiple criminal affiliates. The Kelihos botnet was used by Levashov to send spam, harvest account credentials, conduct denial of service attacks, and to distribute ransomware and other malicious software. According to evidence presented at Koshkin’s sentencing, Kelihos relied on the crypting services provided by Crypt4U from 2014 until Levashov’s arrest in April 2017; and just in the last four months of that conspiracy, Kelihos infected approximately 200,000 computers around the world.

Koshkin’s co-defendant, Pavel Tsurkan, pleaded guilty on June 16 to one count of causing damage to a protected computer, an offense that carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison. He is awaiting sentencing.

The FBI’s New Haven Field Office investigated the case through its Connecticut Cyber Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang of the District of Connecticut and Senior Counsel Ryan K.J. Dickey of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section prosecuted the case, with assistance from the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs. The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board also provided significant assistance.

The Department of Justice announced in April the creation of the Ransomware and Digital Extortion Task Force to combat the growing number of ransomware and digital extortion attacks. As part of the Task Force, the Criminal Division, working with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, prioritizes the disruption, investigation, and prosecution of ransomware and digital extortion activity by tracking and dismantling the development and deployment of malware, identifying the cybercriminals responsible, and holding those individuals accountable for their crimes. The department, through the Task Force, also strategically targets the ransomware criminal ecosystem as a whole and collaborates with domestic and foreign government agencies as well as private sector partners to combat this significant criminal threat.

A Russian national was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for operating a “crypting” service used to conceal the Kelihos malware from antivirus software, which enabled hackers to systematically infect approximately hundreds of thousands of victim computers around the world with malicious software, including ransomware.

According to court documents, Oleg Koshkin, 41, was convicted by a federal jury on June 15 of one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse and one count of computer fraud and abuse.

“The defendant provided a critical service used by cybercriminals to evade one of the first lines of cybersecurity defense, antivirus software,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Cybercriminals depend on services like these to infect computers around the world with malware, including ransomware.  The Criminal Division and our law enforcement partners are committed to investigating and prosecuting anyone who criminally operates these services to the fullest extent of the law."

“Koshkin’s unscrupulous websites provided a vital service to cyber criminals, allowing them to hide their malware from antivirus programs and use it to infect thousands of computers all over the world,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Leonard C Boyle of the District of Connecticut. “We will continue to work closely with our investigative partners to root out and prosecute individuals involved across the ransomware spectrum, wherever they try to hide.”

“Today’s sentencing of Oleg Koshkin serves as another example of the risk and consequences awaiting those who choose to commit cybercrimes against the American public,” said Special Agent in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI’s New Haven Division. “For years, Koshkin and his co-conspirators worked to evade our most basic cyber defenses in order to spread malware on a truly global scale. While our work to bring Koshin to justice comes to a close, the FBI will continue to tirelessly defend our country from the ever-evolving cyber threats posed by criminals, terrorists and hostile nation-states.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Koshkin operated the websites “crypt4u.com,” “fud.bz,” and others. The websites promised to render malicious software fully undetectable by nearly every major provider of antivirus software. Koshkin and his co-conspirators claimed that their services could be used for malware such as botnets, remote access trojans, keyloggers, credential stealers, and cryptocurrency miners.

Koshkin worked with Peter Levashov, the operator of the Kelihos botnet, to develop a system that would allow Levashov to crypt the Kelihos malware multiple times each day. In September 2018, Levashov pleaded guilty to various fraud, conspiracy, computer crime and identity theft offenses.

Koshkin provided Levashov with a custom, high-volume crypting service that enabled Levashov to distribute Kelihos through multiple criminal affiliates. The Kelihos botnet was used by Levashov to send spam, harvest account credentials, conduct denial of service attacks, and to distribute ransomware and other malicious software. According to evidence presented at Koshkin’s sentencing, Kelihos relied on the crypting services provided by Crypt4U from 2014 until Levashov’s arrest in April 2017; and just in the last four months of that conspiracy, Kelihos infected approximately 200,000 computers around the world.

Koshkin’s co-defendant, Pavel Tsurkan, pleaded guilty on June 16 to one count of causing damage to a protected computer, an offense that carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison. He is awaiting sentencing.

The FBI’s New Haven Field Office investigated the case through its Connecticut Cyber Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang of the District of Connecticut and Senior Counsel Ryan K.J. Dickey of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section prosecuted the case, with assistance from the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs. The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board also provided significant assistance.

The Department of Justice announced in April the creation of the Ransomware and Digital Extortion Task Force to combat the growing number of ransomware and digital extortion attacks. As part of the Task Force, the Criminal Division, working with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, prioritizes the disruption, investigation, and prosecution of ransomware and digital extortion activity by tracking and dismantling the development and deployment of malware, identifying the cybercriminals responsible, and holding those individuals accountable for their crimes. The department, through the Task Force, also strategically targets the ransomware criminal ecosystem as a whole and collaborates with domestic and foreign government agencies as well as private sector partners to combat this significant criminal threat.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut unsealed a criminal complaint accusing a former aerospace outsourcing executive of participating in a long-running conspiracy with managers and executives of several outsource engineering suppliers (Suppliers) to restrict the hiring and recruiting of engineers and other skilled laborers among their respective companies.

According to the filed documents, Mahesh Patel, of Glastonbury, Connecticut, a former director of global engineering services at a major aerospace engineering company, enforced this agreement while serving as an intermediary between conspiring Suppliers. Patel appeared remotely before a federal court in Hartford, Connecticut, on Tuesday after his arrest on the complaint charging him with conspiracy in restraint of trade. He was released on conditions including travel restrictions and a $100,000 appearance bond. The charge against Patel is the first in this ongoing federal antitrust investigation.

“The Antitrust Division, together with our law enforcement partners, have prioritized rooting out conspiracies in labor markets,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Here, thousands of workers have been victimized over a long period of time. We will vigorously prosecute this and other cases in which corporate executives undermine the careers of their own workers in order to reap undeserved profits and deprive our fellow citizens of opportunities to earn a competitive wage.”

“Given the significance of major defense and aerospace companies to Connecticut’s economy, it is vital that the labor market in this industry remain fair, open and competitive to our workers,” said Peter S. Jongbloed, Counsel to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. “No one should be illegally denied the opportunity to pursue better jobs, higher pay and greater benefits. We look forward to continuing the partnership with the Antitrust Division and our law enforcement partners in prosecuting this important case.”

“Protecting the integrity of the Department of Defense (DoD) procurement process is a top priority for the DoD Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS),” said Principal Deputy Director James R. Ives of the DCIS. “We are committed to working with the Antitrust Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut to hold companies and individuals accountable for practices that erode public trust and confidence in the DoD industry.”

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Patel upheld a conspiracy among aerospace companies not to hire or recruit one another’s employees. At times, Patel confronted and berated Suppliers who cheated on the agreement, often at the direct behest of another Supplier, and threatened to punish nonconforming Suppliers by taking away valuable access to projects. In addition, as the complaint alleges, Patel and co-conspirators recognized the mutual financial benefit of this agreement — namely, reducing the rise in labor costs that would occur when aerospace workers were free to find new employment in a competitive environment.

The maximum penalty for conspiracy to restrain trade under the Sherman Antitrust Act is 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of $1 million for individuals. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine.  

The charges are the result of an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into market allocation in the aerospace engineering services industry, conducted by the Antitrust Division’s New York Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut, and the New Haven and New York Resident Agencies of the DCIS. Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit http://www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Christina D. Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging DONNA CARNEY, 66, of Canton, with one count of theft of government property.

The indictment was returned on November 16.  Carney appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.  She is released on $50,000 bond pending trial.

As alleged in the indictment, in approximately 1995, Carney began receiving Section 8 tenant-based rental assistance under the housing choice voucher program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”).  From approximately 2004 to 2019, Carney failed to report to HUD that she was married to her landlord and therefore had an interest in the home in which she lived, failed to report certain others living in her home, and falsely claimed that unauthorized residents were live-in aides.

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

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle 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 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General for Investigations and the Canton Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherry.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DANNY RHODES, also known as “Big D,” 63, of Bloomfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 87 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2018, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force began investigating a Hartford area narcotics trafficking operation that involved the use of the U.S. Mail to ship parcels of drugs and drug proceeds.  Investigators determined that Israel Mendoza, also known as “D-Nice,” supplied Michael Copeland with large quantities of cocaine, and that Copeland, at Mendoza’s direction, mailed parcels containing cash to individuals in California.  In September and October, U.S. Postal Inspectors in California intercepted and seized two parcels, each containing approximately $13,000 in cash, that Copeland mailed in Connecticut to addresses in the Fresno area.  Investigators analyzed postal records and identified dozens of additional parcels connected to this drug trafficking network that are suspected to have contained narcotics or drug proceeds.

The investigation further revealed that Mendoza worked with others, including Rhodes and Neliobet DeJesus, also known as “Colorado,” in the Hartford area to distribute narcotics.  In late 2018 and early 2019, investigators made controlled purchases of heroin, totaling nearly 1.7 kilograms, from Rhodes.

Rhodes’ criminal history includes numerous felony convictions, including a federal firearm conviction that resulted in a 10-year prison sentence.

Rhodes has been detained since his arrest on November 13, 2019.  On May 21, 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin.

Copeland, of Bloomfield, and DeJesus, now residing in Orlando, Florida, have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.  Mendoza, last residing in Reading, Pennsylvania, is being sought by law enforcement.           

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that, as to Mendoza, charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, which includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden and Town of Groton Police Departments.  The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Connecticut State Police and Hartford Police Department assisted the investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting U.S. Attorney of the District of Connecticut, today announced that CHRISTOPHER JESUS CONSTANZO, 19, of Torrington, has been charged by a federal criminal complaint issued in the District of Connecticut with kidnapping a minor.

Constanzo was originally charged with this offense in the District of Vermont.  He appeared today via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle in Vermont and agreed to remain in custody pending his transfer to the District of Connecticut for further prosecution.

As alleged in court documents, on December 2, 2021, at approximately 7:27 a.m., Constanzo and a minor female (“minor victim”) arrived by car at the U.S. Port of Entry at Highgate Springs, Vermont.  Just prior to their arrival, officials at the St-Armand/Philipsburg Border Crossing in Canada had refused Constanzo and the minor victim entry into Canada.  After U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers separated Constanzo from the minor victim, the victim reported that she met Constanzo the night before at Stillwater Pond State Park in Torrington.  Constanzo then sexually assaulted the minor victim, forced her into the trunk of the minor victim’s car, restrained her with a shoelace, and then began driving.  At some point during the night, Constanzo removed the minor victim from the trunk and sexually assaulted her again.  As they neared the Canadian border, Constanzo has the minor victim sit in the front passenger seat of the car.  Constanzo instructed her to “act normal” and “go along with the story.”  Constanzo then told Canadian Border Services Agency officials that the minor victim was his sister and they intended to go into Canada for four days to visit friends.  However, due to their lack of COVID tests, Constanzo and the minor victim were denied entry into Canada.

The complaint alleges that Constanzo is the subject of a pending sexual assault investigation in Connecticut for another incident that occurred earlier this year.

The complaint charges Constanzo with kidnapping, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 25 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.  The penalties this matter are enhanced because the victim is a minor.

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

This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Vermont State Police and the Torrington Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neeraj N. Patel and Nancy V. Gifford in the District of Connecticut, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher in the District of Vermont.

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.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a New Hampshire resident and a Connecticut resident have been charged in separate criminal complaints with conspiracy and fraud offenses stemming from their alleged involvement in construction project fraud schemes.

WILLIAM SACCO, 48, of Pelham, New Hampshire, was arrested on November 22.  He appeared today via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford and is released on a $50,000 bond.

As alleged in the criminal complaint, Sacco was a project manager for a Massachusetts-based mechanical contractor.  From June 2014 through December 2018, Sacco conspired to defraud his employer and the owners of certain projects he managed by inflating change orders on the projects.  As part of the conspiracy, a co-conspirator subcontractor made payments to Sacco and also for Sacco’s benefit, including payments for Sacco’s children’s college tuition, a graduation party, a Mac laptop, airline tickets, hotels and Sacco’s rent.  Sacco and the co-conspirator submitted inflated change orders to Sacco’s employer to offset some of the costs of the payments the co-conspirator made to Sacco.

In a separate case, DON RICHARDS, 53, of Milford, Connecticut, was arrested on October 19, 2021, on a criminal complaint.  Richards was a senior project manager at a Massachusetts-based mechanical contractor.  It is alleged that from November 2014 through February 2018, Richards also conspired to defraud his employer and project owners by inflating change orders on certain projects he was managing.  As part of this separate conspiracy, a co-conspirator subcontractor made payments to Richards and also for Richards’s benefit, including gift cards and funds for a golf club membership.  Richards and the co-conspirator submitted inflated change orders to Richards’s employer to offset some of the costs of the payments the co-conspirator made to Richards.

Sacco and Richards are each charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.  Each offense carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Richards is released on a $100,000 bond.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that each 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.

These investigations are being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.  The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang, with assistance from the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, New York Office.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MATTHEW O. CLASON, 40, of Cheshire, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for stealing more than $600,000 from an investment client.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Clason was an investment advisor and a registered representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation, and then LPL Financial LLC.  Beginning in approximately 2015, Clason provided investment services to a 73-year-old Connecticut resident (“the victim”).  The victim had at least five investments accounts with Clason and, in January 2018, Clason and the victim opened a joint bank account.  From 2018 to August 2020, Clason transferred more than $668,000 from the victim’s investment accounts into the joint bank account and, without the victim’s knowledge or authorization, withdrew more than $621,000 in cash from the bank account for his personal use.  Clason also transferred $5,000 directly from the joint bank account to his personal bank account, and made two transfers from the joint bank account to pay his personal credit card.

Judge Shea ordered Clason to pay $639,580 in restitution

On May 12, 2021, Clason pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.

Clason, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on February 28, 2022.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather L. Cherry.

The Justice Department has established a National Elder Fraud Hotline to provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud.  The Hotline is staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers.  Case managers assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed.  When applicable, case managers will complete a complaint form with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for Internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the caller.  The Hotline’s toll-free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DENNIS ANTHONY SZANTYR, JR., 47, of Prospect, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to one count of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on multiple occasions between November 2018 and October 2019, Szantyr used smart phones, tablets and other computer devices, and an interactive computer service, to entice a minor victim under the age of 16 to engage in sexual acts.  At times, including during the commission of the sexual acts between Szantyr and the minor victim, the victim was in the custody, care or supervision of Szantyr.  Szantyr also took images and recorded video of his sexual contact with the victim.

Szantyr is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on March 2, 2022, at which time he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

Szantyr has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on October 31, 2019.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Connecticut State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Konstantin Lantsman.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle thanked the Waterbury 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.

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department announced today it has reached an agreement with the Town of Wolcott, Connecticut, to settle a lawsuit alleging that the Town violated the Fair Housing Act when it refused to allow the operation of a group home for adults with disabilities in a residential neighborhood.

The settlement, which still must be approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, resolves a lawsuit that the department filed in December 2020. Today’s settlement also resolves a related suit brought by the housing provider and property owner of the proposed group home, SELF Inc. and L&R Realty Inc. The department’s lawsuit arose from a complaint that SELF and L&R Realty filed with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which referred the matter to the Justice Department.

“Local governments do not have the right to use zoning laws and restrictions as a vehicle to discriminate against people with disabilities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Individuals with disabilities have the right to equal housing opportunities, and the Department of Justice is committed to vigorous enforcement of federal law to stop municipalities from violating this right.”

“Wolcott’s town officials attempted to prohibit the operation of a home that would establish a place where persons with disabilities can live productive lives,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Leonard C Boyle of the District of Connecticut.  “This type of discrimination is unacceptable.  The settlement agreement and future action required by the Town should serve as fair warning to other municipalities that our office is committed to pursuing violations of the Fair Housing Act in Connecticut.”

“Towns don’t have the right to enact zoning laws that make housing for persons with disabilities unavailable,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Demetria McCain of HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD commends the Justice Department for holding municipalities accountable for violating our nation’s housing laws and we look forward to working together to do even more to protect the rights of persons with disabilities.”

The department’s lawsuit alleged that the Town of Wolcott violated the Fair Housing Act when it denied a special use permit to L&R Realty and SELF, which sought to open a residence for 13 adults with mental health disabilities. At the time, the Town’s zoning regulations permitted the operation of community residences of up to 15 adults with disabilities so long as certain conditions were satisfied, and the United States alleged that the Town’s permit denial was because of the disabilities of the proposed residents. The complaint also alleged that, after learning about the proposed group home, the Town amended its zoning regulations to prohibit any community residence for adults with disabilities from operating in the Town.

Under the settlement, the Town will allow SELF’s group home to operate with up to 13 residents and will amend its zoning regulations to comply with federal anti-discrimination laws, including permitting group homes for persons with disabilities in residential districts, with the same size limitations applied to families of similar size, and implementing a reasonable accommodation policy. The Town will also pay $350,000 in monetary damages to SELF and L&R Realty, as well as $10,000 to the United States. The Town also agreed to take a number of other actions to guard against housing discrimination, including training Town officials and employees about their obligations under federal law, designating a fair housing compliance officer, and reporting periodically to the Justice Department.

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 1-833-591-0291, 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.  Individuals may also report housing discrimination, and other forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities, to the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 203-821-3700.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on December 3, 2021, DAVID MESSIER, 36, of Bristol, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 75 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for receiving child pornography over a mobile dating application.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in July 2017, Messier began communicating with Amber Foley on MeetMe, a mobile dating application.  After Messier and Foley exchanged several messages in which they described various sexual acts, Foley asked Messier what he would do if a child walked into the room while she and Messier were having sex.  Foley then sent Messier a lascivious picture of the genitals of four-year-old female. Messier responded positively to the picture and requested additional sexually explicit photographs of the female child and a two-year-old male.

Messier was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on February 27, 2019.  On October 31, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography.

Messier, who is released on a $150,000 bond, is required to report to prison on January 28, 2022.

Foley, formerly of Meriden, pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography and, on September 8, 2021, was sentenced to 90 months of imprisonment.

This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Meriden and Hartford Police Departments, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nancy V. Gifford and Maria del Pilar Gonzalez.

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.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAMAL BATISTE, 32, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 27 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for illegally possessing ammunition.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in September 2019, law enforcement received information that Batiste, who was on state probation, was in possession of a firearm.  On September 16, 2019, investigators searched a car that Batiste operated and found a loaded Polymer Inc. L.E. 17-22 caliber handgun with no serial number (a “ghost gun”) and additional .22 caliber rounds on the floor of the vehicle.

Batiste’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for firearm, drug and violation of a protective order 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.

Batiste has been detained since his federal arrest on August 11, 2020.  On May 24, 2021, he pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition by a felon.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Haven Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle noted that this prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.  PSN, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts, is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting 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 a federal grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment yesterday charging ALEX JOSEPHS, 21; RONALDO SMITH, 23; SHAQUILLE RAYMOND, 23; and DESHAWN BAUGH, 19, all of Hartford, with federal robbery and firearm offenses stemming from a spree of AT&T store robberies that occurred earlier this year in Connecticut and western Massachusetts.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, earlier this year, the FBI’s Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and several police departments began investigating a group of individuals who were committing violent armed robberies of AT&T stores in Connecticut.  The perpetrators typically entered the stores shortly before closing, pointed weapons at employees, and, at times, pistol-whipped, dragged and shoved employees toward the back inventory room.  They then held the employees at gunpoint while loading large bags with cell phones and other electronics.  The group stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise.

It is alleged that Josephs, Smith, Raymond, Baugh and others robbed AT&T stores in Newington on January 29, Enfield on February 24, Canton on April 15, and West Springfield, Massachusetts on June 6, 2021.  They also attempted to rob stores in Torrington on May 15 and Glastonbury on May 29, but were locked out of the stores.

Josephs, Smith, Raymond, Baugh and Saviana Bourne were arrested on June 6, 2021, after fleeing from the West Springfield robbery and leading police on a high-speed chase that ended when their vehicle collided with a Massachusetts State Police cruiser.  A search of the vehicle revealed a semiautomatic rifle, three handguns, and merchandise stolen during the robbery.

The indictment charges Josephs, Smith, Raymond and Baugh with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least seven years of imprisonment.  Josephs, Smith, Raymond and Baugh are also charged with multiple counts of Hobbs Act Robbery and attempted Hobbs Act robbery, offenses that carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each court.

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

Josephs, Smith, Raymond and Baugh have been detained in Massachusetts state custody since their arrests.

Bourne, 23, of  Middletown, was the driver of the getaway vehicle that crashed on June 6.  On November 30, 2021, she pleaded guilty in Hartford federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, four counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and two counts of attempted Hobbs Act robbery.

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

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JONATHAN CONTRERA, also known as “Hollywood,” 29, of Hartford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 78 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for narcotics distribution and gun possession offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in December 2017, Contrera pleaded guilty in state court to sale of narcotics and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, suspended after three years, and three years of probation.  Contrera also pleaded guilty to negligent homicide, a charge reduced from murder after key witnesses who observed him chase down and shoot the victim could not be located.  He was released from state custody in June 2018.  In July 2019, while on state probation, Contrera was arrested by Hartford Police and charged with various narcotics offenses related to the possession of cocaine, oxycodone and marijuana.  He was subsequently released on bond.

In September and October 2019, investigators made controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Contrera.  Contrera was arrested on October 9, 2019, after he sold approximately 3.5 grams of crack to an individual, and a search of his car revealed another 3.5 grams of crack.  After Contrera was arrested, a search of his residence revealed approximately 500 grams of cocaine, approximately 20 grams of crack, items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, and a stolen .327 caliber revolver loaded with six rounds of ammunition.

Contrera has been detained since his federal arrest on October 17, 2019.  On May 27, 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

This investigation was conducted by the FBI’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, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANDRES BARCLETT, also known as “Coolie,” 27, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 15 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for participating in an extensive commercial larceny spree.

This case stems from “Operation American Steal,” a long-term multi-agency investigation into numerous “grab and go” thefts from various retail fashion stores in Connecticut and nearby states.  A “grab-and-go” scheme is a type of theft where one or more perpetrators enter a retail store, grab as many items of clothing or other goods as they can carry, leave the store without paying for the merchandise, and depart in a waiting getaway vehicle.

Barclett was part of a network of individuals who in 2019 and 2020 committed more than 50 grab and go thefts from Polo Ralph Lauren, T.J. Maxx, Balenciaga, Burberry, Macy’s, Marshalls, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Tommy Hilfiger, Sephora and other stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York.  They then transported the stolen merchandise to Connecticut and sold the items on the internet or the street.

Barclett participated in at least 13 thefts resulting in losses of more than $50,000.

Judge Bryant ordered Barclett to pay $19,968.85 in restitution.

On September 15, 2020, a grand jury returned a six-count indictment charging Barclett and seven other individuals. Barclett has been detained since May 8, 2020, since his arrest on unrelated state charges.  On August 25, 2021, he pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to transport and possess stolen property.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hartford, New Canaan, Wrentham (Mass.), Auburn (Mass.) and Nassau County (N.Y.) Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Donovan and Brendan Keefe.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MARK ROMAN, 53, of East Windsor, was arrested yesterday on a federal criminal complaint charging him with production of child pornography and transportation of child pornography.

Following his arrest, Roman appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford and is detained pending a detention hearing that is scheduled for December 8.

As alleged in the complaint, law enforcement began investigating Roman after Yahoo! reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that Roman’s email account was transmitting images of child sexual abuse.  Investigators determined that Roman’s email account also contained voyeuristic images and videos of naked children that appeared to be homemade.  On November 2, 2021, the Connecticut State Police and East Windsor Police Department executed a state search warrant at Roman’s residence and seized Roman’s iPhone, laptop and computer storage devices.  Preliminary analysis of the seized items has revealed approximately 3,000 images and videos of child pornography, including images and videos of Roman sexually abusing a girl who was between the ages of six and eight, and numerous voyeuristic videos that Roman secretly took of the minor victim and another minor female who was between the ages of two and four.

The charge of production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and the charge of transportation of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

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

This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Connecticut State Police, with the assistance of the East Windsor Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle thanked the Hartford 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.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that CHAWN BATTLE, 49, of New Haven, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 21 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for a narcotics trafficking offense.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2019, the DEA New Haven Task Force began an investigation into a New Haven-based drug trafficking network headed by Michael Smith, also known as “Head.”  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, revealed that Smith and others were distributing heroin and crack cocaine throughout the New Haven area.  Battle was one of Smith’s cocaine suppliers.

In December 2019, Smith was intercepted on a wiretap describing having shot at a rival drug dealer.  New Haven Police collected 31 shell casings from a location in the Fair Haven neighborhood where the shooting occurred.  Smith was arrested on December 23, 2019.

Battle was arrested on September 16, 2020.  On March 24, 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine.

Battle’s criminal history spans more than 30 years and includes several convictions, including a federal conviction in 2001 for distributing more than one kilogram of PCP.  He was sentenced to 151 months of imprisonment for that prior federal offense.

On April 15, 2021, Smith pleaded guilty to drug, firearm and money laundering charges.  He awaits sentencing.

This investigation is being conducted by the DEA New Haven Task Force, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, West Haven, Hamden, East Haven, North Haven, Ansonia, Meriden and Derby Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Elena L. Coronado 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.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford returned indictments yesterday charging ALEX REYES, also known as “A.J.,” 24; JULIAN GOODMAN, 24; DOUGLAS LARA, also known as “Spaz,” 24, and RALPH ERNEST, 19, all of Waterbury, with various drug and firearms offenses.  The indictments stem from an ongoing investigation into gangs, drug trafficking and the illegal possession of firearms in Waterbury.

Reyes and Goodman are charged in a three-count indictment alleging that they conspired to possess and distribute heroin and fentanyl.  Reyes, who is alleged to have previous convictions for felony drug trafficking and assault offenses, is also charged with illegal possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.  It is alleged that Reyes possessed a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol on August 26, 2021.  If convicted of these charges, Reyes faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and Goodman faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Lara is charged in a two-count indictment with possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.  Is it alleged that Lara has multiple previous felony convictions and, on May 6, 2021, possessed a loaded 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number.  If convicted, he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count.

Ernest is charged in a two-count indictment with possession with intent to distribute heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  It is alleged that on January 19, 2021, Ernest possessed a distribution quantity of heroin and a loaded 9mm handgun.  If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

Reyes, Goodman, Lara and Ernest were originally charged with related state offenses and their cases were adopted for federal prosecution.  They are currently detained in state custody pending their arraignments on these federal charges.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle 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’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Connecticut State Police; Waterbury Police Department; Wolcott Police Department, and Connecticut Department of Correction.  These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Pierpont, Jr., Natasha M. Freismuth, and Konstantin Lantsman.

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

These prosecutions are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KHATIJA KHAN, 40, of South Windsor, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to offenses related to a scheme through which individuals seeking immigration services were defrauded.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Khan and her husband operated JLLAS CORP. and EIMAAN LLC, which were created to provide services to clients involved in proceedings with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”).  Between approximately May 2015 and January 2018, Khan and her husband recruited clients who sought some form of immigration status, relief or benefit.  Many of these clients are aliens residing in the U.S. without legal status and had limited education, a limited ability to understand English, and little to no knowledge of the documents that Khan and her husband were filing with USCIS on their behalf. 

Khan represented herself as an attorney with a background in immigration matters, even though she was not an attorney.  Khan and her husband prepared petitions and applications for their clients that contained information that they knew to be false.  They also fabricated false documents to support their clients’ applications with USCIS without their clients’ knowledge.  They then mailed, or caused to be mailed, these fraudulent applications and documents to USCIS, where they were received and made part of the official Alien file of each respective client.

Many of Khan’s clients received no relief from USCIS despite paying her and her husband significant amounts of money.  To generate fees from clients, Khan filed applications with USCIS even when the submissions lacked merit or a legitimate basis. 

Khan and her husband were arrested on December 19, 2019.  After her arrest, Khan continued to defraud multiple clients.           

Victims identified to date lost a total of $326,212 as a result of this scheme.

Khan pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of mail fraud, each of which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for February 11, 2022.  Khan is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.

As to Khan’s husband, who is awaiting trial, Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle 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 Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, with assistance from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.

Individuals who believe they have been victimized by this scheme contact Ines Cenatiempo, Victim-Witness Coordinator of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, at Ines.Cenatiempo@usdoj.gov or by phone at 203-821-3757.

The United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut announced that STEVEN KENT STRANGE, 51, of Bailey, North Carolina, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 57 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for defrauding his former employer’s charity matching gift program of nearly $600,000, and for submitting three fraudulent letters to the court in an effort to influence his sentencing

According to court documents and statements made in court, Strange was employed by Collins Aerospace in North Carolina, which, at the time, was a business unit of United Technologies Corporation (“UTC”), based in Farmington, Connecticut.  UTC had a Matching Gift Program, through which the company matched an employee donation, up to $25,000 annually, to a charity.  In 2008, Strange established the Housing Development Foundation of North Carolina, Inc. (“the Housing Development Foundation”), and listed his residence at the principal office for the charity.  Strange began working for Collins Aerospace in 2014.

Between approximately 2015 and September 2019, Strange defrauded UTC’s Matching Gift Program by submitting to UTC fraudulent records of donations purportedly made by him and by certain employees that worked with him at Collins Aerospace.  The records included fabricated cashiers checks of payments supposedly made to the Housing Development Foundation, when no such payments had been made.  As a result, UTC transferred approximately $585,000 in matching funds to the Housing Development Foundation, and an additional $5,257 to third party vendors to process the requests.  A review of the Housing Development Foundation’s bank records reveal that a large portion of the Foundation’s expenditures appears to be Strange’s personal expenditures.

Judge Shea ordered Strange to pay $591,877 in restitution.

On June 22, 2020, Strange pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.  While awaiting sentencing, Strange fabricated and submitted to Judge Shea letters purportedly from his employer, who claimed that Strange was essential to an ongoing business; his doctor, who suggested that Strange needed to maintain his medical providers to treat various ailments; and a friend, who attested to Strange’s good character and ongoing devotion to his wife.

Strange, who is released on bond, is requited to report to prison on December 20.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.

LAHEEM JONES, also known as “Heemie,” 27, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to racketeering and attempted murder offenses stemming from his participation in gang-related shootings, including a shooting in front of a state courthouse in Bridgeport in January 2020.

Today’s announcement was made by Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence.  Jones has been a member of the “Greene Homes Boyz” (“GHB/Hotz”), a gang based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport’s North End, whose members and associates distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and Percocet pills; committed numerous acts of violence against rival gang members and other individuals, and celebrated their criminal conduct on social media websites such as Facebook and YouTube.  GHB/Hotz members and associates also committed acts of intimidation and made threats to deter potential witnesses to their crimes and to protect gang members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities.  From approximately 2017 until August 2020, GHB/Hotz members were aligned with members of the “Original North End” (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport, against rival groups in Bridgeport, including the East End, East Side and PT Barnum gangs, as well as 150, which is a geographic gang based on the West Side of Bridgeport.

In pleading guilty, Jones admitted that he was engaged in gang-related drug trafficking, and that he and others attempted to kill members and associates of the East End gang in a brazen afternoon shooting in front of a Bridgeport courthouse on January 27, 2020.  At 12:11 p.m. on that date, Bridgeport Police responded to the area of 172 Golden Hill Street in Bridgeport after a Shot Spotter activation detected approximately 20 shots being fired in front of the state courthouse located there.  Upon arrival, investigators discovered that four victims had been shot while sitting inside a black Chevrolet Impala.  One victim was shot in the side of his chest and was left paralyzed and a second victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his back, shoulder and wrist.  The victims’ vehicle had approximately 23 entry bullet holes in the driver’s side and windshield area.

Jones and others attempted to destroy a vehicle used during the shooting by setting is on fire in Naugatuck after the shooting.

Jones also appears in YouTube videos and in social media posts, where firearms are present, promoting the gang.

Jones pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, and one count of attempted murder and aiding and abetting, in violation of the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering (“VCAR”) statute.  Judge Arterton scheduled sentencing for February 23, 2022, at which time Jones faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.

Jones has been detained since August 6, 2020.

Jones, who pleaded guilty after a day of jury selection for his trial, is the last of eight defendants charged in this conspiracy to plead guilty.

This investigation is being conducted by ATF, the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Naugatuck Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Rahul Kale, Peter D. Markle, Karen L. Peck and Stephanie T. Levick.

This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.

PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities.  Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it.  If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.

OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROBERTO MUNIZ, 37, of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, was sentenced today via videoconference by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine from Puerto Rico to Connecticut through the U.S. Mail.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service developed evidence regarding a drug trafficking organization that was sending USPS parcels containing kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Connecticut and Massachusetts.  Between July and December 2018, law enforcement intercepted and seized five suspect parcels that were being mailed to addresses in Bristol, Meriden and Burlington, Connecticut, and in Worcester, Massachusetts. All five of the suspect parcels contained multiple kilogram-sized bricks of cocaine.  On several occasions, investigators conducted surveillance of the delivery of suspect parcels and the scheduled delivery of seized parcels.  During surveillance, investigators observed Miguel Freytes, Marcos Mendez, Omar Mendez and others picking up or attempting to pick up parcels that had been seized.  The investigation revealed that the cocaine was being sent from Puerto Rico by Muniz and others.

On January 9, 2019, investigators arrested several members of this drug trafficking organization and seized approximately 2.5 kilograms of cocaine, items used to process and package narcotics, and more than $150,000 in cash.  Muniz was arrested in Puerto Rico on January 15, 2019.

On January 23, 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging, Muniz, Freytes, Marcos Mendez, Omar Mendez, and two others with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and related offenses.

Muniz pleaded guilty on July 20, 2020.

Freytes, Marcos Mendez and Omar Mendez, all of Bristol, also pleaded guilty.

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.  The DEA Puerto Rico Caribbean Corridor Strike Force and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Newark Division, San Juan (P.R.) Office, have assisted the investigation.

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

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that TREA FRASER, 27, of New Haven, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2020, the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Gang Task Force and the West Haven Police Department began investigating the narcotics trafficking activity of Fraser and another individual.  Between October and December 2020, investigators made controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Fraser.  On February 9, 2021, a search of Fraser’s residence revealed quantities of crack cocaine and heroin, ammunition and $3,900 in cash.  A search of his vehicle revealed approximately 100 grams of cocaine and a loaded .45 caliber Glock 41 handgun.

Judge Shea scheduled sentencing for February 11, 2022, at which time Fraser faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of life imprisonment.

Fraser has been detained since his arrest on a federal criminal complaint on March 1, 2021.

This matter is being investigated by the FBI New Haven Safe Streets Gang Task Force and the West Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Konstantin Lantsman.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP).  The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In Connecticut, the City of Hartford will receive $1,875,000 to hire 15 officers.

“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”

“This substantial COPS Hiring Program award to the city of Hartford will allow the Hartford Police Department to replenish its ranks to fight crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Leonard C Boyle.  “Federal law enforcement will continue to work with HPD to make our capitol city safer for all who live, work and visit there.”

CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.  

Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.

To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.  

The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, and New Haven Police Chief Renee Dominguez announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport returned an indictment today charging SHAVARIUS SMITH, 21, of New Haven, with firearm and drug offenses.

As alleged in court documents, on October 8, 2021, at approximately 11:15 p.m., New Haven Police recovered a 9-millimeter “ghost gun” equipped with a 31-round high-capacity magazine, and distribution quantities of heroin and crack cocaine, from a parked stolen vehicle that Smith had been driving.  Smith, a known Bloods gang member, was released from prison on September 2, 2021, was serving a term of probation, and was wearing a GPS ankle monitor as a condition of his probation.  Officers located and arrested Smith a short time later.

It is alleged that Smith’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for larceny and drug 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 with Smith with possession of ammunition by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base (“crack cocaine”), which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle 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.

Smith has been detained since his arrest.

This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Haven Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria del Pilar Gonzalez through the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program and Project Longevity.

PSN, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts, is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities.  Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an indictment charging CHRISTOPHER MICHAELSON, 37, of Guilford, with receipt of child pornography.

The indictment was returned on November 3.  Michaelson appeared today via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on January 9, 2019, the Guilford Police Department assisted Burrillville (R.I.) Police with the arrest of Michaelson at his residence in Guilford on Rhode Island state charges for child molestation, solicitation and enticement.  During the arrest, officers seized Michaelson’s cellphone.  A court-authorized search of the seized phone revealed hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, primarily boys between the ages of five and 15.

Michaelson has been detained since his arrest.

The charge of receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle 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 Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, the Guilford Police Department and the Burrillville Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie T. Levick and Maria del Pilar Gonzalez.

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.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DAVID KANIA, 62, of Middlefield, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to offenses stemming from his fraud against several state-run wage subsidy and job training programs.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Kania was the owner and operator of three small businesses, principally in the dietary supplement and beverage industry.  Between 2013 and 2018, through his companies, Kania applied for and received state subsidies for employing unemployed jobseekers, including veterans, and for providing training to employees.  In order to receive funds, Kania submitted false documents to the Connecticut Department of Labor and the Workforce Investment Boards, which administers wage subsidy programs, showing that he had hired certain workers and they worked for his businesses for a certain period of time, when he knew that to be false.  Kania also submitted false invoices to the Manufacturing Innovation Fund (“MIF”) Program for training that was never done.  Through this scheme, Kania caused $941,723.24 in loss to the wage subsidy programs and $115,000 in loss to the MIF Program.

Kania also underreported his total income on his 2014 through 2018 federal tax returns by failing to account for $299,201.50 in business funds that he used for personal expenses.

Kania pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of filing a false tax return, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years.

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

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of the Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Labor.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Novick.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SAEED MUSTAPHA MOUSSA, 31, a citizen of Ghana last residing in East Hartford, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven to a child exploitation offense related to his sexual assault of a minor.

According to court documents and statements made in court, 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.  The cell phone and Google Photos account contained videos, taken between 2018 and 2020, of Moussa sexually assaulting a girl who was under the age of 12.

Moussa pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.  Judge Merriam scheduled sentencing for February 7, 2022.

Moussa has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on October 27, 2020.

This matter has been investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the East Hartford Police Department and the West Chester Township (Ohio) Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle thanked the Hartford 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.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on November 10, MICHAEL SHERIDAN, 27, of Colchester, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 34 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for illegal possession of a machinegun.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Sheridan purchased an untraceable machinegun (“ghost gun”) from an associate for $2,000, and then sold it another individual for $3,000.  On January 29, 2021, Sheridan transferred the machinegun to the purchaser at a parking lot in Cromwell.

Sheridan’s criminal history includes multiple felony state convictions, and he was on probation at the time of this offense.

Sheridan pleaded guilty on August 9, 2021.

Sheridan, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on January 4, 2022.

This matter has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Penobscot County (Maine) Sheriff’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Donovan and Edward Chang, with the assistance of Law Student Intern Lara Markey.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL FARIAS, 56, of Providence, Rhode Island, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to an offense related to his role in a scheme to steal tires and rims from new vehicles at car dealerships in northeastern states and then sell the stolen items to individuals across the country.

According to court documents and statement made in court, between May 2015 and August 2018, Farias and others stole tires and rims from numerous luxury vehicles at car dealerships in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and Maine.  The co-conspirators then sold the stolen goods to others around the U.S.

In pleading guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, Farias specifically admitted that, on August 1, 2016, he and others stole the rims and tires from four 2016 Chevrolet Suburbans at a car dealership located in Darien, Connecticut.

Farias was arrested on November 17, 2020.

Farias faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.  He is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.

This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Shelton, Milford, Waterbury, Stonington, Vernon, Darien, Westchester County (N.Y.), Bedford (N.Y.) and Portland (Maine) Police Departments, and the York County (Maine) Sheriff’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Vizcarrondo.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that Stamford YMCA (“Stamford YMCA”) of Stamford, Connecticut, has entered into a settlement agreement with the government to resolve allegations that Stamford YMCA’s childcare programs and other services were not accessible to a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”).

The matter was initiated by a complaint filed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut by Connecticut’s Center for Children’s Advocacy (CCA) alleging violations of Title III of the ADA.  Specifically, the complaint alleges that Stamford YMCA failed to adequately assist a child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder who requires  reasonable modifications for effective communication in order to fully participate in the program.

Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities and privileges of any place of public accommodation.  Stamford YMCA is a private entity that operates childcare facilities that are places of “public accommodation” within the meaning of Title III of the ADA.

The settlement agreement resolves complaints that Stamford YMCA was discriminating against the child on the basis of disability by refusing to conduct an individualized assessment of the child’s specific needs and by failing to make certain reasonable modifications to effectively communicate with the child.  Under the agreement, Stamford YMCA is obligated to take critical steps toward improving access for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, including revising its policies and procedures, revising its training, updating their parent handbook, and performing initial and ongoing assessments of the need for reasonable accommodations.  Stamford YMCA will evaluate each request on an individualized basis, relying on objective evidence and current medical standards.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to investigate and aggressively enforce violations of the Americas with Disabilities Act, especially violations that affect children and other vulnerable residents of Connecticut,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle.  “Parents rely on dependable childcare in order to work or go to school, and every child should have equal access to childcare and educational facilities.  I thank Stamford YMCA’s management for their full cooperation during this investigation and for addressing these ADA issues without the need for litigation.  Their actions will ensure that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder can enjoy the same benefits that other children enjoy, while giving their parents the confidence that staff will be trained to ensure that their children are well cared for.”

The agreement is effective for three years, during which time the U.S. Attorney’s Office will monitor Stamford YMCA’s compliance.

A copy of the settlement agreement will be found on www.ada.gov.

This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney William M Brown, Jr.

Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that any place of public accommodation or public entity in Connecticut is not accessible to persons with disabilities may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 203-821-3700.

Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Justice Department’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (800) 514-0383 (TTY).  More information about the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANDRE DENNIS, 40, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 82 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for narcotics distribution gun possession offenses.

According to the evidence presented during his trial, in November 2018, Dennis was on special parole following his most recent conviction for possession of narcotics.  On November 29, 2018, Connecticut parole officers and the Waterbury Police Department conducted a compliance check at Dennis’ residence and found a loaded Smith & Wesson pistol and approximately 45 grams of fentanyl, 12 grams of crack cocaine, and seven grams of powder cocaine.  The search also revealed items used to process and package narcotics for sale, and more than $9,000 in cash.

Dennis’ criminal history includes several state felony convictions.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

On May 28, 2021, a jury found Dennis guilty of one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine and cocaine base (“crack”), and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.  Dennis was found not guilty of one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Dennis has been detained since his arrest on November 29, 2018.

This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Waterbury Police Department, with the assistance of Connecticut State Parole.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Hal Chen.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned a five-count indictment charging DENIS MURTIC, 36, of Farmington; ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ, 45, of East Windsor; and EFRAIN ROSARIO, 41, of Hartford, with fentanyl and cocaine trafficking offenses.

As alleged in court documents, since September 2020, the DEA’s Hartford Task Force has been investigating Murtic for trafficking large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine.  On September 3, 2020, a court-authorized search of a Hartford apartment connected to Murtic revealed thousands of wax folds of fentanyl, more than 700 grams of cocaine, and items used to process and package narcotics for distribution.  On October 18, 2021, investigators made a controlled purchase of approximately 50 grams of fentanyl from Murtic and Rodriguez at a parking lot in East Hartford.  After the transaction, investigators observed Murtic and Rodriguez travel to an apartment on Wakefield Circle in East Hartford.  On October 26, 2021, Murtic, Rodriguez and Rosario were arrested at the apartment, which was being used as a narcotics processing and packing mill.  A search of the apartment revealed tens of thousands of glassine bags and wax folds of fentanyl, a compressed brick of cocaine weighing approximately one kilogram, a half-kilogram of cocaine, and numerous narcotics processing and packaging items, including a kilogram press.

The indictment, which was returned on November 3, charges Murtic, Rodriguez and Rosario with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine.  The defendants are also charged in multiple counts of possessing and/or distributing fentanyl and cocaine.  If convicted of the most serious charges, each faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle 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.

Murtic and Rosario are currently detained and Rodriguez is released on a $100,000 bond.

The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANTHONY FIGUEROA-GONZALEZ, 29, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force identified Figueroa-Gonzalez as a large-scale distributor of fentanyl.  On September 17 and November 7, 2019, investigators made controlled purchases, each of approximately 50 grams of fentanyl from Figueroa-Gonzalez in Bridgeport.

Figueroa-Gonzalez was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on May 6, 2020.  On July 27, 2021, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

Figueroa-Gonzalez, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on December 29.

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 was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERIC RUNDSTROM, 47, of Wallingford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for downloading child sex abuse images from the internet.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an FBI investigation revealed that Rundstrom had accessed an online website to connect with others interested in collecting and sharing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.  Investigators discovered a link to an online file hosting account associated with Rundstrom where hundreds of images and videos of child pornography had been stored, including images of adult males sexually abusing prepubescent females.

Rundstrom was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on February 14, 2019.  On March 4, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of receipt and possession of child pornography.

Rundstrom, who is released on a $25,000 bond, is required to report to prison on December 7.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia E. King.

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.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LUIS COLON, also known as “Shoes” and “Zapato,” 50, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2018, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force began investigating Ricardo Reyes, also known as “Rick the Ruler,” a member of the Los Solidos street gang who was distributing fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and crack in the area of Park Street and Hungerford Street in Hartford.  During the investigation, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled purchases of narcotics from Reyes.  Court-authorized wiretaps confirmed that Reyes was distributing narcotics to numerous customers, and identified individuals who supplied drugs to Reyes and associates, including Colon, who sold drugs on his behalf.  Intercepted communications also revealed Reyes was acquiring and trafficking firearms.

Colon, a member of Los Solidos, has a lengthy criminal history that includes convictions for firearm, robbery, narcotics and other offenses.  He was on probation for the robbery offense when he was distributing fentanyl.

Colon has been detained since his arrest on June 19, 2019.  On June 27, 2019, a grand jury Hartford returned a 32-count indictment charging Reyes, Colon and 13 associates with various narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses.  On April 6, 2021, Colon pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Reyes pleaded guilty and, on February 11, 2021, was sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment.

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.  The Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division provided valuable assistance to the investigation.

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

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHAZ DEAR, also known as “Spazz,” 24, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 78 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a loaded handgun. 

According to court documents and statements made in court, in late 2019, law enforcement received information that Dear, who was on state parole, was selling marijuana.  Investigators subsequently made a controlled purchase of marijuana from Dear.  On January 30, 2020, Dear was arrested after a court-authorized search of his residence revealed a Glock 27, .40 caliber handgun with an extended magazine loaded with 23 rounds of ammunition, as well as small quantities of heroin and crack cocaine.

Dear has been a member of the “Greene Homes Boyz” (“GHB/Hotz”), a gang based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport’s North End, and his criminal history includes state felony convictions for narcotics, weapon and larceny offenses.  In text messages in the weeks prior to his arrest in this case, Dear and other GHB/Hotz members discussed their prior and planned shootings of rival gang members.  Judge Bryant found that, in the approximately six months Dear was on state parole prior to his arrest, he was dealing narcotics and firearms, and that the Glock 27 he possessed had the potential to aid those other felony offenses.

Dear has been detained since his arrest.  On March 31, 2021, he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force and Bridgeport Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Kale.

This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.

PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities.  Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it.  If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.

OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Leonard C Boyle, 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 Christina D. Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, announced that JOHN BERNARDO, 65, of West Haven, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him for his role in conspiracy to defraud the City of West Haven.

Bernardo surrendered to law enforcement this morning.  He appeared before U.S. District Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and was released on a $250,000 bond.

As alleged in the complaint, Bernardo has been employed by the City of West Haven as a Housing Specialist in the office of Community Development Administration.  Michael DiMassa was employed as an Administrative Assistant to the City Council and was a Connecticut State Representative elected to represent West Haven and New Haven.  In January 2021, DiMassa and Bernardo formed Compass Investment Group, LLC.  Beginning in February 2021, Compass Investment Group LLC fraudulently billed the City of West Haven and its “COVID-19 Grant Department” for consulting services purportedly provided to the West Haven Health Department that were not performed.  From February 2021 through September 2021, the City of West Haven paid Compass Investment Group a total of $636,783.70.  It is alleged that Bernardo received at least $45,000 of these funds.

The complaint charges Bernardo with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.  Both offenses carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

DiMassa was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on October 20, 2021.  He is released on a $250,000 bond.

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

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General for Investigations.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ALICIA GARDNER, 51, of Griswold, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to eight months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for embezzling money from federally subsidized housing complexes that she had managed.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Gardner was employed by Garden Homes Management Corporation with responsibilities that included managing the Salem Village I and II housing complexes in Brooklyn, Connecticut, and the St. Mary’s housing complex in East Hartford.  The housing complexes principally catered to elderly and disabled citizens receiving federal rental subsidies from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  Between approximately 2009 and 2018, Gardner diverted rental payments and other tenant fees to a separate account she had set up for cable fees, and then diverted those payments to pay more than $400,000 in personal expenses.  Gardner also overcharged tenants a total of more than $60,000 for cable expenses, which increased the amount of money available to be diverted.  In addition, Gardner embezzled at least $70,000 in rental payments paid by St. Mary’s tenants.

Judge Bolden ordered Gardner to pay $501,656.17 in restitution.

Gardner pleaded guilty to the offense on June 3, 2021.

Gardner, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on January 3, 2022.

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Novick.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that STEVEN KNOX, 45, of New Britain, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to theft government property.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in the early morning hours of May 19, 2021, the tire shed at a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) vehicle maintenance facility in Hartford was burglarized and approximately 43 tires were stolen.  The facility’s surveillance video showed a pickup truck pulling up to the tire shed at approximately 1:30 a.m.  Knox and another individual then broke into the shed, loaded tires into the bed of pickup, and then drove off.  Knox was formerly employed by a USPS towing contractor and possessed a key card to access the vehicle maintenance facility’s gate.  Knox then sold the stolen tires, which had a value of approximately $3,836, to a tire shop in New Britain for $1,500.

Knox was arrested on June 8, 2021.

Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for January 27, 2022, at which time Knox faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.  Knox is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with the assistance of the New Britain Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Gresham.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that CONSTANTINO ACOSTA-BANDA, 43, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Chula Vista, California, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 70 months of imprisonment for trafficking heroin and fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force began investigating an organization that was distributing heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine in an around Bridgeport.  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, revealed that the organization had a connection to Mexican drug cartel traffickers, and that members of the organization were eager to receive a steady supply of narcotics from the west coast of the U.S.

In December 2019, members of the organization traveled to a parking lot in San Diego and purchased from their suppliers 1.1 kilograms of fentanyl in exchange for $27,000.  After this successful transaction, they arranged to purchase five kilograms of heroin from their suppliers.  On February 10, 2020, Acosta-Banda and three other individuals were arrested after they arrived at the same parking lot to conduct the transaction and investigators seized from them a box containing approximately 4.9 kilograms of heroin.  A related search of a storage locker in San Diego revealed approximately six kilograms of cocaine.

Acosta-Banda has been detained since his arrest.  On March 4, 2021, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

Acosta-Banda, who has been deported to Mexico at least 17 times since 2002, faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term.  In 2017, while driving under the influence in California, Acosta-Banda was involved in a hit-and-run crash that seriously injured a six-year-old boy.

This matter has been investigated by the DEA’s Bridgeport HIDTA Task Force with the assistance of the DEA San Diego Field Division.  The DEA’s Bridgeport HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford and Danbury Police Departments.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck and Lauren C. 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.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting 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 the unsealing of a federal criminal complaint charging CHRISTIAN VELEZ, 23, with federal robbery and firearm offenses.

Velez is currently being sought by law enforcement for his alleged involvement in a series of robberies throughout Connecticut beginning in September 2021.  In addition to a federal arrest warrant, multiple state arrest warrants have been issued for Velez.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Velez.  Individuals with information concerning this case are encouraged to contact the FBI’s New Haven Field Office at (203) 503-5580, or by submitting a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

The complaint charges Velez with Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  The complaint affidavit remains sealed.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle 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 Burau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police and several local police departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KYLE PITTS, also known as “Bark,” 37, of West Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 47 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl.

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

Pitts has been detained since his arrest on November 4, 2020.  On that date, a search of his residence, vehicle and person revealed fentanyl packaged for distribution, a small amount of crack cocaine, items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, gold and diamond jewelry, a Rolex watch, and more than $2,000 in cash.

On May 7, 2021, Pitts pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl.

This is Pitts’ second federal narcotics conviction.  On July 22, 2011, Pitts was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 100 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for the gang-related distribution of crack cocaine in Hartford.  In February 2016, due to changes in the federal sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine offenses, Pitts’ sentence was reduced to 80 months of imprisonment.  He was released from federal prison in August 2016.

Johnson and Walcott also pleaded guilty.  On July 22, 2021, Johnson, also known as “Buck,” of East Hartford, was sentenced to 37 months of imprisonment, and on September 7, 2021, Walcott also known as “Jabari Walcott-Greene,” of Hartford, was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment.

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.

After serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Connecticut for 40 years, and as Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Division for more than 30 years, John B. Hughes today retired from federal service.

Hughes, a resident of Branford, joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut as a Special Assistant in February 1980, and was appointed an AUSA in November 1981.  In June 1989, he was named Chief of the Civil Division, and he held that position since that time.  Hughes served under 14 U.S. Attorneys, and as Civil Chief under 12 of those U.S. Attorneys.

During his 41 years of service and, in particular, his time as Civil Division Chief, Hughes demonstrated the highest level of integrity and skill in all his duties.  His rigorous attention to detail ensured that the Civil Division’s mission consistently reflected well on the District and the Justice Department.  Under his management, the District of Connecticut created robust Affirmative Civil Enforcement and Health Care Fraud programs, which produced hundreds of millions of dollars in civil recoveries.  He oversaw the successful defense of numerous complex medical malpractice and tort cases, and he personally litigated tribal recognition cases involving voluminous records and discovery lasting several years.  Also, Hughes was a founding member and the first chairperson of the Civil Chiefs Working Group.

In 2011, Hughes received the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys Director’s Executive Achievement Award, one of the Justice Department’s highest awards for employee performance.

“With his dedication, commitment, and solid grace, John Hughes has instilled all members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office with a sense of reverence for our responsibilities and an appreciation for what it means to represent our fellow citizens,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Leonard C Boyle.  “Throughout his career, John has exemplified the highest traditions of the Department of Justice.  He has been a dedicated advocate, a thoughtful and kind leader, and a steadfast friend.  I know that everyone joins me in wishing John a long, healthy and happy retirement.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is charged with enforcing federal criminal laws in Connecticut and representing the federal government in civil litigation.  The Office is composed of approximately 68 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and approximately 54 staff members at offices in New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport.

For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut, please visit www.justice.gov/ct.