District of Connecticut

RANDALL TILTON, 32, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 210 years of imprisonment for child pornography production offenses related to his sexual of abuse of seven young girls in three states over the course of several years.

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

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

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

"Tilton systematically and repeatedly preyed upon young children for his own sexual pleasure,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Leonard C Boyle.  “And since some of videos of his sexual abuse of one child will likely exist forever on the internet, he has ensured that she will continue to be victimized, every time those images are viewed by others, for the rest of her life.  I commend the FBI, NCIS and Groton Town Police Department investigators for helping to ensure justice for these children and their families, and I thank the New London State’s Attorney’s Office for its close cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.  Their combined effort, and this severe sentence, will undoubtedly protect children from future harm.”

“Today’s sentence will ensure that Mr. Tilton will not be able to inflict physical and emotional pain on our society’s most vulnerable population, said David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  “The horrific nature of these crimes serves as a constant reminder of why we as law enforcement and all residents of this country must do everything we can to protect our children at all times.”

“The Groton community is safer today now that a serial sexual predator who preyed on numerous children, the majority of whom are Navy dependents, has been brought to justice,” said NCIS Northeast Field Office Special Agent in Charge Michael Wiest.  “We offer our heartfelt gratitude to the Groton Town Police Department and the FBI for their substantial efforts to bring resolution to these reprehensible crimes.  NCIS remains committed to working closely with our local and federal law enforcement partners to protect children in the vibrant communities where Department of the Navy personnel live and work.”

“I must emphasize that this case is among the most disturbing and heinous series of acts that any law enforcement officer will ever encounter in their careers,” said Chief Louis J. Fusaro, Jr. of the Town of Groton Police Department.  “It will stay with all of them and the victims for the rest of their lives.  I could not be prouder of the work done by our detectives and investigators who dedicated hundreds of hours conducting interviews of victims, gathering and reviewing digital evidence, and ultimately obtaining a confession from Tilton that would lead to this conviction.  Through the exceptional efforts of these officers and in partnerships with federal agents, the Connecticut Department of Correction and prosecutors from the New London State’s Attorney’s Office and the U. S. Attorney’s Office, this predator will never victimize another child.  I also want to acknowledge the involvement of forensic interviewers from the New London County Child Advocacy Center who played a critical role in this case from the very beginning.  The public should know that through these partnerships and the combined efforts of all involved, that it is a team effort to bring criminals like this to justice.  We hope that the conviction of this predator will help the many victims impacted by his actions to begin the healing process.”    

Tilton has been detained since his arrest.  On December 7, 2020, he pleaded guilty to seven counts of production of child pornography.

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

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 JOSHUA JENKINS, 28, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 21 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl and crack cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in July 2019, after a spate of gun violence in Hartford, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, DEA, Hartford Police Department and other law enforcement agencies initiated an investigation targeting gang-related drug distribution and associated violence in north Hartford.  Investigators determined that a significant amount of the gun violence was committed by members of two groups, the DUMOUTS and the Hoodstars.

Between July and September 2019, investigators made three controlled purchases of fentanyl, followed by three controlled purchases of fentanyl and crack, from Jenkins.  It is alleged that Jenkins has been a member of the DUMOUTS.

Jenkins was arrested on September 13, 2019.  On July 9, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of fentanyl and cocaine base (“crack”).

Jenkins has been detained since January 25, 2021, after he violated the conditions of his release and his bond was revoked.

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 is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.

A federal jury in Hartford convicted a Russian national yesterday for his role in operating a “crypting” service used to conceal “Kelihos” malware from antivirus software, enabling hackers to systematically infect victim computers around the world with malicious software, including ransomware.  Oleg Koshkin, 41, formerly of Estonia, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse and one count of aiding and abetting computer fraud and abuse.  He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 20.

“By operating a website that was intended to hide malware from antivirus programs, Koshkin provided a critical service that enabled other cyber criminals to infect thousands of computers around the world,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Leonard C Boyle.  “We will investigate and prosecute the individuals who aid and abet cyber criminals as vigorously as we do the ones who actually hit the ‘send’ button on viruses and other malicious software.”

“The defendant designed and operated a service that was an essential tool for some of the world’s most destructive cybercriminals, including ransomware attackers,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department's Criminal Division.  “The verdict should serve as a warning to those who provide infrastructure to cybercriminals: the Criminal Division and our law enforcement partners consider you to be just as culpable as the hackers whose crimes you enable — and we will work tirelessly to bring you to justice.”

“Mr. Koshkin and his associates knowingly provided crypting services designed to help malicious software bypass anti-virus software,” said Special Agent in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI’s New Haven Division.  “The criminal nature of the Crypt4U service was a clear threat to the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer systems everywhere.  We at the FBI will never stop pursuing those like Mr. Koshkin for perpetrating cyber crimes and threats to the public at large.”

According to court documents and evidence introduced during the trial, Koshkin operated the websites “crypt4u.com,” “fud.bz,” and others.  The websites promised to render malicious software fully undetectable (FUD) 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 (RATs), keyloggers, credential stealers, and cryptocurrency miners.

In particular, 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.  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.  At the time it was dismantled by the FBI, the Kelihos botnet was known to include at least 50,000 compromised computers around the world.

Koshkin was arrested in California on September 6, 2019, and has been detained since his arrest.

Koshkin’s co-defendant, Pavel Tsurkan, is charged with conspiring to cause damage to 10 or more protected computers, and aiding and abetting Levashov in causing damage to 10 or more protected computers.  He is released on bond while awaiting trial.

As to Tsurkan, an indictment is merely an allegation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Levashov was arrested by the Spanish National Police on April 7, 2017, and extradited to the United States.  On September 12, 2018, he pleaded guilty to one count of causing intentional damage to a protected computer, one count of conspiracy, one count of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.

The FBI’s New Haven Division is investigating the case through its Connecticut Cyber Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang of the United States Attorney’s Office and Senior Counsel Ryan K.J. Dickey of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs.  The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board also provided significant assistance.

In April 2021, the Department of Justice announced 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.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSEPH DIAZ, 28, of Newington, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 78 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for fentanyl distribution and firearm possession offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 13, 2019, members of the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force were conducting surveillance in an unrelated investigation when they observed Diaz, who one investigator identified as a former Hartford Police Cadet, conducting a drug transaction on Stedman Street in Hartford.  Later that day, investigators stopped a car Diaz was driving and found Diaz in possession of a loaded .380 caliber pistol, approximately 700 bags of heroin/fentanyl, and $1,704 in cash.

Diaz was placed under arrested and transported to the Hartford Police station, where he gave consent to investigators to search his Newington residence.  After investigators left the interview room, an officer observed through a window that Diaz was typing something on his watch.  The officer opened the door, removed the watch and discovered that it was an Apple-type watch.  Shortly thereafter, investigators who had arrived at Diaz’s residence observed Diaz’s father, Jose Diaz, exit through the rear door of the residence carrying a black plastic bag and then run toward the parking lot area.  Officers approached Jose Diaz, who dropped the plastic bag and a fanny pack.  A search of the bag and fanny pack revealed more than 3,300 bags of fentanyl, approximately 80 grams of unpackaged fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia.

Jose Diaz consented to a search of his phone.  On the phone screen there were several unopened text messages, including one from Jose Diaz that read “Go now.  Everything.”

A search of Joseph Diaz’s residence revealed an additional quantity of packaged fentanyl, approximately 21 grams of unpackaged fentanyl, a loaded .22 caliber pistol, assorted ammunition, and approximately $2,500 in cash.

On February 17, 2021, Diaz pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Diaz, who is released on a $75,000 bond, is required to report to prison on July 28, 2021.

Jose Diaz pleaded guilty to a related charge and has been sentenced.

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

PAVEL TSURKAN, 33, of Estonia, pleaded guilty today in the District of Connecticut to a federal charge related to his role in operating a “crypting” service used to conceal “Kelihos” malware from antivirus software, enabling hackers to systematically infect victim computers around the world with malicious software, including ransomware.

Tsurkan pleaded guilty via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti to one count of aiding and abetting unauthorized access to a protected computer, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Tsurkan, his co-defendant Oleg Koshkin, and others operated an online, for-profit service known as Crypt4U via the websites “crypt4u.com,” “crypt4u.net,” “fud.bz,” “fud.re,” as well as a custom FTP service for high-volume processing.  The websites promised to render malicious software fully undetectable (FUD) by nearly every major provider of antivirus software.  Tsurkan and his co-conspirators claimed that their services could be used for malware such as botnets, remote access trojans (RATs), keyloggers, credential stealers, and cryptocurrency miners.

Tsurkan provided the Crypt4U service to assist individuals who created and maintained networks of infected and compromised computers, known as “botnets.”  In particular, Tsurkan provided the Crypt4U service to Peter Yuryevich Levashov, who used the service in connection with the Kelihos botnet. The Kelihos botnet was used to send spam, to conduct denial of service attacks, and to distribute ransomware, among other criminal acts.  At the time it was dismantled by the FBI, the Kelihos botnet was known to include at least 50,000 compromised computers around the world, including computers in Connecticut.

Tsurkan is released on a $200,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for September 27, 2021, before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford.

On June 15, 2016, a jury in Hartford found Oleg Koshkin, a Russian national last residing in Estonia, guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse and one count of aiding and abetting computer fraud and abuse.  Koshkin is detained while awaiting sentencing.

On September 12, 2018, Levashov pleaded guilty to one count of causing intentional damage to a protected computer, one count of conspiracy, one count of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.  He is awaiting sentencing.

The FBI’s New Haven Division is investigating the case through its Connecticut Cyber Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang of the United States Attorney’s Office and Senior Counsel Ryan K.J. Dickey of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs.  The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board also provided significant assistance.

In April 2021, the Department of Justice announced 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.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that VINCENT DECARO, 31, of Stamford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to a charge related to his manufacturing and distributing counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl analogues.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Decaro and an associate purchased fentanyl analogues from suppliers in China and, working out of Decaro’s residence at 77 West Hill Circle in Stamford, pressed the drug into counterfeit oxycodone pills, which they sold to customers on dark web markets.  David Reichard, who lived for a short time at Decaro’s residence, helped Decaro press pills and mail the pills to customers.

On April 3, 2018, a court-authorized search of Decaro’s residence revealed numerous pills containing approximately 330 grams of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl, approximately 40 grams of fentanyl analogues in powder form, three pill presses, instructions on how to prepare the fentanyl analogue Carfentanil, a hazardous material suit, a gas/respirator-type mask, and numerous U.S. Postal mail envelopes.

At the time of the search of Decaro’s home in April 2018, Decaro was in Europe.  On September 21, 2018, Decaro and his associate were arrested by Albanian State Police as they were attempting to cross the border from Albania into Kosovo.  A search of an apartment in Tirana where they had been staying revealed alprazolam, fentanyl and other controlled substances; tools and dies for pressing pills, and instructions for synthesizing fentanyl.

Decaro pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of fentanyl analogues.  Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for September 10, 2021.

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

Reichard pleaded guilty to a related charge in September 2019 and awaits sentencing.

This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Connecticut State Police and Stamford Police Department, with the assistance of the Albanian State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle thanked the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs for coordinating the extradition proceedings in this matter.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOAQUIN VERAS, 47, of Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 78 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in March and May 2019, investigators made two controlled purchases of approximately 100 grams of heroin each from Veras.  Investigators then arranged to purchase a kilogram of heroin from Veras for $58,000.

On May 16, 2019, Veras was arrested in possession of approximately one kilogram of heroin.  A search of a Stamford apartment that Veras used as a stash location revealed another kilogram of heroin, a quantity of cocaine, items used to process and package narcotics for sale, and $7,000 in cash.

Veras has been detained since his arrest.  He pleaded guilty on September 28, 2020.

In August 2011, Veras was sentenced in the Eastern District of New York to 57 months of imprisonment for conspiring to distribute heroin.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and the Stamford Police Department.  The Task Force includes personnel from the DEA, Connecticut State Police and Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, Bridgeport and Trumbull Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Vizcarrondo.

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, announced that eight individuals have been charged for their alleged participation in a drug trafficking ring.

On June 7, 2021, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging the following individuals with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances:

TAJH WILEY, a.k.a. “Yung,” 25, of Norwalk
KENSTON HARRY, 40, of Bloomfield
JEVAUGHN WATSON, a.k.a. “Russ,” 27, of Ansonia
MYRON BROWN, a.k.a. “Farid,” 47, of Chester, Pennsylvania
SASHERY FELIZ, 26, of Yonkers, New York
PETER MUNOZ, a.k.a. Peter Escalante-Munoz, 33, of Bridgeport
CHARLES RICHARDSON, a.k.a. “Uncle Charles,” 67, of Bridgeport
DESTINY WADE, 27, of Norwalk           

Seven of the eight defendants were arrested yesterday.  Brown has been in state custody in Pennsylvania.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, a court-authorized wiretap of Wiley’s phone revealed that he led a drug trafficking organization that has distributed large quantities of cocaine and marijuana in Connecticut and elsewhere.

In association with yesterday’s arrests, investigators executed multiple search warrants and seized approximately two kilograms of cocaine, approximately 260 grams of fentanyl, approximately 50 grams of crack cocaine, approximately 30 pounds of marijuana, two kilogram presses and others items used to process and package narcotics, 11 firearms, three high-capacity magazines, approximately 500 rounds of ammunition, three high-end automobiles, more than $250,000 in jewelry, and approximately $25,000 in cash.

“We are committed to using federal law enforcement resources to prosecute those responsible for flooding our communities with illegal drugs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle.  “We thank the DEA, all of their task force members, and our other local law enforcement partners for sharing in this commitment and their great work on this investigation.

“DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling violent poly drug trafficking organizations, like this one, operating throughout the state of Connecticut,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Boyle.  “These enforcement actions with our federal, state and local partners show what happens when law enforcement works together.”

Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances 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 each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fairfield Police Department, Bridgeport Police Department, Norwalk Police Department, Stamford Police Department, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service.  The HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford and Danbury Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick J. Doherty 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, announced that RAUL CABRERA-VASQUEZ, also known as “Edgar,” 50, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing oxycodone from his New Britain grocery store.

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

According to court documents and statements made in court, in the summer of 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and the New Britain Police Department.began investigating individuals who were selling oxycodone pills from Elzier Grocery, located at 1485 Corbin Avenue in New Britain.  Cabrera-Vasquez owned and helped operate Elzier Grocery.  Between July and December 2019, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of oxycodone pills from Cabrera-Perez and others at the store.

On February 26, 2020, court authorized searches of the Elzier Grocery and a nearby residence revealed more than 1000 oxycodone pills, drug packaging materials, drug ledgers, and approximately $10,000 in cash.

Cabrera-Vasquez was arrested on March 1, 2020.  On February 18, 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, oxycodone.

Cabrera-Vasquez, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on July 7.

This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and the New Britain Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont, Jr.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut announced that JOHN T. PERUGINI, 79, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 33 months of imprisonment, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for possessing child sex abuses images.

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

Perugini was arrested in a federal criminal complaint on November 8, 2019.  On December 14, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.

Perugini, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on July 21, 2021.

This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the Waterbury Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria del Pilar Gonzalez and Brendan Keefe.

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

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

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERICK E. GOMEZ, JR., 28, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 3, 2020, Gomez fled from his car after he was involved in a car accident in Woodbridge.  A search of the car revealed a loaded .380 semi-automatic pistol, 15 baggies of crack cocaine and 12 folds of heroin and fentanyl.  Gomez was subsequently charged with state offenses stemming from this incident and was released on bond.  On July 31, 2020, Gomez was arrested on related federal charges.  At the time of his arrest he possessed quantities of crack cocaine, heroin/fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for September 2, 2021, at which time Gomez faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of at least five years.

Gomez has been detained since his federal arrest.

This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Haven Police Department and Woodbridge Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan, Peter D. Markle and Tara E. Levens.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RODNEY SNAPE, 40, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment for violating conditions of his federal supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2013, Judge Arterton sentenced Snape to 105 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for distributing crack cocaine.  In February 2015, Snape’s sentence was reduced to 88 months of imprisonment due to a change in the federal crack cocaine sentencing guidelines.  He was released from prison in June 2019.

On February 20, 2020, Snape was arrested by New Haven Police for possession of narcotics with intent to distribute.  He pleaded nolo contendere in state court and, in January 2021, was sentenced to a suspended three-year term of incarceration and two years of probation.

On May 5, 2021, Snape was again arrested by New Haven Police after he was found in possession of approximately eight grams of cocaine, items used to package narcotics for street sale, and more than $4,500 in cash.  The case is pending in state court.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony E. Kaplan.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Joshua W. McCallister, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that STEVEN KNOX, 45, of New Britain, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with theft of government property.

Knox appeared today via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and was released on a $100,000 bond.

As alleged in the complaint, 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.

The charge of theft of government property carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

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 U.S. Postal Inspection Service with the assistance of the New Britain Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarala V. Nagala.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ARASH VAKHSHOURI, 42, of Las Vegas, Nevada, pleaded guilty today to submitting false documents to a government agency.

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

According to court documents and statements made in court, between January and May 2017, Vakhshouri drafted and sent a total of seven fraudulent letters to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in Connecticut purporting to be from two individuals who had applied to USCIS to become legal residents of the U.S. in March 2016.  The letters, which included the victims’ names, passport numbers, application numbers and alien file numbers, fraudulently requested the withdrawal or cancellation of the victims’ applications for legal permanent resident status in the U.S.

Vakhshouri was arrested on June 20, 2019.

Judge Arterton scheduled sentencing for August 31, 2021, at which time Vakhshouri faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.

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

This matter has been investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Manchester Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel J. Gentile and Conor M. Reardon.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROBERT McGUIRE, 41, of Easton, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny to production of child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between February 2019 and June 2020, McGuire repeatedly sexually abused a minor victim and took photographs and videos of the sexual assaults.

Judge Chatigny scheduled sentencing for October 14, 2021, at which time McGuire faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.

McGuire has been detained since his arrest by the Easton Police Department on related state charges on July 10, 2020.

This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Easton Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Sarala V. Nagala.

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

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

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

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, announced that VINCENT CLARK, also known as “Pudge,” 26, of New Haven, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with distributing heroin and fentanyl.

Clark appeared today via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven and is detained.

As alleged in court documents, between March and May 2021, law enforcement made six controlled purchases of redistribution quantities of heroin/fentanyl from Clark in New Haven.  Clark is currently on state parole for a 2019 narcotics conviction.

The complaint charges Clark with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin and fentanyl, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

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 DEA’s New Haven Task Force, which includes personnel from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria del Pilar Gonzalez 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 CORTNEY DUNLAP, 36, of Burlington, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to health care fraud related to a wide-ranging scheme that defrauded the Connecticut Medicaid Program of more than $1.3 million.

According to court documents and statements in court, from 2014 to 2020, Dunlap was a Licensed Professional Counselor with offices located on Brainard Road in Hartford.  Dunlap also owned two entities, Inspirational Care and KEYS Program Inc., through which he managed group homes in Hartford, Bristol, Cromwell and Waterbury, including residences for women and children who were victims of domestic abuse.

From August 2018 through October 2020, Dunlap engaged in a scheme to defraud the Connecticut Medicaid Program by submitting claims for psychotherapy services that were purportedly provided to Medicaid clients.  The vast majority of the claims were for occasions and dates of service when no psychotherapy services of any kind had been provided to the Medicaid clients identified in the claims.  On a limited number of occasions, some of the services were rendered by unlicensed individuals who were not qualified or licensed to provide psychotherapy.

The Connecticut Medicaid program suspended Dunlap as a Medicaid provider on approximately April 28, 2020, and, on May 7, 2020, federal law enforcement agents executed a court-authorized search of Dunlap’s Hartford offices.  Dunlap subsequently billed Medicaid for psychotherapy services through Inspirational Care for services that which were not provided, using the provider number of a licensed clinical social worker who did not provide the services and was not aware that her provider number was being used to bill for the nonexistent services.

Dunlap required tenants of the group homes operated or managed by Inspirational Care and KEYS program to provide copies of the Medicaid member cards for the tenants and their children as a condition of the tenants residing at the group homes.  Dunlap then used these Medicaid member numbers to bill Medicaid for psychotherapy services that were not provided to the tenants or their children.  Dunlap used the Medicaid member numbers of approximately 65 tenants or their children to bill Medicaid for fraudulent services, and Medicaid paid Dunlap approximately $543,117 for psychotherapy services that were not provided to these individuals.

In February 2019, the New Haven Public Schools hired Dunlap as a guidance counselor at the New Haven Adult and Continuing Education Center.  In February 2020, Dunlap accessed a database containing personal identifying information of students and former students enrolled at New Haven Adult and Continuing Education, many of whom Dunlap did not have any professional relationship with and had never met.  Dunlap used the information he acquired to determine whether the students were insured by Medicaid and, if so, identified the students’ Medicaid member identification numbers.  He then billed Medicaid for fraudulent psychotherapy services that were never provided to the students.  Dunlap used the personal identifying information and Medicaid member numbers of approximately 135 New Haven Adult and Continuing Education students to bill Medicaid for fraudulent services, and was paid a total of approximately $593,383 by Medicaid for these claims.

Dunlap also fraudulently billed Medicaid for psychotherapy services purportedly provided to employees of Inspirational Care when no such services were provided, and submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid for psychotherapy services purportedly provided to members of his family when no such services were provided.

Dunlap was arrested on a criminal complaint on October 14, 2020.

Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for August 27, 2021, at which time Dunlap faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.  Dunlap has agreed to pay restitution to Medicaid in the amount of $1,313,322.  To help satisfy his restitution obligation, Dunlap has agreed to forfeit a bank account containing approximately $152,000.

This investigation has been conducted by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Education, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney’s Office, the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office and the Connecticut Department of Social Services.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Sheldon with the assistance of Auditor Susan N. Spiegel.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALICIA GARDNER, 51, of Griswold, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 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, the government will present evidence at sentencing that Gardner embezzled more than $150,000 in rental payments paid by St. Mary’s tenants.

At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Gardner faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

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

This matter is being 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 is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Novick.

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 ANTHONY HARRIS, 51, of Farmington, with multiple counts relating to the illegal distribution of oxycodone.

The indictment was returned on June 1 and Harris was arrested today.  He appeared via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson and was released on a $50,000 bond.

As alleged in statements made in court, Harris was prescribed oxycodone, but unlawfully sold his prescribed pills over the course of more than three years.

The indictment charges Harris with four counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, oxycodone, and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribute, oxycodone.  Each charge 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.

This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and the Bristol Police Department.  The Tactical Diversion Squad includes officers from the Bristol, East Windsor, Hamden, New Britain, West Haven, Newington, Manchester, Glastonbury and Watertown Police Departments. Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Conor M. Reardon and Nathaniel J. Gentile.

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 New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging CHRISTOPHER M. LISCIO, 38, of Wallingford, with oxycodone and cocaine trafficking offenses.

As alleged in court documents, between February and April 2020, Liscio sold 2,000 30mg oxycodone pills.  It is alleged that this narcotics trafficking activity occurred while Liscio was released on bond after he was arrested in February 2020 on state charges related to the alleged sexual assault of a minor.

Liscio was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on May 26, 2021.  On that date, a search of his Wallingford residence revealed approximately 500 grams of cocaine, oxycodone pills and more than $20,000 in cash.  He has been detained since his arrest.

The indictment charges Liscio with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.  Each charge 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 a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and the Wallingford Police Department.  The Tactical Diversion Squad includes officers from the Bristol, East Windsor, Hamden, New Britain, West Haven, Newington, Manchester, Glastonbury and Watertown Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda S. Oakes.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JASON KELLER, 35, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 78 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for coercing a minor girl to send him sexually explicit photos of herself through the internet.

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

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

On December 2, 2020, Keller pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography.

Keller formerly resided in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. 

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

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

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

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

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JESSICA STUART, 38, of Fairfield, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to health care fraud and identity theft offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Stuart was employed by Helping Hands Academy, LLC, in Bridgeport, which provided applied behavior analysis services to children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).   Helping Hands Academy enrolled as a participating provider in the Connecticut Medicaid Program (“Medicaid”) in approximately September 2018.

Medicaid requires that ASD treatment services be provided under the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner or a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), a graduate-level certification in behavior analysis.  BCBAs are also required to be credentialed in writing by the state.  Stuart does not have a college degree, was not a BCBA or licensed medical practitioner, and did not have any formal training in applied behavior analysis for ASD.  Between approximately May 2019 and September 2020, Helping Hands Academy paid Stuart at least $143,0000 and submitted to Medicaid numerous fraudulent claims for applied behavioral analysis services that Stuart performed but was not qualified to provide.  Stuart used the name of an individual without the individual’s knowledge or authorization so that Stuart could impersonate a BCBA when she knew she was not a BCBA.

Medicaid suffered a loss of $369,439.96 as a result of Stuart’s conduct.

Stuart pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and one count of using false identification in connection with health care fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.  Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for August 31, 2021.

Stuart is released pending sentencing.

On April 28, 2021, Nicole Balkas, the owner of Helping Hands Academy, pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud.  She awaits sentencing.

This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle acknowledged the valuable cooperation of the Connecticut Department of Social Services in the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.

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

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 ERIC WOODIE, 30, of New Britain; DOMINIC COLON-BROWN, 27, of Farmington; and JULIAN JUDGE, 22, of New Britain, have been charged federally with trafficking firearms that were stolen in Florida to Connecticut.

Colon-Brown and Judge were arrested yesterday on criminal complaints.  They appeared via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish and are detained pending detention hearings scheduled for June 1.  Woodie has been detained in state custody since March 2021.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in late February 2021, Woodie rented a car, which Judge and Colon-Brown used to drive to Florida to obtain stolen firearms and bring the firearms back to Connecticut. On March 8, 2021, law enforcement recovered a .40 caliber handgun and a high capacity magazine that Woodie discarded during a foot chase in New Britain.  A subsequent search of a New Britain apartment where Woodie and Judge resided revealed three additional loaded firearms, two extended magazines, more than 100 rounds of ammunition and approximately 60 grams of cocaine.  The serial number on one of the firearms found in the apartment matched the serial number of a firearm that had been stolen in Florida in February 2021.

It is further alleged that Woodie, Colon-Brown and Judge are captured in recorded conversations discussing the illegal acquisition and sale of firearms, and that Judge and Colon-Brown posted photos of themselves on social media in possession of firearms.

Woodie, Colon-Brown and Judge are each charged with conspiring to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license and to transport stolen firearms in interstate commerce, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.

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

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

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRANDON SPENCE, also known as “Spun,” 33, of Hartford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 24 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his federal supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 5, 2019, Judge Thompson sentenced Spence to 24 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.  Spence, who had been detained since his arrest in June 2018, was released from federal prison in February 2020.

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

The two-year sentence was the maximum allowed for the violation of supervised release.  Spence also has assault, weapons possession and larceny charges stemming from this incident pending in state court.

This matter was investigated by the FBI Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department.  The was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed.

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

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal jury in Bridgeport has found ANDRE DENNIS, 40, of Waterbury, guilty of narcotics and firearm offenses.  The trial before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden began on May 26 and the jury returned its verdict this morning.

According to the evidence at 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.

The 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.

At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Dennis faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 50 years.

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

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

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and William S. Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Boston, announced that MICHAEL HOLM, 42, of Branford, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with distribution, transportation and possession of child pornography and obscene visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

As alleged in court documents, from approximately September 1, 2014 to March 8, 2021, Holm used various websites, mobile applications and online file storage platforms, such as ChatStep, Kik, Discord, Dropbox, Skype, SkyDrive and Gmail, to distribute, transport, and store material depicting the sexual abuse of children.  On March 8, 2021, law enforcement agents conducted a court-authorized search of Holm’s Branford residence and seized his Apple iPhone. A preliminary forensic examination of the iPhone revealed 31 images and videos depicting child pornography. Law enforcement agents also conducted a court-authorized search of Holm’s Dropbox account, where he had uploaded and stored over 100 images and videos of child pornography.

The complaint also alleges that Holm engaged in some of this conduct while he was on federal supervised release for a prior child pornography offense.  In August 2011, Holm was sentenced in federal court to three months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for possession of child pornography.

Holm appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and was ordered detained.

If convicted of the distribution and transportation charges, Holm faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years. If convicted of the possession charges, Holm faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  The penalties in this matter are enhanced based on Holm’s prior federal conviction for possession of child pornography.

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 (HSI) with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police and the Branford Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.

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

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

Leonard C. Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BARTON STUCK, 74, of Westport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for defrauding investors and then making false statements to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Stuck controlled related business entities, including Signal Lake General Partner LLC, Signal Lake Operations LLC, Signal Lake Management LLC, Signal Lake Side Fund LP, Signal Lake Side Fund II LP, Signal Lake Side Fund IIA LP, Signal Lake Top Prospects Fund, and SLT Logic LLC (collectively, the “Signal Lake entities”).  The Signal Lake entities were venture capital vehicles investing in various technology companies.  Stuck solicited investments for the Signal Lake entities.

In 2015 and 2016, Stuck committed fraud by, among other things, misrepresenting the financial health and prospects of the Signal Lake entities and their investments in order to enrich himself.  In one instance, Stuck made misrepresentations to an undercover FBI agent posing as a prospective investor.  Stuck falsely guaranteed a payment of twice the original $500,000 investment, and falsely claimed that a Signal Lake entity had $200 million in a particular bank account when, in fact, the balance of the bank account at the time was $.50.  He also falsely stated that a $50,000 fee he required would be used for accounting and legal expenses.  When the undercover agent paid Stuck the $50,000 fee, Stuck used it for personal expenditures.

Stuck also made false statements in forms that he filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2016 and 2017.  Specifically, Stuck falsely claimed that a Signal Lake entity managed and had a gross asset value of $145 million, and was subject to annual audits by a Stamford accounting firm.

On October 25, 2018, Stuck pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of engaging in illegal monetary transactions, and two counts of making false statements to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Stuck, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on June 24, 2021.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Banking.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan N. Francis.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JENNIFER FARRELL, 38, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 30 days of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for writing illegal prescriptions for oxycodone while she was a doctor in New Haven.  Judge Meyer also ordered Farrell to perform 600 hours of community service while she is on supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Farrell was a medical resident at Yale New Haven Health (“YNHH”) in its Emergency Department from July 2017 until June 2019.  From March 2018 to March 2019, Farrell wrote more than 50 prescriptions for oxycodone for non-legitimate medical purposes outside the scope of her professional practice in the name of at least five individuals.  Farrell did not see any of the other individuals for any medical purpose at any YNHH facility during the entire period of her residency.  In total, she wrote illegal prescriptions for nearly 4,000 oxycodone tablets during that approximately one-year period.

Farrell was arrested on July 31, 2019.  On March 4, 2021, she pleaded guilty to distribution of controlled substances outside the scope of her professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration, Diversion Control Group.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherry.

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 New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging Connecticut State Senator DENNIS A. BRADLEY, JR., and his former campaign Treasurer, JESSICA MARTINEZ, with multiple offenses related to defrauding Connecticut’s program for publicly funding political campaigns during Bradley’s 2018 run for State Senate.

Bradley and Martinez appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven, entered pleas of not guilty to the charges, and were released on bonds in the amount of $300,000 and $250,000, respectively.

As alleged in the indictment, Bradley, 38, of Bridgeport, has been a member of the Connecticut State Senate since 2018, representing the 23rd State Senate District.  Martinez, 39, of Bridgeport, was the Treasurer for Bradley’s 2018 State Senate campaign.  In Bradley’s 2018 campaign for State Senate, Bradley, Martinez, and others conspired to defraud the Connecticut State Election Enforcement Commission (“SEEC”), the Citizens’ Election Fund, and the State of Connecticut by making misrepresentations concerning Bradley’s compliance with state election law and the requirements and restrictions of the Citizens’ Election Program (“CEP”), a voluntary public election-financing program under which candidates can apply to SEEC for grants to fund their primary and general election campaigns.

“Candidates for public office must be held to a high standard of conduct, especially when they apply for public funds for their campaigns,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle.  “It is alleged that these defendants not only broke the rules at the outset of Mr. Bradley’s first campaign for the State Senate, but then engaged in an extensive cover up to conceal their illegal behavior and to receive additional public funds.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our FBI partners are committed to holding public officials to account.”

“The Federal Bureau of Investigation is committed to protecting the citizens of Connecticut against all forms of illegal fraud and deception,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sundberg.  “Maintaining the integrity of our state and federal election processes is crucial to ensuring the will of the voting public is carried out based on truth and fairness.”

The indictment alleges that Bradley, Martinez, and their co-conspirators violated CEP rules by holding a March 15, 2018, campaign event at Dolphin’s Cove restaurant in Bridgeport, then engaged in a scheme to trick SEEC into awarding his campaign undeserved CEP grants by making misrepresentations and omissions to disguise the nature of that event.

It is alleged that, although CEP rules imposed a $2,000 limit on Bradley’s expenditure of personal funds, Bradley used personal funds to pay Dolphin’s Cove $5,597.31 for the campaign event, and used personal funds for other campaign expenditures related to the event, including printed invitations and a band.

It is further alleged that, in an attempt to hide the March 15 campaign event from SEEC, Bradley, Martinez and their co-conspirators claimed it was a “Thank You Party” for friends and clients of Bradley’s law firm, Bradley, Denkovich & Karayiannis, P.C., also known as BDK Law Group.

It is alleged that, although at least eight donors gave to Bradley’s campaign at the Dolphin’s Cove event, Bradley’s and Martinez’s co-conspirators altered and falsified the contribution cards so that none were dated March 15, 2018.

It is further alleged that, although CEP rules required complete and truthful disclosures of Bradley’s campaign contributions and expenditures, in April, May and June 2018, Bradley’s campaign filed Itemized Campaign Finance Disclosure Statements with SEEC that omitted that Bradley had held a campaign event on March 15, 2018 at Dolphin’s Cove restaurant, omitted that Bradley had incurred approximately $6,307 in expenses for the event, omitted that Bradley had accepted multiple campaign contributions at the event, and misrepresented the dates of those March 15, 2018 contributions.

It is further alleged that on May 24, 2018, Bradley and Martinez applied for a CEP grant to fund Bradley’s Democratic primary campaign.  On July 10, 2018, relying on the false and misleading information contained in Bradley’s filings, SEEC issued the campaign $84,140 in public funds.  On August 14, 2018, Bradley won the Democratic primary with approximately 55 percent of the vote.

It is further alleged that, after issuing a CEP primary grant to Bradley, SEEC began investigating a citizen complaint regarding Bradley’s campaign, including the campaign event at Dolphin’s Cove.  On August 21, 2018, Bradley emailed a letter to SEEC in which he denied all the allegations in the citizen complaint as “frivolous and manipulative.”  In that letter, Bradley falsely stated, “On March 15, 2018, BDK hosted a Client Appreciation event at Dolphin’s Cove restaurant[.] … This was in no shape or form a political event. … In fact, we did not collect any donations at this event and have no donations dated 03/15/2018.”

It is further alleged that on October 12, 2018, after Bradley and Martinez attempted to obtain an additional $95,710 CEP grant to fund Bradley’s general election campaign, Martinez made similar false statements under oath to SEEC.  SEEC eventually denied Bradley a general election grant.  On November 6, 2018, Bradley won the general election with approximately 87 percent of the vote. 

It is further alleged that Martinez made similar false statements to investigating FBI special agents in March 2020, and under oath before the grand jury in September 2020.

Bradley is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud, and Martinez is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud, one count of making a false statement to the FBI, and one count of making a false declaration before the grand jury.  The conspiracy and fraud offenses carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count, and the false statement and declaration offenses carry a maximum term of imprisonment of five years on each count.

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 case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan N. Francis and David E. Novick.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERIC CHAMBERS, 37, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 260 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in several violent armed robberies in 2017 during which two individuals were shot and wounded.

According to court documents and statements made in court:

On September 27, 2017, Chambers’ half-brother, Jachim Brown, wearing a mask and pointing a gun, entered Nikita’s Bar, located on Iranistan Avenue in Bridgeport, and pointed a gun at the only employee who was working at the time.  Brown directed the employee to a location behind the bar to retrieve a key to a safe.  After the employee complied, Brown opened the safe and stole approximately $2,450.  During this robbery, Chambers’ car can be seen on surveillance video driving past the entrance to the bar.  Chambers had previously worked security at the bar.

In the early morning hours of November 9, 2017, Brown, again brandishing a gun, robbed an employee of Avenue Café who was couriering approximately $2,000 in cash to Bishop’s Corner Café on Boston Avenue in Bridgeport.  Surveillance video outside Bishop’s Corner again revealed Chambers’ car in close vicinity to the robbery.  On November 13, 2017, the same employee, who had delegated his money courier responsibilities to another security guard after the November 9 robbery, was again confronted by Brown.  When Brown realized that the employee did not have the cash, he shot the employee in the thigh.

On November 14, 2017, Brown, wearing a mask and brandishing a gun, entered the Bar Restaurant, located on Main Street in Stratford, and walked directly to a bin near the cash register that typically contained approximately 80 envelopes with cash payments for employees of the Bar Restaurant and other establishments.  Brown grabbed the bin, pointed his gun at one employee’s head, and turned and fired at a second employee who had his hands raised, hitting the second employee in his stomach.  Surveillance video revealed that Brown had been dropped off behind the restaurant by Chambers.

On November 16, 2017, at about 9:35 a.m., Bridgeport Police responded to a call of an armed robbery in progress at EbLens, located on Pequonnock Street in Bridgeport.  After Brown exited the store, a Bridgeport Police officer chased him on foot.  As Brown attempted to get into Chambers’ car, he turned and fired at the police officer.  The officer returned fire, tackled Brown and placed him under arrest.

At the time of his arrest, Brown possessed a Raven P25 .25 ACP caliber handgun.  Forensic analysis of the firearm revealed that it had also been used in the shootings of the two individuals on November 13 and 14.

Chambers has been detained since his arrest on April 30, 2018.  On March 19, 2019, a jury found him guilty of four counts of aiding and abetting Hobbs Act robbery.

On May 29, 2019, Brown, also known as “Ameer Edwards,” pleaded guilty to four counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  On February 24, 2020, Judge Dooley sentenced him to 260 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bridgeport Police Department and Stratford Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale, Jocelyn Kaoutzanis and Peter Markle.

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

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced DONNA MONTICONE, 49, of Oxford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven for tampering with fentanyl vials intended for patients at the fertility clinic where she was employed.  Monticone was ordered to serve three years of supervised release, four weekends of incarceration, and three months of home confinement.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Monticone was a nurse employed by the Yale Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility clinic (“Yale REI clinic”) in Orange.  As part of her responsibilities at the Yale REI, Monticone ordered and inventoried a variety of narcotics used by the clinic, including fentanyl, which is a component of a cohort of drugs used by Yale physicians during outpatient surgical procedures to anesthetize patients and protect them from feeling pain.

In June 2020, Monticone began stealing fentanyl for her own use.  She accessed secure storage areas and took vials of fentanyl, used a syringe to withdraw the narcotics from the vials, and reinjected saline into vials so that it would appear as if none of the narcotics were missing.  The investigation revealed that approximately 75 percent of the fentanyl given to patients at the Yale REI clinic from June to October 2020 was adulterated with saline.  Some of the vials contained diluted fentanyl, while others contained no drug at all and contained just saline. 

Monticone knew that the adulterated vials of fentanyl she replaced at the Yale REI clinic would be used in surgical procedures, and that the absence of an anesthetic during an outpatient procedure may cause serious bodily injury to the patient.  Monticone initially injected herself with the fentanyl while working at the Yale REI clinic and eventually began taking the vials home.  She would refill the vials with sterile saline at home, bring them back to the clinic, and reintroduce them into the stock of fentanyl available for use during surgical procedures.  On approximately November 1, 2020, Monticone brought approximately 175 vials of fentanyl that she had taken from the Yale REI clinic and discarded them in waste containers at the clinic.

Numerous victims submitted letters to Judge Hall describing physical pain they experienced during their procedures at the Yale REI clinic during this time period.

On March 2, 2021, Monticone pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a consumer product.

Monticone has surrendered her nursing license.

This matter was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; the DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad; and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Drug Control Division.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.

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, announced that LEE BLANCHETTE, 58, of Farmington, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to one count of bank fraud.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Blanchette was employed by Bank of America as a relationship manager.  As a relationship manager, Blanchette had the authority to cause temporary ATM cards to be activated and assigned to a customer’s account.  Between August 2014 and March 2016, Blanchette caused multiple temporary ATM cards to be activated for bank accounts of a customer who Blanchette knew was experiencing cognitive decline.  Without the customer’s authorization, Blanchette used the temporary ATM cards to withdraw significant funds from the customer’s accounts, keeping a significant portion for her own benefit, and causing a loss of $103,080.

Bank fraud carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.  Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for August 26, 2021.

Blanchette has agreed to pay restitution to Bank of America, which covered the victim’s losses.

Blanchette is released pending sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer R. Laraia.

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 GREGORY CRAWFORD, 37, of East Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegal possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 29, 2020, Crawford, while operating an unregistered and uninsured vehicle, drove through downtown Hartford at a high rate of speed, weaved in and out of traffic and then struck a car, which then struck another car.  He then turned and drove in the other direction before his damaged vehicle came to a stop in front of the Old State House.  Hartford Police arrested Crawford and seized from him a loaded Haskell Hi-Point .45 pistol and quantities of crack cocaine and PCP.

Crawford’s criminal history includes state convictions for felony assault, robbery and narcotics offenses.  Crawford was on state special parole at the time of his arrest.

Crawford has been detained in state custody since his arrest on June 29, 2020.  On March 1, 2021, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

Judge Meyer ordered Crawford to begin serving his federal sentence today, and that the sentence does not include credit for the approximately 11 months Crawford has served in state custody.

This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Connecticut Violent Crime Task Force and the Hartford Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.

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

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SHANNON CALHOUN, 49, of Bridgeport, was sentenced via videoconference by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegal possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 22, 2019, Calhoun was subject to a state parole compliance check at his Bridgeport residence.  After a parole officer found a plastic bag containing marijuana in Calhoun’s bedroom, the parole officer contacted the Bridgeport Police Department to assist with the compliance check.  The continued search of Calhoun’s bedroom revealed a loaded .40 caliber handgun and a coffee bean grinder containing heroin residue.

Calhoun’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for sale of narcotics, assault in the first degree, larceny in the second degree, weapon in a motor vehicle; burglary in the third degree, carrying a dangerous weapon, possession of narcotics, criminal possession of a weapon, and failure to appear.

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

Calhoun has been detained since his arrest on May 22, 2019.  On November 3, 2020, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Bridgeport Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile.

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

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JACOB DEUTSCH, 56, of Brooklyn, New York, and ARON DEUTSCH, 60, of Monsey, New York, were arrested today on federal conspiracy, fraud and false statement offenses related to a mortgage fraud scheme involving a loan for two Hartford properties.

As alleged in court documents, Jacob and Aron Deutsch work at B H Property Management, LLC (“BHPM”), a property management company that manages several multifamily housing properties in Hartford.  Jacob Deutsch has been responsible for the day-to-day operations of BHPM, and Aron Deutsch has coordinated maintenance and construction activities for the housing properties managed by BHPM.  In April 2017, the Deutsches and others, through an entity known as 16 53 Evergreen Avenue LLC (“Evergreen LLC”), purchased two Hartford properties, 16 Evergreen Avenue, a 24-unit housing property, and 53 Evergreen Avenue, a 12-unit housing property, for a total of approximately $1.8 million.

It is alleged that the Deutsches defrauded CBRE Capital Markets, Inc. (“CBRE”), a mortgage origination and servicing company, and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), when applying for, and ultimately acquiring, a mortgage loan for Evergreen LLC to refinance the purchase of the two Hartford properties.  The loan application documents contained numerous misrepresentations about 16 Evergreen Avenue’s occupancy rate and net operating income.  For instance, a rent roll and income and expense summary submitted by Jacob Deutsch in June 2018 falsely represented that 16 Evergreen Avenue was 100 percent occupied when, in fact, not a single tenant resided there at the time.  Based on these misrepresentations, in August 2018, CBRE underwrote a Freddie Mac Small Balance Loan for $2,178,000 secured by 16 Evergreen Avenue and 53 Evergreen Avenue, and then immediately sold that loan to Freddie Mac at closing.

Jacob and Aron Deutsch are each charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, and making false statements.  After they appeared today via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish, Jacob Deutsch was released on a $50,000 bond and Aron Deutsch was released on a $100,000 bond.

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 U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Office of Inspector General.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Cherry and Sarah Gruber.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAMES G. GUERRA, 59, of Dix Hills, New York, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to three years of probation, the first two months of which Guerra must spend in home confinement, for a felony tax offense.  Judge Bolden also ordered Guerra to perform 100 hours of community service.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Guerra worked as an accountant for Bruno DeFabio, an owner of several pizza restaurants in Connecticut and New York, including Pinocchio Pizza LLC, doing business as Pinocchio Pizza in New Canaan, Connecticut; Top Oven Restaurant Corp., doing business as Pinocchio Pizza in Wilton, Connecticut; DiFabio Brothers Pizza Corp., doing business as Amore Pizza in Scarsdale, New York; Odell Pizza, Inc., doing business as Amore Cucina and Bar in Stamford, Connecticut; Nepperhan Restaurants Group, Inc., doing business as ReNapoli Pizza, in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, and Homefield Restaurant Corp., doing business as Pinocchio Pizza in Pound Ridge, New York.

DiFabio and his businesses engaged in a practice whereby cash was removed from the cash registers and not deposited into the restaurants’ operating bank accounts, and Guerra knew that DiFabio had a practice of paying his employees in cash.  Although Guerra was aware that DiFabio was failing to collect required withholding taxes from his employees and, in turn, not paying over these taxes to the IRS, Guerra reviewed and approved DiFabio’s quarterly tax returns that DiFabio subsequently signed and filed with the IRS.

On January 25, 2021, Guerra pleaded guilty to one count of assisting the willful failure to collect and pay over withholding taxes.

On October 25, 2018, DiFabio pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to file false income tax returns and payroll tax returns.  On May 6, 2021, he was sentenced to 30 days of imprisonment and ordered to pay $816,954 in restitution.

On September 24, 2018, DiFabio’s business partner in some of his restaurants, Steven Cioffi, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the filing of a false tax return.  On April 27, 2021, Cioffi was sentenced to 30 days of imprisonment and ordered to pay $122,177.59 in restitution.

On June 4, 2019, Idalecia Lopes Santos, the businesses’ bookkeeper, pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion.  On March 30, 2021, she was sentenced to three years of probation. 

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

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that four men were arrested today on federal charges related to the distribution of oxycodone pills, counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, and other drugs in the Hartford area.

Each of the following individuals is charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances:

REY URENA, also known as “Rueben,” 21, of Waterbury
YAN REYES, 34, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Hartford
RAMON VARGAS, 20, of Hartford
JOSE LORA, 27, of Hartford

Reyes, Vargas and Lora are also charged with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, controlled substances.  The four defendants are in custody and detention hearings are scheduled, beginning May 21.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad and the FBI Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force have been investigating the distribution of oxycodone pills, counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, and other drugs from neighborhood grocery stores in New Britain and Hartford.  Between January 2020 and March 2021, investigators made several controlled purchases of illegal pills at the Washington Market, formerly located at 453 Washington Street in Hartford; JZ Tobacco, located at 25 New Britain Avenue in Hartford, and Prestige Market, located at 23 New Britain Avenue in Hartford.  Urena supervised the illegal enterprise, Reyes and Vargas sold pills from JZ Tobacco and Prestige Market, and Lora served as a runner and lookout for the organization.

It is further alleged that, on December 20, 2020, investigators stopped a vehicle registered to Urena and found approximately 4,000 oxycodone pills and $51,000 in cash in a hidden “trap” beneath the front passenger seat of the car.

In connection with today’s arrests, investigators executed multiple search warrants.  It is alleged that a search of an apartment on Colonial Street in Hartford that was used by the drug trafficking organization revealed approximately one kilogram of suspected cocaine, approximately one kilogram of suspected fentanyl or heroin, more than 5,000 real and counterfeit oxycodone pills, approximately 2,000 xanax pills, items used to process and package narcotics, and two handguns.  A search of Urena’s residence in Waterbury revealed approximately $54,000.

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.

The DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad includes officers from the Bristol, East Windsor, Hamden, Meriden, New Britain, West Haven and Watertown Police Departments.  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 is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont, Jr.

This is National Police Week, a time our nation sets aside each year to recognize the significant contributions and extraordinary work of local, state, federal and Tribal law enforcement in keeping our communities and those in them safe.

In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices.  Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.  

According to national statistics, 285 law enforcement officers were killed in the line-of-duty in 2020.  Approximately 60 percent of these officers lost their lives to COVID-19, which was contracted during their on-duty service in their communities.  Additionally, the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program reports that 46 law enforcement officers died as a result of felonious acts and 47 died in accidents.

Although Connecticut is fortunate to have avoided a law enforcement line-of-duty death this past year, throughout our history 152 officers have died while on duty and serving those living in Connecticut.

Each one of these deaths is a stark reminder of the level of dedication and good work members of law enforcement selflessly perform every day.  The dangers of this important profession are present in our state and remain constant to our law enforcement officers.  They see it in a variety of ways when responding to situations involving domestic violence, shootings, assaults, homicides, drug related violence, robberies and other calls for help.  This deserves our gratitude and support.

National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day also remind us about the need for officer wellness.  Law enforcement is a deeply stressful profession, a stress that is compounded when their many good works become overshadowed by reports of those officers who unlawfully choose to abuse their authority and betray their peacekeeper oath.  Constant, multiple pressures can take a toll and have a cumulating effect over time.  As a result, officers suffer increased heart disease, stress disorders, post-traumatic stress (PTSD), depression, and alcohol abuse, to name a few.  Stigma and job loss can create barriers and cause officers to avoid seeking help.  In 2020, 172 officers across our nation died by suicide.  In 2021, 56 officers have already taken their own life.  We support and encourage officers to seek the help they need and have earned.

Please join me in honoring these officers who have sacrificed their lives for our safety, and remembering their families and loved ones who continue to endure their loss.

Leonard C Boyle
Acting United States Attorney
District of Connecticut
May 14, 2021

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and William S. Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Boston, today announced that HECMARIELIZ CRUZ-ACEVEDO, 22, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

As alleged in court documents, on May 9, 2021, HSI received information from U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors at San Juan International Airport that Cruz-Acevedo had boarded a flight to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, with a final destination of Bradley International Airport, and had checked a piece of luggage that contained five rectangular-shaped objects consistent with narcotics packages.  After the flight landed at Bradley Airport, a Connecticut State Police canine detected the presence of narcotics in the checked bag.  Investigators stopped Cruz-Acevedo when she retrieved the bag at baggage claim.  A search of the bag revealed five individual parcels, each containing slightly more than one kilogram of cocaine, located between articles of clothing.

Cruz-Acevedo, who has been detained since her arrest on May 9.  She appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford and was released on a $100,000 bond.

The charge of possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

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 (HSI) and the Connecticut State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.

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 on May 4, 2021, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a four-count indictment charging JOSE MIGUEL VEGA-RIVERA, 49, a citizen of the Dominican Republic recently residing in New Britain, with fentanyl and cocaine offenses.

As alleged in court documents, on April 27, 2021, DEA Task Force investigators stopped a car Vega-Rivera was traveling in after he sold cocaine to an occupant of another vehicle.  A subsequent search of a New Britain apartment connected to Vega-Rivera revealed approximately one kilogram of fentanyl, more than 500 grams of cocaine, two firearms, and approximately $55,000 in cash.

The indictment charges Vega-Rivera with one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life; and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.

Vega, who has been detained since his arrest on April 27, appeared today via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti and entered a plea of not guilty to the 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 investigation is being conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force, which includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney 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 OMRYS DELGADO, 33, of Windsor, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 87 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service into Delgado and others, who were receiving shipments of cocaine from Puerto Rico and California, and distributing the drug in and around Hartford.  The investigation revealed that a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier was facilitating the shipment of parcels containing kilograms of cocaine through the USPS to addresses that were on his delivery route in Hartford.  The letter carrier distributed cocaine to his own drug customers, and also delivered parcels to Delgado and other cocaine traffickers in the Hartford area.

Delgado was arrested on May 21, 2019.  On June 4, 2019, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment Delgado and 18 co-defendants with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and related offenses.  On January 12, 2021, Delgado pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Delgado, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on August 18, 2021.

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

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney 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 KEVIN McFARLANE, also known as “Jabari McBurn” and “Dexter Creque,” 43, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for firearm possession and crack cocaine distribution offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 8, 2018, in New Haven, McFarlane possessed a loaded Glock model 43 9mm semiautomatic handgun and approximately 97 grams of crack cocaine.  The firearm had been reported stolen in Florida in 2017.

McFarlane’s criminal history includes a 2004 conviction in Connecticut for sale of a hallucinogen/narcotic, and a 2007 conviction in Florida for murder in the second degree.  He was released from Florida state prison in July 2017.

McFarlane has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on July 11, 2018.  On September 5, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”), and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and the New Haven Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins.

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

Leonard C. Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ELIEZER PEREZ, also known as “Ka-King,” 42, of Hartford, pleaded guilty yesterday via videoconference before U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, oxycodone.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in the summer of 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and the New Britain Police Department began investigating individuals who were selling oxycodone pills from Elzier Grocery, located at 1485 Corbin Avenue in New Britain.  Between July and December 2019, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of oxycodone pills from Perez and others at the store.

On February 26, 2020, court authorized searches of the Elzier Grocery and a nearby residence revealed more than 1000 oxycodone pills, drug packaging materials, drug ledgers, and approximately $10,000 in cash.

Perez has been detained since his arrest on December 12, 2020.

Judge Hall scheduled sentencing for August 3, 2021, at which time Perez faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and the New Britain Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont, Jr.

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, announced that MATTHEW O. CLASON, 39, of Cheshire, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to one count of wire fraud related to his misappropriation of 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 scheduled sentencing for August 5, 2021, at which time Clason faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. 

Clason is released on bond pending sentencing.       

This matter is being 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, today announced that XAVIER CRUZ, 26, of Bristol, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Janet B. Arterton in New Haven to possession of a firearm by a felon.

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

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

Judge Arterton scheduled sentencing for August 3, 2021, at which time Cruz faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

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

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

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

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE NUNEZ-TORRES, also known as “Jose Nunez” and “J-Money,” 21, of Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven to one count of theft of government property and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 29, 2019, Nunez-Torres and Dominque Perry stole a 2016 Honda Accord from a residence in Newington.  The vehicle was the property of a federal law enforcement agency, and contained fully loaded firearm magazines for multiple weapons, ammunition, handcuffs and other restraints, a ballistic vest and its component parts, and raid jackets.  After stealing the vehicle, Perry drove the Accord to a location in Bloomfield where he Nunez-Torres removed the vehicle’s tires and rims.  Nunez-Torres and Perry subsequently sold the tires and rims, and advertised the sale of loaded firearm magazines, ammunition, ballistic vest and other items.

The vehicle and its tires and rims have been recovered, but some of the law enforcement equipment that was in the car has not been located.

Nunez-Torres was arrested on March 1, 2019, and he was subsequently released on bond.

In the afternoon of November 14, 2020, Nunez-Torres was arrested on state charges after law enforcement officers encountered him sleeping in a stolen car that was parked on an I-91 off ramp in Hartford.  A search of the car revealed two stun guns, a black metal collapsible baton, and distribution quantities of fentanyl and marijuana.  He has been detained since his arrest.

Theft of government property carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  Nunez-Torres is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on August 3, 2021, in Hartford.

Nunez-Torres’ federal plea agreement also indicates that he will plead guilty in state court to risk of injury of a minor related to his intending to impair the morals of a minor under the age of 16, and to larceny offenses related to his earlier theft of two additional vehicles, a 2016 Nissan Maxima valued at $17,000 and a 2012 BMW 528 valued at $22,000.

Perry pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property and, on February 3, 2020, was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by four months of home confinement.  Judge Chatigny also ordered Perry to pay $1,560 in restitution for the missing equipment.

This matter has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Newington Police Department, the Hartford Police Department and the Connecticut State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DOMINGO ST. HILAIRE ROSARIO, 57, formerly of Danbury, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford to fraud and identity theft offenses stemming from his involvement in a scheme to use stolen identities to lease and purchase vehicles and motorcycles.

According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in late 2017, Rosario, Jamie Pinto and another individual conspired to use stolen identities to obtain vehicles and motorcycles at dealerships in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey.  As part of the scheme, Rosario arranged for a car or motorcycle to be purchased or leased from a dealership in the name of an identity theft victim, and Pinto or another co-conspirator impersonated the identity theft victim at the dealership to complete the paperwork.  Rosario supplied his co-conspirators with fraudulent identification documents bearing the victim’s personal identifying information, and with a fraudulent photo identification that contained the identifying information of the victim and a photograph of a co-conspirator.  Rosario intended to sell or export the vehicles.

Through this scheme, Rosario and his co-conspirators acquired at least 13 vehicles and attempted to acquire at least two more.  Some of the vehicles were recovered by law enforcement and returned to the dealers.

In July 2018, Rosario was stopped by the New Jersey State Police driving a Chevrolet Silverado that had been obtained through the fraud from dealership in Vernon, Connecticut.  After that encounter, he fled to the Dominican Republic.  On February 28, 2019, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Rosario.  He was extradited from the Dominican Republic in May 2020, and is detained.

Rosario pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of two years.  Rosario is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on September 8, 2021.

Rosario has agreed to pay $220,589.19 in restitution.

On March 20, 2019. Pinto, 44, last residing in Manchester, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, fraud and identity theft offenses.  He is detained while awaiting sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with substantial assistance from the Vernon Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarala V. Nagala.

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOVON GAMBLE, 40, of East Haven, pleaded guilty today in Harford federal court to theft of public funds related to his illegal receipt of Social Security benefits.  

According to court documents and statements made in court, Gamble’s mother lawfully received Social Security Administration (“SSA”) monthly benefit payments.  Gamble’s mother died in June 2007.  The SSA was never informed her death and Gamble continued to access the SSA funds that were deposited into his mother’s account.  Between 2007 and 2017, the SSA deposited more than $88,000 into Gamble’s mother’s account.

Gamble is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea on August 6, 2021, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.  Gamble also has agreed to pay $88,150.78 in restitution.

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

This matter is being investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elena Coronado and Brendan Keefe.

Moustapha Diakhate, 45, of Stamford, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with bank fraud and wire fraud offenses related to his receipt of nearly $2.9 million in COVID-19 relief funds guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Today’s announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Leonard C Boyle, Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite of the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Region, Special Agent in Charge David Sundberg of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England.

Diakhate appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and was ordered detained.

In March 2020, the CARES Act provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  In April 2020, Congress authorized more than $300 billion in additional PPP funding.  The PPP allowed qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive unsecured loans at an interest rate of 1%.  PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allowed the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spent the proceeds on these expenses within a certain period of time of receipt and used at least a certain percentage of the amount to be forgiven for payroll.

The PPP was overseen by the Small Business Administration, which has authority over all PPP loans. Individual PPP loans, however, were issued by private approved lenders, such as Citibank, which received and processed PPP applications and supporting documentation, and then made loans using the lenders’ own funds, which were guaranteed by the SBA.

As alleged in the criminal complaint, Diakhate maintained an ownership or management interest in certain small business entities, including Ansonia Developers LLC, Winsbay Inc., Buyers Association Group LLC, Washington Management LLC and Diakhate Capital, Inc.  Beginning in May 2020, Diakhate provided Citibank with false and fraudulent information during the PPP loan application process in order to obtain PPP loans for each of his five entities totaling $2,897,100.  Diakhate then used a portion of the funds for various personal expenses, including to pay off a loan he had been provided to purchase of a 2010 Porsche Panamera Turbo, and to purchase both a Mercedes and BMW.  He also purchased a $50,000 certificate of deposit with PPP funds, and disbursed funds to various and individuals unrelated to his business entities.

“Congress authorized the Paycheck Protection Program to help small businesses and their employees withstand a devastating pandemic, not so individual recipients can illegally reap a financial windfall,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Leonard C Boyle.  “The Justice Department and our federal law enforcement partners are actively working to identify those who are taking advantage of COVID relief programs to line their pockets in violation of the law, and we will ensure that wrongdoers are prosecuted in federal court.”

“Making false statements to fraudulently obtain PPP funds is unacceptable,” said SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite. “SBA OIG will relentlessly pursue evidence of fraud against SBA’s programs aimed at assisting the nation’s small businesses struggling with the pandemic challenges.  I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its leadership and dedication to pursuing justice.”

“I commend the diligent efforts by all involved in this significant investigation of COVID-19 relief fraud,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge David Sundberg.  “This level of deceit must face the full gravity of the judicial system.”

“These charges demonstrate our continued commitment to hold accountable those who attempt to defraud pandemic-related assistance allegedly to fund their luxurious lifestyles,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.  “We will continue to collaborate across agency lines to combat this self-serving type of fraud to ensure that these funds are used for their stated purposes and not to enrich the greedy.”

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 matter is being investigated by the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.

Individuals with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

As part of an ongoing investigation into gang-related drug trafficking and related violence in Bridgeport, a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a superseding indictment charging an additional four Bridgeport men with conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, including drug trafficking, murder and attempted murder.

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; David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England.

The superseding indictment, which was returned on May 3 and unsealed yesterday, charges

KEISHAWN DONALD, 20
TREVON WRIGHT, also known as “Tre,” 19
KYRAN DANGERFIELD, 24, ERIC HAYES, also known as “Heavyweight Champ,” 24
TRAVON JONES, also known as “Budda,” 19
TYRONE MOORE, also known as “Ty Ralph Lauren,” 19
CHARLES ANTHONY BONILLA, also known as “30 Cal” and “Ant,” 22
HARRY BATCHELOR, also known as “Bookie,” 24

Donald, Wright, Dangerfield and Hayes were originally charged by indictment in January 2021, and the original indictment included overt acts related to four murders.  The superseding indictment adds Jones, Moore, Bonilla and Batchelor as defendants, and includes overt acts related to an additional two murders.

Batchelor was arrested this morning.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector via videoconference and is detained.  The other defendants are detained in federal or state custody.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address escalating violence in Bridgeport, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals, and Bridgeport Police are actively investigating multiple Bridgeport-based groups whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence.  The eight defendants are members or associates of the “East End gang,” which began as a local street gang based in the East End of Bridgeport, but currently has members and associates who are either incarcerated or living throughout Bridgeport and surrounding towns.  The East End gang has been aligned with other groups, including the PT Barnum Gang, the East Side gang and 150, which is a geographic gang based on the West Side of Bridgeport.  These groups were aligned against rival organizations in Bridgeport, including the “Original North End” (“O.N.E.”) and the “Greene Homes Boyz,” (“GHB/Hotz”), based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport’s North End.

The indictment alleges that the East End gang distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and Percocet pills; used and shared firearms; and committed murder and other acts of violence against rival gang members and other individuals.  East End members celebrated their criminal conduct on social media websites such as Facebook and YouTube, and 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.

Among the violent acts committed by the gang, the indictment alleges that:

• On January 30, 2018, Donald shot and killed Eric Heard, a.k.a. “Fetti,” a member and associate of the GHB/Hotz gang;
• On March 5, 2019, Hayes shot and killed Jerrell Gatewood;
• On July 4, 2019, Bonilla shot and killed Richard McDonald, a member and associate of the GHB/Hotz gang;
• On July 12, 2019, Jones and Moore shot and killed Sean Warren, also known as “Kujoe,” a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang;
• On September 15, 2019, Wright shot and attempted to kill Marquis Isreal, a.k.a. “Garf” or “Gbaby,” a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang;
• On October 17, 2019, Jones shot and attempted to kill Joshua Gilbert, a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang;
• On December 8, 2019, Wright shot and attempted to kill Arvan Smith, a.k.a. “Arv Barkley,” an associate of the O.N.E. gang;
• On January 26, 2020, Wright shot and killed Myreke Kenion and shot and attempted to kill D’Andre Brown, both members and associates of the GHB/Hotz gang;
• On June 25, 2020, Dangerfield and “JW,” an East End associate who is now deceased, and another individual, shot and killed Tyler Ballew, a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang;
   

If convicted, Donald, Wright, Dangerfield, Hayes, Jones, Moore and Bonilla face a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and Batchelor faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle noted that, in the past year, 24 members of the East End, O.N.E. and GHB/Hotz gangs have been charged with federal offenses as a result of this ongoing investigation.

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 ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Waterbury Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Peter D. Markle and Karen L. Peck.

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

PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities.  Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.