District of Connecticut

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RICARDO REYES, also known as “Rick the Ruler,” 41, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 216 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking narcotics and firearms.

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

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2018, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force began investigating Reyes, a member of the Los Solidos street gang, who was distributing fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and crack in the area of Park Street and Hungerford Street in Hartford.  On September 9, 2018, Reyes was arrested by Hartford Police on state charges after they found him in possession of a firearm and approximately 250 bags of heroin/fentanyl.  Between January and June 2019, while Reyes was released on bond in his state case, investigators conducted multiple controlled purchases of narcotics from Reyes.  Court authorized wiretaps confirmed that Reyes was distributing narcotics to numerous customers, and identified individuals who supplied drugs to Reyes and associates who sold drugs on his behalf.

Intercepted communications also revealed that Norman Klosek of Enfield was acting as a “straw purchaser” of firearms for Reyes.  On April 22, 2019, Reyes picked up Klosek in Enfield and drove to a licensed gun dealer in Newington, where Klosek, who had a valid state firearm permit, purchased two handguns.  Klosek then provided the guns to Reyes after the purchase.  Later that day, investigators conducted a traffic stop of Reyes’ vehicle in New Britain and seized the two firearms.  A search of the vehicle also revealed approximately 450 bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl, more than one pound of marijuana, and $1,160 in cash.  Reyes was charged with state offenses, released on bond, and resumed his drug trafficking activity.

Reyes and several co-defendants were arrested on a federal criminal complaints on June 17, 2019.  On that date, investigators seized two additional guns that had been purchased by Klosek, one that was in Reyes’ car and one that was in a Rowe Avenue residence that Reyes’ used as a stash location.  Investigators also seized approximately 3,500 bags of fentanyl from the stash house, and approximately $6,000 from Reyes’ residence.

Reyes has been detained since his federal arrest.

On June 27, 2019, a grand jury Hartford returned a 32-count indictment charging Reyes and 14 associates with various narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses.  On March 4, 2020, Reyes pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”), and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Reyes’ criminal history includes state drug convictions, and a federal conviction for dealing firearms without a license.  The previous federal case involved Reyes and an associate, who had a valid state firearm permit, purchasing at least 13 firearms and selling them to drug dealers.  Reyes was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for that offense.

On March 2, 2020, Klosek pleaded guilty to one count of dealing firearms without a license, and one count of making a false statement during the acquisition of a firearm.  Klosek, who was addicted to heroin/fentanyl, admitted that he had purchased a total of 47 handguns, and that he had sold or “loaned” the guns he had purchased to support his drug addiction.  On October 14, 2020, Klosek was sentenced to 46 months of imprisonment.

To date, approximately 11 of the 47 handguns purchased by Klosek have been recovered by law enforcement.  One gun was recovered after it was used in a shooting in Hartford on August 22, 2019.  In September 2020, handguns purchased by Klosek were recovered as part of criminal investigations in Brimfield, Massachusetts, and Riverside, California.  In October 2020, another firearm was recovered by Hartford Police.

The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division provided valuable assistance to the investigation.

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that CATHERINE FINKLE, 58, of East Haven, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today to one count of wire fraud related to her theft of more than $38,000 from East Haven’s Board of Education child care program.

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

According to court documents and statements made in court, from January 2000 to November 2018, Finkle was the East Haven Board of Education Program Director for the School Age Child Care Program, commonly called the Little Jackets Program.  As the program director, Finkle had access to the Little Jacket Program’s bank accounts and received tuition payments on behalf of the program.  From January 2011 to November 2018, Finkle defrauded the East Haven Board of Education by taking more than $38,000 in tuition payments, in the form of money orders and cash, that had been made for students in the Little Jackets Program.  She then diverted the payments for her own benefit.

Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for May 6, 2021, at which time Finkle faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Finkle also has agreed to pay restitution of $38,554.50.

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

This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller. 

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has reached a settlement agreement with Fitness International, LLC, doing business as L.A. Fitness, to resolve allegations that an L.A. Fitness club in Norwalk was not operating in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”).

The settlement agreement resolves an ADA complaint filed by an individual with disabilities alleging that the L.A. Fitness club located at 761 Main Avenue in Norwalk was not accessible to individuals with physical disabilities.  L.A. Fitness is in the process of making required changes to the location, including improving the accessibility of the facility’s fitness equipment areas, adding accessible features to restrooms and locker rooms, ensuring access to all guests in the pool area, and making improvements in the “Kids Klub” area to ensure access for individuals with disabilities.

Fitness International, LLC will continue to make improvements over the next three years.

Under federal law, health club facilities are considered “public accommodations” and are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of disability.  The ADA authorizes the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate complaints and undertake periodic reviews of compliance of covered entities.  The Justice Department is also authorized to commence a civil lawsuit in federal court in any case that involves a pattern or practice of discrimination or that raises issues of general public importance, and to seek injunctive relief, monetary damages, and civil penalties.

U.S. Attorney Durham noted that the Fitness International, LLC has worked cooperatively and collaboratively with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to address the ADA issues without litigation and to make comprehensive changes to the Main Avenue health club facility to improve accessibility.

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

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

This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brenda M. Green of the District of Connecticut in coordination with the Disability Rights Section of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALEX NEGRON, 37, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 27 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a cocaine trafficking ring.

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 a drug trafficking organization that was 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 other large-scale cocaine traffickers in the Hartford area.

On March 17, 2019, Negron received a parcel containing approximately 500 grams of cocaine.  The cocaine was delivered to his co-conspirators.

On June 4, 2019, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Negron and 18 co-defendants with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and related offenses.  Negron was arrested on May 6, 2020.  On October 28, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

Negron, who is released on a $175,000 bond, is required to report to prison on April 5, 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.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that GLADSTONE BENJAMIN, JR., 29, of Hartford, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to drug distribution and firearm possession offenses.

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

According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2019, Hartford Police made two controlled purchases of marijuana from Benjamin at his Collins Street residence.  On April 23, 2019, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of Gladstone’s residence and found a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun with an extended clip; two loaded Taurus .45 caliber handguns; a loaded semiautomatic handgun that did not contain a make, model or serial number stamp; a Remington Arms 12 gauge shotgun with an unreadable serial number; more than 1,000 rounds of loose and boxed ammunition, and distribution quantities of heroin and marijuana.

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

Benjamin pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and marijuana, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.  Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for May 3, 2021.

Benjamin is released on a $75,000 bond pending sentencing.

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

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Anthony Esposito, also known as “Mafia,” 52, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea to 46 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses.

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

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

The investigation revealed that Reyes supplied Esposito, also a member of Los Solidos, with fentanyl that Esposito sold to his own customers in the New Haven area.

Esposito was arrested on June 17, 2019.

On June 27, 2019, a grand jury Hartford returned a 32-count indictment charging Reyes, Esposito and 13 associates with various narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses.

Esposito has been detained since his arrest.  On August 6, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, fentanyl.

Esposito’s criminal history spans 30 years and includes convictions for firearm, drug and violent crime offenses, including a 1998 federal conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and a 2003 state conviction for first degree sexual assault.

Reyes has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Division provided valuable assistance to the investigation.

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALEXANDER LUONG, 31, of Clinton, 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 illegal possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 14, 2020, law enforcement conducted a court-authorized search of Luong’s residence and found a stolen Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol, a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol, and a large capacity magazine.

In 2012, Luong was convicted in state court of first degree unlawful restraint.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

On September 17, 2020, Luong pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Luong, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on March 16.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Clinton Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria del Pilar Gonzalez 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.

SUSAN L. CUNNINGHAM, 48, of Monroe, Connecticut, formerly of Blue Springs, Missouri, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea to one count of wire fraud stemming from the sale of numerous used vehicles with altered odometers.

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

According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately August 2014 and October 2015, Cunningham and Wilfredo J. Albanese, while residing in Missouri, sold more than 40 vehicles with altered odometers to unsuspecting purchasers.  As part of the scheme, Cunningham and Albanese purchased high-mileage used vehicles and then used a variety of means to alter or reduce the mileage shown on the vehicles’ odometers.  They also concealed mechanical issues with those vehicles by removing “check engine” lights from the instrument panels, providing buyers with phony maintenance receipts and vehicle history reports, and concealing rust and other damage to the vehicle through paint or other means.  Cunningham and Albanese obtained Certificates of Title for the used vehicles they purchased.  Under the assumed identities of the persons listed on those Certificates of Title, they advertised and sold the vehicles to customers on Craigslist.org.  Most of the victim purchasers resided in Missouri.

On May 22, 2019, a grand jury in the Western District of Missouri returned a 20-count indictment charging Cunningham and Albanese with offenses related to this scheme.  The case was subsequently transferred from the Western District of Missouri to the District of Connecticut for further prosecution.

Wire fraud carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  Judge Shea scheduled sentencing for April 30, 2021.  Cunningham is released pending sentencing.

On July 15, 2020, Albanese pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.  On October 9, 2020, he was sentenced to 42 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay $51,600 in restitution.

This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha Freismuth of the District of Connecticut, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Casey of the Western District of Missouri.

NHTSA estimates that odometer fraud in the U.S. results in consumer losses of more than $1 billion annually.  Individuals with information relating to odometer tampering should call NHTSA’s odometer fraud hotline at (888) 327-4236 or (202) 366-4761.  More information on odometer fraud is available on the NHTSA website at https://www.nhtsa.gov/odometer-fraud.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TYROME SAWYER, also known as “Tyrone Sawyer” and “Crack,” 30, of Norwalk, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

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

According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 19, 2019, Sawyer was arrested after Norwalk Police executed a search warrant at his apartment and located a Hi-Point model 995, 9mm carbine rifle with an obliterated serial number and a loaded magazine.

Sawyer’s criminal history includes state convictions for felony firearm, drug and escape 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 Underhill scheduled sentencing for April 30, 2021, at which time Sawyer faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

Sawyer has been detained since his arrest.

This investigation is being conducted by the Norwalk Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Keefe.

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.

U.S. Attorney John H. Durham and Special Agent in Charge Phillip Coyne of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, today announced that SECON OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC, d/b/a SECON LABORATORIES, and STERLING HEALTHCARE OPCO, LLC, d/b/a CORDANT HEALTH SOLUTIONS (collectively, “Cordant”) have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments and have paid $845,108 to resolve allegations that they violated the federal and state False Claims Acts.

Cordant Health Solutions, which is based in Denver, Colorado, provides healthcare testing and monitoring services nationwide, including laboratory services for drug testing. Cordant’s subsidiary, Secon Laboratories, is a laboratory located in Worcester, Massachusetts.  Secon’s client, Crossroads, Inc., was a behavioral health residential treatment center located in New Haven, Connecticut.  Many of the residents of Crossroads were enrolled in the Connecticut Medicaid program.

In 2015, Crossroads implemented a policy requiring its residents to submit to regular urine drug testing, largely for residential monitoring purposes.  Crossroads ordered presumptive (screening) drug tests and definitive (confirmatory) drug tests for each resident weekly.  In many cases, Crossroads ordered duplicative tests for its residents more than two times a week, and as often as three, four, or five times a week.  These drug tests were performed by Cordant, and were billed by Cordant to Connecticut Medicaid.

The government alleges that Cordant knew or should have known that the tests that Crossroads ordered for its residents more than two times a week were not medically necessary.  The United States and the State of Connecticut contend that Cordant failed to report and return overpayments for the claims Connecticut Medicaid paid Cordant for performing these medically unnecessary tests.

To resolve allegations under the federal and state False Claims Acts, Cordant has paid $845,108 to the government for overpayments occurring between October 6, 2015, and February 8, 2017.

“Government funded tests must be ordered based on each patient’s medical needs,” said U.S. Attorney Durham.  “Laboratories have a responsibility to ensure that the claims they submit to government health care programs are for medically necessary testing services.  If a laboratory discovers that it has performed and billed for tests that were not medically necessary, it has a duty and to report and return any overpayments, and to modify its practices.”

“This settlement demonstrates OIG’s commitment to ensuring that taxpayer dollars are not wasted on medically unnecessary services,” said Special Agent in Charge Phillip M. Coyne of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.  “I appreciate the continued partnership between our Office, the Connecticut U.S Attorney's Office and the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office to investigate fraud and to protect public funds.”

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

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JEFFREY TAVAREZ, 22, of Waterbury, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for his role in a heroin and fentanyl trafficking ring.

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

On May 18, 2019, Sosa-Ortiz was arrested in New York City on a separate federal heroin and fentanyl trafficking charge.  On that date, law enforcement intercepted a planned drug transaction and seized approximately two kilograms of fentanyl and two kilograms of heroin.  Sosa-Ortiz continued to control his drug network while incarcerated by using smuggled cell phones to communicate with various co-conspirators.

During the investigation, Tavarez was intercepted on calls coordinating the purchase of narcotics from both the Sosa-Ortiz organization and from other individuals who sometimes supplied the Sosa-Ortiz organization with narcotics.  Tavarez then sold the drugs to his own customers.

Tavarez and several co-defendants were arrested on October 29, 2019.  On that date, investigators executed five search warrants and seized approximately six kilograms of suspected heroin/fentanyl, approximately 100,000 bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl packaged for street distribution, approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills disguised as Percocet pills, one firearm and approximately $50,000 in cash.  Tavarez possessed nearly 40 grams of fentanyl packaged for distribution at the time of his arrest.

On October 20, 2020, Tavarez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, heroin and fentanyl.

Tavarez, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on March 17, 2021.

Sixteen individuals were charged as a result of this investigation.  Sosa-Ortiz pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

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

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAHEEN THOMPSON, 41, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 85 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm while on federal supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in the early morning of August 7, 2016, Hartford Police officers arrested Thompson after they encountered him in a parked car outside of a nightclub in possession of a loaded .380 caliber pistol and distribution quantities of marijuana and pentylone.

Thompson’s criminal history includes multiple state felony convictions, and a federal conviction in 2007 for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”).  Thompson was on federal supervised release at the time of his arrest.

Thompson has been detained since his arrest.  On November 4, 2020, he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Judge Thompson sentenced Thompson to 60 months of imprisonment for the firearm offense, and a consecutive 25 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crime Task Force and the Hartford 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.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TREMAINE DOWDELL, 27, of Norwich, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton to 57 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for a federal firearm offense stemming from an assault and shooting in New London in 2019.

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

According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 14, 2019, Dowdell and three associates assaulted a man outside of the H&T Mart on Ocean Avenue in New London.  The H&T Mart was open and had customers coming in and out of the store.  Surveillance video captured Dowdell and three others physically attack the victim outside the storefront.  Later, video footage showed Dowdell remove a gun from his pants and fire a single shot toward the victim of the assault, who was standing near the front door of the store.  The bullet missed the victim.  When police arrived a short time later, officers found a .40 caliber cartridge casing at the location where Dowdell fired the gun.

Dowdell’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for larceny, burglary and failure to appear offenses.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

On October 3, 2019, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Dowdell with one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.  After actively evading law enforcement, Dowdell was found and arrested at a residence in Sprague on November 5, 2019.  He possessed a loaded .25 caliber handgun with an obliterated serial number and approximately 33 grams of crack cocaine, which agents found floating in a toilet tank, at the time of his arrest.

Dowdell has been detained since his arrest.  On July 2, 2020, Dowdell pleaded guilty to one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

This matter was investigated by the New London Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Norwich Police Department and Connecticut State Parole.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel J. Gentile and Sarah P. Karwan, in coordination with the New London State’s Attorney’s Office.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that STIEVE FERNANDEZ, 35, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a conspiracy charge stemming from a lottery scam that defrauded an elderly Connecticut victim of nearly $1.2 million.

In a lottery scam, a perpetrator fraudulently convinces a victim that the victim has won a lottery or sweepstakes, and needs to make certain payments before collecting the winnings.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately 2015 to 2018, Fernandez and others, including Minique Morris and Horace Crooks, defrauded an elderly Mystic resident in a lottery scam.  As part of their scheme, Fernandez spoke to the victim on the telephone and used various pseudonyms, including “Damian Jackson,” “Jesse Jackson,” and “Huckleberry Finn.”  During the phone calls, Fernandez falsely claimed that the victim had won a lottery or sweepstakes and was required to pay fees purportedly to cover taxes, insurance, handling and other charges related to the winnings.  Fernandez directed the victim to pay fees in various ways, including by mailing checks and money orders to Morris in Brampton, Ontario, and Crooks in Orlando, Florida; wiring funds to bank accounts controlled by Morris and Crooks; and purchasing and sending precious metals products to Morris and Crooks.  Fernandez instructed his co-conspirators how to transfer or deliver the fraud proceeds to him in Argentina or Jamaica, where Fernandez resided.

Through this scheme, the victim was defrauded of $1,196,207.

On October 16, 2018, a grand jury in New Haven returned a 10-count indictment charging Fernandez, Morris and Crooks with conspiracy and fraud offenses.  Fernandez was arrested in Jamaica on May 9, 2019, and was subsequently extradited to the United States.  He has been detained since his arrest.

Fernandez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for April 29, 2021.

Morris and Crooks previously pleaded guilty to the same charge and await sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service’s Jamaica Foreign Field Office, the Jamaica Lottery Scam Task Force, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Francis.

U.S. Attorney Durham thanked the Justice Department’s Fraud Section for its assistance in this case, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Jamaican Ministry of Justice for coordinating the extradition proceedings in this matter.

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).

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, announced that ABILIO PEDROSO, 41, of Danielson, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden to theft of government property related to his receipt of more than $66,000 in fraudulent postal insurance claims.

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

According to court documents and statements made in court, from June 2018 through August 2019, Pedroso mailed hundreds of packages through the U.S. Postal Service to people he did not know, insured each package for $300, and then made indemnity claims falsely stating that the packages were missing or that the contents were damaged.  Although Pedroso purported the contents of the packages to be valuables, such as watches and iPads, he actually mailed items of little value, such as DVDs and telephone chargers.

Pedroso filed more than 240 indemnity claims and received $66,640.43 through this scheme.  Most of the claims were in Pedroso’s name, but he also used other names to mail the packages, make the false indemnity claims, and deposit the proceeds of the insurance checks.

Theft of government property carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

Pedroso is released pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria del Pilar Gonzalez.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that NEIL QUATRANO, and his business, BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT, LLC, have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments and will pay more than $100,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the federal and state False Claims Acts.

Behavioral Management is a private behavioral health practice located in North Haven, that provided after school and school break programs for children with behavioral and mental health issues.  Behavioral Management is enrolled as both a Behavioral Health Clinician Group and a Professional Counselor Group in the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (“CMAP”), which includes the state’s Medicaid program.  Quatrano has a bachelor’s degree in social work, but he is not a licensed behavioral health provider in Connecticut.

It is alleged that Quatrano and Behavioral Management submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid under CPT code 90876 for participants of the after-school and school-break program.  CPT code 90876 requires “individual psychophysiological therapy incorporating biofeedback training by any modality (face-to-face with patient), with psychotherapy (e.g., insight oriented, behavior modifying or supported psychotherapy); 45 minutes.”  Quatrano and Behavioral Management falsely represented that a licensed provider had rendered the services when, in fact, an unlicensed individual rendered the services. Quatrano and Behavioral Management also falsely represented that 45 minutes of one-on-one psychotherapy services were provided when in fact 20 minutes of group services were provided.  Finally, Quatrano and Behavioral Management falsely represented that the services provided included biofeedback when, in fact, they did not.

To resolve the allegations under the federal and state False Claims Acts, Quatrano and Behavioral Management LLC have agreed to pay $100,842.86 in order to reimburse the Medicaid program for conduct occurring from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Under the False Claims Act, the government can recover up to three times its actual damages, plus penalties of $11,665 to $23,331 for each false claim.

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

This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Thidemann, and Assistant Attorney General Joshua L. Jackson of the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General.

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes today announced that, on January 19, 2021, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned two indictments charging five New Haven residents with federal narcotics offenses related to the distribution of crack cocaine.  The five defendants were arrested on January 26.

This matter stems from an investigation headed by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force and New Haven Police Department.  The investigation included court-authorized wiretaps and multiple controlled purchases of crack.

JERRY ROLLINS, a.k.a. “Prank,” 36; BENITA FLEMMING, 33, and ORLANDO MOORE, 49, are charged in a 14-count indictment alleging that they conspired to distribute crack from approximately July 2020 to January 2021.  DEVARO TAYLOR, 30, and TASHAUN FAIR, 27, are charged in an eight-count indictment alleging that they conspired to distribute crack between approximately September and December 2020.

Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”), a charge that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.  Rollins and Taylor are also charged with multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine base, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count.  In addition, the five defendants are charged with one or more counts of use of a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking felony, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of four years.

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

In association with the arrests of the defendants, investigators seized approximately 300 grams of crack and packaging, 50 grams of heroin and packaging, 100 grams of cocaine and packaging, and more than $17,000 in cash.

The FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force includes members from the New Haven Police Department, Milford Police Department, Hamden Police Department, East Haven Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and West Haven Police Department have assisted the investigation.

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that OMAYRA SANTIAGO, 44, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall to three months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally receiving Social Security benefits.  Judge Hall ordered Santiago to serve the first three months of her supervised release in home confinement.

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

According to court documents and statements made in court, for approximately 13 years, Santiago received monthly Social Security benefits from the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) in the form of Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”).  Santiago was the representative payee of her children’s SSI benefits, and she represented to the SSA that her household’s income, resources and living arrangements caused the children to be eligible for SSI benefits.

From 2005 to 2018, Santiago made multiple false statements to the SSA in order to qualify for and receive SSI benefits.  She failed to disclose that the father of her children owned the Waterbury property in which their family lived, and that the father of her children had claimed their children as dependents on his tax returns.  Santiago also had received cash and electronic deposits and she did not report as income to the SSA.  In addition, in January 2017, Santiago received approximately $220,000 from the settlement of civil lawsuit, but never disclosed her receipt of the money to the SSA as she knew she was required to do.

Between 2005 and 2018, Santiago collected more than $146,752.86 worth of SSI benefits that she was not entitled to received.  Judge Hall ordered Santiago to make full restitution.

On October 3, 2019, Santiago pleaded guilty to one count of theft and conversion of public money.

This matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret M. Donovan.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging RONNELL ROGERS, 27, of New Haven with narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses.

The indictment was returned on January 25 and Rogers was arrested today.  He appeared via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector, entered a plea of not guilty to the charges, and was ordered detained.

As alleged in the indictment, on January 17, 2021, Rogers possessed distribution quantities of heroin and crack cocaine, and a loaded Smith & Wesson .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol.

It is further alleged that Rogers’ criminal history includes state convictions for firearm, larceny and risk of injury offenses, and a federal conviction in 2019 for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

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

The indictment charges Rogers with one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base (“crack”), which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years; and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least five years.

Rogers, who is on federal supervised release, also faces additional penalties if he is found to have violated the conditions of his supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Haven Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah P. Karwan.

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.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KEITH JORDAN, also known as “Knowledge,” 52, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin.

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

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

On March 13, 2019, a grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment charging Jordan and 28 other individuals with various offenses related to the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine.

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

On January 23, 2020, Jordan pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin.

Jordan, who is released on a $250,000 bond, is required to report to prison on March 31, 2021.

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

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that KENNETH W. SWEENEY, 58, of Tolland, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden to a federal tax offense.

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

According to court documents and statements made in court, Sweeney owned and operated a construction business known as K&S Construction LLC.  For the 2013 through 2016 tax years, Sweeney typically used a tax return preparer for the preparation of his personal income tax returns.  When meeting with his return preparer, Sweeney did not provide documents reflecting the gross receipts or expenses for his business and, instead, orally provided figures of income and expenses that he knew significantly underreported the gross receipts of his business and his income.  Sweeney’s personal tax returns for the 2013 through 2016 tax years, which Sweeney authorized his preparer to file with the IRS, underreported Sweeney’s income, resulting in a tax loss of at least $100,000.

Sweeney pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting the filing of a false tax return, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years.  A sentencing date is not scheduled.

Sweeney is released pending sentencing.

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GARY JOSEPH GRAVELLE, also known as Roland Prejean, 53, last residing in New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 110 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for making numerous hoax threats, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release that followed his earlier federal convictions for sending threatening communications.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 19, 2013, Gravelle was sentenced in Bridgeport federal court to 70 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for mailing numerous threatening letters in 2010.  He was released from prison in 2015.

In September 2018, while he was on federal supervised release, Gravelle used the U.S. mail, e-mail and telephone to threaten to harm people and explode property in Connecticut, Vermont and Washington.  Certain letters that Gravelle mailed contained a white powdery substance and statements that the substance was Anthrax, a biological agent and toxin.  Gravelle made threats to various mental health providers and facilities in New Haven, U.S. Probation Officers, a U.S. District Court Judge, an international airport in Vermont, a federal prison in Washington, occupants of a building in Old Saybrook, a credit union in Bristol, and organizations and religious centers in Connecticut.  He also sent a letter threatening to kill the President of the United States.

Gravelle has been detained since his arrest on September 8, 2018.  On January 6, 2020, he pleaded guilty to five counts of maliciously conveying false information about an explosive, one count related to the sending of hoax Anthrax letters, and one count of making threats against the President.  He also admitted that he failed to comply with conditions of his supervised release.

Judge Dooley sentenced Gravelle to 86 months of imprisonment for his conduct in 2018, and a consecutive 24 months of imprisonment for violating his supervised release conditions.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with the assistance of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and many local police and fire departments, including departments from Bristol, Guilford, Groton, Hartford, Middletown, New Haven, Old Saybrook, Southington and Stamford, Yale University, and Burlington, Vermont.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LUIS MARTINEZ, also known as “Macho,” 55, of Stratford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson to 63 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for narcotics distribution and ammunition possession offenses.  

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

According to court documents and statements made in court, in the summer of 2017, members of the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and Bridgeport Police Department began investigating individuals who were distributing narcotics in and around Bridgeport.  The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, resulted in federal charges against 19 defendants and the seizure of narcotics, items used to process and package drugs for street sale, eight firearms, and more than $360,000 in cash.  The investigation revealed that Martinez was supplying another narcotics distributor with cocaine and opioid pills.

A subsequent investigation of an unrelated drug distributor revealed that Martinez was also acquiring and distributing heroin.

Martinez was arrested on November 6, 2018.  On that date, investigators searched Martinez’s residence and seized boxes of .45 caliber hollow-point ammunition and $11,132 in cash.

Martinez has been detained since his arrest.  On October 25, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, and one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

Martinez’s criminal history includes state convictions for manslaughter, assault, weapons and larceny offenses, and a federal conviction stemming from his role in a crack cocaine distribution ring.

Judge Thompson ordered Martinez to forfeit the cash and ammunition seized on the date of his arrest.  Martinez previously forfeited more than $56,000 in cash that he had shipped to a drug supplier in California, but was seized by law enforcement at a parcel delivery hub.

This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department, as well as the DEA, Connecticut State Police, and the Stratford, Norwalk, Seymour and Trumbull Police Departments.

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TYRESE STANLEY, also known as “Scoot,” 30, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny to 21 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for his role in a New Haven-based drug trafficking ring.  Judge Chatigny ordered Stanley to serve the first three months of his supervised release in home confinement.

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

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

During the investigation, Anderson “Barry” Atkinson of Hamden was identified as a supplier of heroin to members of the drug trafficking organization.  Investigators intercepted calls between Stanley and Atkinson in which Stanley arranged for Atkinson to provide him with heroin for resale.  On certain calls, Stanley explained to Atkinson that he needed to raise funds through his drug sales to pay an attorney in a state court matter.

Twenty-seven individuals were charged as a result of this investigation.

Stanley has been detained since his arrest on July 10, 2019.  On September 21, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin.

Atkinson has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

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

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARQUES MILTON, also known as “Biz,” 36, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 1, 2018, Bridgeport police officers arrested Milton in connection with a gunpoint threatening incident that occurred in February 2018.  At the time of his arrest, Milton possessed a fully loaded Beretta 9mm pistol, an additional 18 rounds of ammunition, and a quantity of marijuana.

Prior to March 2018, Milton was convicted in state court of robbery in the first degree and unlawful restraint in the first degree.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

State forensic examiners have connected the Beretta 9mm pistol to shell casings recovered after a shooting incident on Linwood Avenue in Bridgeport on February 19, 2018.  On that date, one of approximately 10 shots that were fired grazed a cable company employee who was working on a nearby utility pole.  Milton has been charged in state court in connection with this incident, and also in connection with alleged shooting incidents on April 25, 2018, in Bridgeport, and on June 2, 2018, in Waterbury, both of which caused serious injuries to victims.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the assistance of the Bridgeport Police Department, Waterbury Police Department, and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Vizcarrondo.

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, announced that JAMES G. GUERRA, 58, of Dix Hills, New York, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden to a federal tax offense.

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

According to court documents and statements made in court, 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.

Guerra pleaded guilty to one count of willful failure to collect and pay over withholding taxes, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.  A sentencing date is not scheduled.

Guerra is released pending sentencing.

On October 25, 2018, DiFabio pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to file false income tax returns and payroll tax returns.  When he pleaded guilty, he agreed that the loss to the IRS in income taxes and employment taxes for the 2013 through 2015 tax years was $816,954. 

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 June 4, 2019, Idalecia Lopes Santos, a bookkeeper who worked for DiFabio, pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion.

DiFabio, Cioffi and Santos await sentencing.

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that NATHANIEL DeJESUS, 21, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for fentanyl and crack cocaine distribution offenses.

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.  During the investigation, investigators made controlled purchases of fentanyl and crack cocaine from DeJesus.

DeJesus was arrested on state charges on August 28, 2019.  At the time of his arrest he possessed fentanyl and crack packaged for distribution.

On September 13, 2019, DeJesus was arrested on federal narcotics distribution charges.  On that date, a search of his Andover Street residence revealed approximately 73 grams of fentanyl, more than two grams of crack, and items used to process and package narcotics for street sale.

DeJesus has been detained since September 13, 2019.  On February 26, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base (“crack”). 

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

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont, Jr.

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 an indictment charging 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 John H. Durham, 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 indictment, which was returned on January 19 and unsealed yesterday, charges

KEISHAWN DONALD, 19
TREVON WRIGHT, also known as “Tre,” 19
KYRAN DANGERFIELD, 24, ERIC HAYES, also known as “Heavyweight Champ,” 24

Wright was arrested yesterday.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel via videoconference and is detained.  Donald, Dangerfield and Hayes were previously detained and are 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.  Donald, Wright, Dangerfield and Hayes 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 September 18, 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 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 and “JW,” an East End associate who is now deceased, shot and killed Myreke Kenion and shot and attempted to kill D’Andre Brown, both associates of the GHB/Hotz gang;
• On June 24, 2020, Dangerfield, JW and a juvenile shot and killed Tyler Ballew, a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang;
• On October 17, 2019, Donald agreed with other East End gang members to shoot and attempt to kill Joshua Gilbert, a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang;

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

“This ongoing investigation is methodically getting to the roots of much of the violent activity Bridgeport has experienced during the last few years,” said U.S. Attorney Durham.  “The allegations in this indictment, combined with charges announced in previous indictments, detail numerous, senseless violent acts committed by members and associates of warring street gangs.  As gun violence continues to menace not only Bridgeport but other Connecticut cities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will employ the full weight of federal law to neutralize these violent groups and remove their members who murder and maim from the community.  I thank our counterparts in the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, who are supervising this investigation with our office, and the Bridgeport Police Department, FBI, ATF, DEA and U.S. Marshals Service, for their collaborative effort in bringing these individuals to justice.”

U.S. Attorney Durham noted that, in the past year, 21 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.

“The cooperation of federal, state, and local law enforcement in the Fairfield Judicial District continues to be a model for the protection of the life, liberty, and property of the citizens we serve through our focus on the small number of individuals who threaten the safety and security of so many,” said State’s Attorney Corradino.  “I am grateful to Mr. Durham and his staff as well as the federal agents for their commitment to the greater Bridgeport community, and pledge the full resources of my office to continue these efforts.”

“The Bridgeport Police Department is committed to an ongoing partnership with varying agencies to focus on violent crime incidents that have occurred in our city and to prevent similar incidents from reoccurring,” said Acting Chief Garcia.  “Gun violence, group member violence, drug activity, etc., have been an expressed concern of the residents within our communities; therefore, we have taken an even greater proactive approach by applying resources to and collaborating with these agencies, and are now witnessing the benefits of these partnerships. These indictments should be a clear message that we will not allow our communities to continue being plagued by violence.”

“Addressing gang violence head on continues to be a top priority for the FBI and our law enforcement partners,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sundberg.  “These recent arrests are just a peek into our overall strategy to reduce gun violence, prevent and dismantle gangs in Connecticut.”

“This investigation is an example of ATF’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners at the Bridgeport Police Department, FBI and DEA,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brady.  “Together we identified, targeted, investigated and arrested alleged violent criminals.  This indictment should serve as a warning that we will not tolerate gang related violence and those who cause it.”

“Drug trafficking, along with the violence that all too often accompanies it, is a serious threat to the safety and security of our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Boyle.  “Drug dealers and street gangs value their own profits over human life, and are responsible for fueling drug addiction and much of the violent crimes across New England.  These crimes hold law abiding citizens of Connecticut hostage to drug-fueled lawlessness.  This is unacceptable and will not be allowed to happen.  DEA and its local, state and federal partners are dedicated to bringing to justice those that commit these crimes.”

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

This 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 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.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CARLOS BARNES, also known as “Buddha,” 29, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer to 57 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing two firearms.

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

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 12, 2019, Hamden Police arrested Barnes after they found him in possession of a Taurus Millennium G2 9mm handgun and a Springfield XD-40 .40 caliber handgun with an obliterated serial number.

Prior to October 2019, Barnes was convicted in state court of carrying a pistol without a permit, sale of illegal drugs, and robbery in the first degree.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

Barnes has been detained since his arrest.  On July 9, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hamden Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret M. Donovan.

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DEMORSE KELLEY, 39, of Hartford, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to assaulting a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 7, 2019, a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier was sorting mail inside her postal delivery van that was parked on Sigourney Street in Hartford.  Kelley approached the van from the sidewalk, slid the side door of the van so that it was fully open and then spoke to the letter carrier.  Kelley commented the letter carrier on her appearance and asked her for a hug and for her phone number.  Kelley then climbed into the postal van and allowed the door to close behind him.  He then touched the letter carrier’s leg below her shorts, made sexual advances and obstructed the letter carrier’s ability to exit.  The letter carrier was eventually able to exit the van and called Hartford Police, who arrested Kelley later that day.

Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for April 15, 2021, at which time Kelley faces a maximum term of imprisonment of eight years. 

Kelley, who has unrelated state charges pending, has been detained since his arrest.

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Hartford Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an indictment charging DAVID BURDEN, 40, of Norwalk, with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The indictment was returned on December 21, 2020.  Burden appeared today via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel and entered a plea of not guilty.  Burden has been detained in state custody since his arrest on September 30, 2020.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on September 30, 2020, Bridgeport Police officers arrested Burden after he fired a gun in the area of Kossuth Street and Nichols Street in Bridgeport.  Investigators seized a loaded 9mm Smith and Wesson semi-automatic pistol from Burden.

It is alleged that Burden’s criminal history includes federal convictions in 2003 for crack cocaine distribution, racketeering, racketeering conspiracy and committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering offenses, and multiple 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 charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

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

This investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Bridgeport Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Kale.

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TYLON HICKS, 44, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Michael P. Shea to 77 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl.

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

According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2019, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force received information that Tylon Hicks’ brother, Troy Hicks, was involved in the distribution of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine.  On August 14, 2019, investigators engaged a cooperating source to purchase fentanyl from Troy Hicks.  Troy Hicks instructed the source to meet him at a restaurant in East Hartford to complete the transaction.  Troy Hicks and Tylon Hicks were arrested after they arrived together at the meeting location and a search of Tylon Hicks’ person revealed approximately 48 grams of fentanyl.  A search of the vehicle they arrived in also revealed approximately 103 dose bags of fentanyl and approximately three grams of cocaine.

Tylon Hicks has a criminal history that dates to 1993, and he was on parole for a felony drug conviction when he committed this offense.

Tylon Hicks has been detained since his arrest.  On October 9, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

Troy Hicks pleaded guilty to drug and firearm offenses and awaits sentencing.

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 Brian P. Leaming.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JASON WHITEHEAD, 42, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 15 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for defrauding multiple companies through a flexible spending account scheme.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Whitehead worked at PayFlex, a company that administered health care and dependent care spending accounts for corporate employees.  PayFlex was acquired by Aetna Inc. in 2011.  Whitehead worked at the PayFlex division until approximately August 2017, when he transferred to another division at Aetna.  However, he retained his employee access to PayFlex’s computer systems via his login credentials.

From September 2016 through July 2019, Whitehead defrauded multiple corporate victims of monies intended to be paid to the victims’ employees for dependent care reimbursements.  Using access he had to PayFlex’s systems, Whitehead created multiple fictitious employees at three different victim companies.  He then submitted to PayFlex dozens of fraudulent reimbursement claims for dependent care expenses by the fictitious employees.  Through this scheme, PayFlex made $176,200 in payments to Whitehead and to third parties that Whitehead designated.

Judge Thompson ordered Whitehead to make full restitution to PayFlex.

On October 27, 2020, Whitehead pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud.

Whitehead, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on July 19, 2021.

This investigation was led by a Hartford Police Department detective in his capacity as a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Connecticut Cyber Task Force (CCTF).  The FBI’s CCTF is staffed with detectives from the Connecticut State Police’s Cyber Crimes Investigation Unit and the Bristol, Hartford, New Canaan, Orange, Stamford, Torrington, Watertown and UConn Police Departments.  To contact the CCTF, please call the FBI’s New Haven Field Office at 203-777-6311.

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DIONTE WILSON, 25, of East Hartford, pleaded guilty today to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

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

According to court documents and statements made in court, after a review of videos on social media websites identified Wilson as being in possession of several different firearms, members of the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force conducted multiple controlled purchases of marijuana from Wilson.  On August 10, 2020, Wilson was arrested after he displayed a Taurus .380 caliber handgun during a controlled marijuana purchase.  A subsequent search of Wilson’s residence revealed a loaded .380 caliber Taurus gun magazine and approximately 100 rounds of .22 caliber long rifle hollow point bullets.

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

Wilson has been detained since his federal arrest on September 9, 2020.  He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on April 14, 2021, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

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 United States Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned a 17-count indictment charging BRIAN HUGHES, 56, of Madison, with offenses stemming from an alleged scheme to defraud investors of an alcoholic beverage company.

The indictment was returned on January 12, 2021, and was unsealed after Hughes was arrested yesterday.  Following his arrest, Hughes appeared via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.  He is detained pending a detention hearing that is scheduled for January 21 at 1:00 p.m.

The indictment alleges that, in March 2015, Hughes founded Handcrafted Brands, LLC (“HCB”), for the purpose of raising money to purchase Salute American Vodka, (“Salute”) an alcoholic beverage company.  Hughes subsequently solicited and received funds from investors ostensibly for the purchase and subsequent development of Salute.  Hughes represented to investors that their investments would be used to purchase and operate Salute, that investors would be compensated with equity shares of HCB or Salute, and that Hughes would not take a salary from HCB.  In fact, Hughes misused investor funds on expenses unrelated to the purchase and development of Salute and diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars of investor funds for his personal use.  In addition, some victim investors were not compensated with equity shares of HCB or Salute.

The indictment further alleges that Hughes solicited investments purportedly on behalf of another company, which is identified in court documents as “Company-1.”  In fact, Hughes had no official relationship with Company-1 and could not raise capital on its behalf.  Hughes also solicited investment money by falsely representing to investors that he owned a percentage share of Company-1, that he planned to acquire Company-1, and that Company-1 or its parent company planned to acquire his business.  In fact, Hughes spent the investment money associated with Company-1 on personal expenses and on other expenses unrelated to Company-1.

It is further alleged that, in order to conceal his fraud, Hughes made “lulling” payments to investors.  Lulling payments purportedly represent profits from an initial investment designed to inspire confidence that an investment is yielding results, and are made to encourage further investment.  In fact, the source of the funds underlying the lulling payments made by Hughes included funds from other investors.

Finally, it is alleged that Hughes evaded the assessment of his tax obligations for the 2015 through 2018 tax years by substantially underreporting his income to the IRS.

The indictment charges HUGHES with seven counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count; five counts of illegal monetary transactions, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count;  one count of money laundering, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and four counts of tax evasion, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years on each count.

U.S. Attorney Durham 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont, Jr.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MIKE CRUZ, also known as Mike Flores and “Mega,” 31, of Manchester, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl.  Judge Meyer also ordered Cruz to pay a $10,000 fine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2020, law enforcement received information that Cruz was distributing large quantities of narcotics from his Manchester apartment.  On February 18, 2020, investigators conducted a controlled purchase of approximately 50 grams of fentanyl from Cruz.

Cruz was arrested on a federal criminal complaint in Manchester on February 27, 2020.  At the time of his arrest he possessed approximately 100 grams of compressed fentanyl.  On that date, a search of his vehicle also revealed approximately 2,000 dose bags of fentanyl and other substances, and a search of his residence revealed $29,408 in cash. 

In total, Cruz was responsible for distributing or possessing with the intent to distribute approximately 245 grams of fentanyl within a one-month period.

Cruz has been detained since his arrest.  On September 23, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

Judge Meyer ordered Cruz to forfeit the cash seized on February 27, 2020.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’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.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret M. Donovan.

John H. Durham, 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 CHRISTOPHER ALAMO, 33, of Hartford, was arrested yesterday on federal narcotics distribution and firearm possession charges.

Alamo appeared yesterday via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing that is scheduled for January 19.

As alleged in court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force identified Alamo as a distributor of heroin and cocaine in Connecticut, New York and elsewhere.  On January 13, 2021, Alamo was arrested after a court-authorized search of his Hartford residence revealed more than 12,000 dose bags of suspected fentanyl, approximately 390 grams of loose fentanyl, approximately one kilogram of cocaine, approximately 300 grams of marijuana, items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, a .40 caliber Glock 22 handgun equipped with a loaded high-capacity magazine, a separate large capacity magazine loaded with 51 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and a bulletproof vest.

It is alleged that Alamo’s criminal history includes felony convictions for narcotics, weapon and larceny offenses.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

The criminal complaint charges Alamo with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, possession of firearm by a convicted felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, an offense that carries a consecutive term of imprisonment of at least five years.

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

The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria del Pilar Gonzalez, with the assistance of the Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ZOHEB A. DEURA, 34, of Derby, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to three years of probation, the first nine months of which Deura must serve in home confinement, for stealing mail while he was a U.S. Postal Service employee.  Judge Dooley also ordered Deura to pay a $20,000 fine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between February and April 2020, while he was employed as a supervisor at the U.S. Post Office in Middletown, Deura stole numerous packages, including packages containing an Apple computer, PlayStation and Nintendo gaming devices, an iPhone, footwear, and clothing items.

On October 21, 2020, Deura pleaded guilty to embezzlement of mail by a U.S. Postal Service employee.

Deura has resigned from the U.S. Postal Service.

This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff.

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

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Joleen Simpson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that PAMELA SMITH, 72, of Kirkland, Washington, formerly of Guilford, Connecticut, pleaded guilty yesterday to aiding in the preparation of a false tax return.

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

According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately 2009 and 2018, Smith was the Chief Financial Officer of Equinox Home Care, LLC (“EHC”), a home healthcare staffing agency based in Stratford, Connecticut.  EHC was established as a partnership between Theresa Foreman and another individual.  In September 2012, the partnership ended, and, by court order, Foreman was obligated to make payments to her partner for the purchase of the partner’s interest in EHC.

At Foreman’s direction, Smith and EHC’s payroll manager helped Foreman receive money from EHC in a manner that hid the fact that Foreman was the true recipient of the funds.  Beginning in 2012, EHC’s payroll included payments to “ghost employees” who did not work for EHC, and those funds were actually for Foreman’s benefit.  As the CFO of EHC, Smith became aware that the payroll checks were being issued to the “ghost employees” and that EHC and its payroll manager were causing the false payroll checks to be issued.  Smith also assisted Foreman by issuing or causing to be issued bonus checks from EHC to approximately 30 EHC employees.  The employees cashed the checks and provided the cash to Foreman.  Some of the employees later noticed that the amount of funds cashed had been included on their Forms W-2.  Smith would issue a corrected W-2 only if an employee made a request.  Several EHC employees did not request a corrected W-2 and, as a result, overpaid taxes to the IRS.

In addition, Foreman received funds through cashed mileage checks that were issued to two individuals who did not drive on behalf of EHC.

Smith interacted with the tax return preparer who prepared the partnership tax return in addition to Foreman’s own individual income tax returns, and failed to inform the return preparer about funds that Foreman received through these various mechanisms.  More than $600,000 of such funds were not reported on Foreman’s 2014 tax return alone.

At sentencing, Smith faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three years.  A sentencing date is not scheduled.

Foreman pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion and, on January 6, 2020, was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment and ordered to pay $641,941.46 in restitution.

As part of Smith’s plea agreement with the government, the government submits that approximately $266,000 of the tax loss was foreseeable to Smith as a result of her conduct.

This matter is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division.   This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer R. Laraia and Peter S. Jongbloed. 

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE MANUEL SANTOS, 38, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 228 months of imprisonment, followed by seven years of supervised release, for enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, and for obstructing justice by attempting to have the minor victim murdered.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Santos was employed by Curtin Livery as a bus/van driver in Connecticut with responsibilities that included transporting children going to and from a middle school in Wallingford.  In October 2018, law enforcement received information that Santos was sexually soliciting a 13-year-old girl who was a passenger on his route.  Analysis of the minor victim’s cell phone records revealed more than 200 text messages or calls between Santos and the victim, a sexually explicit photo of Santos that Santos sent to the minor victim, and multiple messages in which Santos coerced the victim to send him a sexually explicit photo of her.

Santos has been detained since his arrest on November 2, 2018.

In the fall of 2019, while Santos was in federal custody and awaiting trial, Santos engaged an individual and, subsequently, an undercover law enforcement officer, to have the 13-year-old victim murdered to prevent her from testifying against him.  In a phone call on December 2, 2019, the undercover officer told Santos that the victim had been murdered.  Immediately after receiving the information, Santos asked the undercover officer to begin collecting background information on an Assistant U.S. Attorney who was prosecuting Santos’ case.

On February 20, 2020, Santos pleaded guilty to one count of enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.

Santos’ criminal history includes convictions for reckless endangerment, assault and larceny offenses.  In 2003, he was convicted of offenses related to his running from police, stealing a police cruiser, striking the officer with the car door when the officer attempted to stop him, and dragging the officer as Santos sped off in the stolen cruiser.

This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nancy V. Gifford and Brian P. Leaming.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gschlecht has been detained since her arrest.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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