District of Connecticut

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that nine individuals have be charged by indictment with participating in a drug trafficking ring that obtained more than 80,000 oxycodone pills by way of fraudulent prescriptions.

“The diversion and trafficking of prescription narcotics is a serious threat to public health, and disrupting criminal organizations involved in this activity and prosecuting those involved  is a priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Daly.  “I commend the DEA and all the members of the Tactical Diversion Squad for their efforts in this long-running investigation.”

“The DEA is committed to investigating and bringing to justice those who illicitly distribute oxycodone,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Ferguson.  “Opiate abuse is a major problem in Connecticut and throughout New England.  The diversion of prescription pain killers, in this case oxycodone, contributes to the widespread abuse of opiates, is the gateway to heroin addiction, and is devastating our communities.  This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts in Connecticut and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to aggressively pursue any group that traffics these drugs.”

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2012, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization that manufactured fraudulent prescriptions for oxycodone and distributed the drug in the greater New Haven area.  As part of the conspiracy, members of organization obtained the personal identifying information of medical practitioners and used the information to create fraudulent prescriptions.  Conspiracy members also purchased legitimate prescriptions for oxycodone from individuals.  The organization then used individuals, or “runners,” to fill the fraudulent prescriptions at pharmacies throughout Connecticut.  Once a runner provided his or her personal information to a member of the organization, the runner’s information was kept on file and used to create other fraudulent prescriptions.

Since February 2013, the organization has stolen the personal identifying information of more than 50 doctors and medical professionals and fraudulently obtained more than 80,000 oxycodone pills.

On September 22, 2015, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned a six-count indictment charging the following individuals:

JULIAN CINTRON, a.k.a. “Papi” and Jay,” 36, of New Haven
DAVID THOMPSON, a.k.a. “Super Dave,” 41, of New Haven
ALEJANDRINO DeJESUS, a.k.a. “Baby Boo,” 37, of New Haven
ANGEL MATEO, a.k.a., “Chickyding,” 36, of New Haven
ROBERT WILLIAMS, a.k.a., “Bo,” “Positive” and “Shawn,” 35, of Meriden
LARISSA ARABOLOS, 25, of East Haven
MATTHEW GIGLIETTI, 35, of East Haven
CHRISTOPHER LEVIX, a.k.a. “Scarface,” 33 of New Haven
ANTHONY PALMIERI, a.k.a. “Ant” and “Turtle,” 38, of New Haven

As alleged in court documents, CINTRON and THOMPSON have been leaders of the conspiracy since 2013.  CINTRON, THOMPSON and ARABOLOS manufactured fraudulent oxycodone prescriptions for the organization, and DeJESUS, MATEO, WILLIAMS, GIGLIETTI and LEVIX recruited and transported runners.  PALMIERI transported runners, and also distributed oxycodone obtained by CINTRON and THOMPSON.

The indictment charges each of the defendants with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, an offense the carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of conspiracy to acquire oxycodone by fraud and forgery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of four years.

The indictment also charges THOMPSON with two counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of oxycodone, and DeJESUS with one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin and cocaine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin.  Each of these charges carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

CINTRON, THOMPSON, WILLIAMS, ARABOLOS, GIGLIETTI, LEVIX and PALMIERI were arrested on federal criminal complaints on September 10, 2015, and DeJESUS was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on September 11, 2015.  MATEO currently is in state custody.

The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of $10,207.39 that was seized from PALMIERI’s residence on September 10, 2015, and five vehicles owned by several of the defendants.

U.S. Attorney Daly 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.

The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad includes members from the Greenwich, Shelton, Hamden, Vernon, West Hartford, Bristol and Willimantic Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy C. Brown and Robert M. Spector.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAMES E. NEILSEN, 55, of Norwalk, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to one count of wire fraud stemming from his operation of a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of more than $1.6 million.

According to court documents and statement made in court, NEILSEN was a certified public accountant until he became inactive in approximately 2012.  Since at least 2006, NEILSEN solicited and received more than $1 million dollars from numerous individuals to invest with Ulysses Partners, LLC, an entity in which NEILSEN was a partner and chief financial officer, or Neilsen Financial Services, an entity that NEILSEN owned and controlled.  NEILSEN promised investors a guaranteed rate of return of 9 to 10.5 percent on their investment.  NEILSEN told investors that Ulysses Partners or Neilsen Financial Services would invest their money in businesses or business ventures.  Instead, NEILSEN used much of that money to pay back earlier victim investors and to make various personal expenditures.

As part of the scheme, NEILSEN submitted fabricated account statements to his victims, and also sent lulling emails to multiple victims.

Through this scheme, NEILSEN defrauded victim investors of $1,663,641.83.  NEILSEN’s victims include his accounting clients, clients of his tax preparation business, friends and members of his family, including his 93-year-old great aunt.  His victims also include minor children beneficiaries of a trust established after their father’s untimely death and whose trust monies NEILSEN had authorized access to.

NEILSEN was arrested on June 18, 2015, and is released on a $250,000 bond.  He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on December 22, 2015, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  He also has agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $6,273,841.95, which includes additional monies owed to investors.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Greenwich Police Department and the Connecticut Department of Banking.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JASON OLIVIERA, 35, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to three years of probation, the first six months of which OLIVIERA must serve in home confinement, for illegally importing a tablet machine to produce oxycodone pills.  Judge Underhill also ordered OLIVIERA to perform 50 hours of community service.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 23, 2013, OLIVIERA and David Wolvovsky were arrested at Wolvovsky’s home in Fairfield after they received delivery of a package containing a tableting machine that had been ordered from China.  On that date, Wolvovsky stated to investigators that he and OLIVIERA had purchased the machine through an individual he had met on the Internet, and that they had also purchased what he had believed to be a large quantity oxycodone powder from the same individual.  Wolvovsky then stated that, before the machine had arrived, he had tested the powder and determined that it was not true oxycodone powder.  A subsequent search of Wolvovsky’s residence revealed a package containing approximately one kilogram of the fake oxycodone powder.  The search also revealed opiate test kits, packaging materials, tablet dying/imprinting machinery and $21,034 in cash.

On March 13, 2015, OLIVIERA waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully importing a tableting machine.

On July 24, 2014, Wolvovsky pleaded guilty to the same charge. On November 21, 2014, he was sentenced to four years of probation, including six months of home confinement.  He also was ordered to pay a fine of $2,000, forfeit the $21,034 that was seized at the time of his arrest and perform 100 hours of community service.

This matter was investigated by the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and Homeland Security Investigations.  The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad includes members from the Greenwich, Shelton, Hamden, Vernon, West Hartford, Bristol and Willimantic Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Kale.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that CHARLES PRINCIPATO, 53, of Rye, N.Y., was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for engaging in a scheme to defraud investors of more than $1.3 million.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately January 2011 and February 2014, PRINCIPATO acted as principal of Prince Direct, Inc., an entity that he represented to victim-investors as being in the business of marketing products through advertising such as “infomercials.”  PRINCIPATO solicited money from victims, including Connecticut residents, for the stated purpose of funding the business operations of Prince Direct.  However, instead of using victims’ money for the stated purposes, PRINCIPATO used it for his own personal expenses, including for vacations and home renovations, and for gambling.  Through this scheme, PRINCIPATO defrauded victim-investors of more than $1.3 million.

Chief Judge Hall ordered PRINCIPATO to pay restitution in the amount of $1,809,235, which includes additional monies PRINCIPATO owed to investors.

On June 23, 2014, PRINCIPATO pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.

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

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, announced that ANDREW DURON, also known as “Chavo,” 35, of El Paso, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer in New Haven to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for brokering a 25 kilogram cocaine transaction.

According to court documents and statements made in court, DURON was involved in a cocaine trafficking organization that transported cocaine from Texas to Connecticut.  In 2014, the organization attempted to find an additional source of supply for its Hartford area cocaine customers.  In July 2014, a DEA confidential source met DURON in North Carolina.  During the meeting, DURON told the confidential source that he wanted to purchase up to 50 kilograms of cocaine for $28,000 per kilogram.  On August 14, 2014, DURON, the confidential source and an undercover DEA agent met in New Jersey where DURON agreed to purchase 25 kilograms of cocaine.  In subsequent conversations with the confidential source, DURON stated that he wanted an extra $1000 per kilogram as a side deal.  They agreed on a total price of $725,000 for 25 kilograms of cocaine.

On August 23, 2014, DURON met the undercover DEA agent at a location in Wethersfield.  DURON told the undercover agent that his associates were in Connecticut and that DURON and the undercover agent would need to travel to a store parking lot near Bradley International Airport to verify that the money was in place.  DURON and the undercover agent then drove in separate vehicles to a store parking lot on Kennedy Road in Windsor.  After DURON met two of his associates in the store, one of DURON’s associates met the undercover agent in the parking lot, showed him a duffel bag and said it contained “half” of the money.  Shortly thereafter, investigators arrived at the scene and arrested DURON and two of his associates.  Investigators also recovered from the vehicle driven by DURON’s associate a duffel bag containing approximately $284,000 in cash, and a loaded .38 caliber revolver.

DURON has been detained since his arrest.  On May 20, 2015, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

Eight individuals have been charged at a result of this investigation.

This investigation is being led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force, including personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office and the Bristol, Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Newington, and Wethersfield Police Departments.

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

U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), today announced that the COPS Office has awarded $1.5 million to the City of Waterbury to fund 12 law enforcement positions.  The award is part of more than $107 million in funds awarded this year through the COPS Hiring Program (CHP) to create and protect numerous law enforcement positions across the country.

“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country in addressing their most critical public safety issues,” said Ronald L. Davis, Director of the COPS Office. “These grants are not simply about putting more officers on the street, they are about expanding the capacity of law enforcement agencies to engage in community policing.”

CHP provides grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers.  The program provides salaries and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.

Priority consideration was given this year to agencies that selected any of the Building Trust focus areas or School Based Policing through School Resource Officers.  All applicants were encouraged to refer to the report of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing for suggested actions to incorporate into their proposed community policing strategy.

“Enhancing community policing and maintaining our schools as a safe and enriching learning environment are critically important, and I am pleased to join the COPS Office in announcing this grant,” said U.S. Attorney Daly.  “This funding will help provide Waterbury with the resources needed to accomplish this vital mission.”

The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has invested over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 127,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.

For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2015 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Patricia M. Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that MATTHEW DRAGONE, 31, of Middletown, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with the robbery of the Liberty Bank in Durham earlier this month.  DRAGONE also is a suspect is five other recent Connecticut bank robberies and one attempted bank robbery.

DRAGONE was arrested on September 18, 2015, in Middletown.  He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven and currently is detained.

According to the criminal complaint, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police and several local police departments have been investigating a series of bank robberies that occurred in August and September.

The complaint alleges that, on September 3, 2015, DRAGONE, wearing dark sunglasses, a blue-striped long sleeve dress shirt and a white baseball cap with a “Coors Lite” logo, entered the Liberty Bank located at 357 Main Street in Durham.  Holding a cellphone to his ear, DRAGONE approached the teller counter and presented to a teller a bank-style bag with a note affixed to the front.  The note demanded money and an order not to include a dye pack or GPS.  The teller placed approximately $1,490 in cash in the bag and handed it to DRAGONE.  DRAGONE then exited the bank and drove away.

Investigators found a Coors Lite baseball cap and a blue-striped shirt on the side of the road approximately 50 yards from the bank.  Laboratory analysis of the discarded shirt revealed DNA consistent with DRAGONE’s DNA on the shirt’s collar.

The complaint further alleges that DRAGONE is a suspect in the robbery of the Webster Bank at 145 Highland Avenue in Cheshire on August 12, the TD Bank at 1127 Farmington Avenue in Berlin on August 13, the Liberty Bank at 151 Main Street in Deep River on August 17, the TD Bank at 25 Wells Road in Wethersfield on August 31, the Webster Bank at 377 Cromwell Avenue in Rocky Hill on September 9 (attempt), and the TD Bank at 184 Clinton Road in Killingworth on September 11.

As alleged in the complaint, a search of DRAGONE’s residence on September 16 revealed clothing and sunglasses consistent with those worn during the Durham robbery, and a bank-style bag consistent with the one used during several of the bank robberies.

The investigation is ongoing.

The charge of bank robbery carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

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

This investigation is being conducted by the FBI, the Connecticut State Police and the Middletown, Cheshire, Berlin, Wethersfield, and Rocky Hill Police Departments.  The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Scientific Services is assisting the investigation.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARK W. IRVIN, 63, of Meriden, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with production and possession of child pornography.

IRVIN was arrested on September 18.  He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven, who ordered IRVIN detained.

As alleged in the criminal complaint, law enforcement officers received information from a teenage male that IRVIN had had repeated sexual contact with him since he was 15 years old, and that there are cameras in IRVIN’s residence recording all the time.  The male also stated that he had observed IRVIN engaged in sexual contact with other minors at the residence.

On September 8, 2015, law enforcement officers conducted a search of IRVIN’s residence and observed cameras in several rooms, including cameras in the bathroom of the residence.  Officers seized camcorders, computers, VHS tapes, CDs, DVDs and multiple thumb drives and data storage devices.  The forensic analysis of the devices is only in its initial stages, but the complaint alleges that one of the devices contained sexually explicit photographs of a 13 year old male.

The charge of production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.  The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

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

This matter is being investigated by the Meriden Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and the Connecticut State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.

Citizens with information that may be relevant to this ongoing investigation should call the Meriden Police Department at 203-238-1911.

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.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TREVOR PIERCE, 30, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer in New Haven to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for planning to conduct an armed robbery of narcotics stash house.

This matter stems from “Operation Samson,” an initiative headed by the ATF and the Bridgeport and New Haven Police Departments that targeted violent criminals, illegal firearm possession and firearm trafficking.  In the spring of 2014, approximately 40 ATF special agents and personnel from Connecticut and across the country were deployed with New Haven and Bridgeport Police to conduct numerous covert operations.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2014, the ATF began an investigation into Carlos “Camby” Colon and Carlos “Joel” Colon, who were known narcotics and firearm traffickers in Bridgeport.  Law enforcement also had received information that Joel Colon was interested committing an armed robbery of a drug dealer.  During the investigation, which employed the use of an ATF agent working in an undercover capacity, the Colons recruited PIERCE and others to commit an armed robbery of what they believed to be a narcotics stash house of 15 kilograms of cocaine.

On April 11, 2014, Pierce, the Colons, Humberto Soto, Markus Mendez, Nelson Diaz and Hiram “Gringo” Mojica gathered at a location in Stamford where they believed they would be informed of the address of the narcotics stash house, and would then travel to the stash house to conduct the robbery.  All seven were arrested at that time.  A search of the car that PIERCE, Diaz and Mojica drove to the location revealed a loaded .40 caliber pistol, an EO Tech sight, black gloves, as well as two rolls of duct tape that Diaz had recently purchased.  A search of the center console of the vehicle that Soto and Mendez drove to the meet location revealed a loaded and 9mm pistol.

PIERCE has been detained since April 11, 2014.  On March 10, 2015, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and one count of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

PIERCE’s criminal history includes state convictions for robbery, sexual assault, assault and breach of peace.

Camby Colon, Joel Colon, Soto, Diaz, Mendez and Mojica have also pleaded guilty.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Richards.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Patricia M. Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Colonel Brian F. Meraviglia of the Connecticut State Police and Easton Police Chief Timothy Shaw announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport returned an indictment today charging KYLE NAVIN, 27, of Bridgeport, with one count of possession of a firearm by an individual who is an unlawful user of and addicted to any controlled substance.

NAVIN was originally charged by criminal complaint.  As alleged in the complaint, on August 7, 2015, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies began investigating the disappearance of NAVIN’s parents, Jeffrey and Jeanette Navin of Easton.  On August 13, 2015, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of NAVIN’s Bridgeport residence and seized two firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition from NAVIN’s bedroom.  On August 19, 2015, law enforcement conducted a second search of NAVIN’s residence and located and seized items indicative of substance abuse, including numerous heroin brand-stamped glassine baggies with heroin residue, hypodermic needles, empty prescription bottles for oxycodone and prescription bottles containing other controlled substances.  Investigators also recovered from NAVIN’s residence a receipt from a firearms shooting range that was issued on August 5, 2015.

The complaint further alleges that investigators conducted a court-authorized search of NAVIN’s cellphone and reviewed numerous text messages that discuss NAVIN’s use of heroin, oxycodone and Xanax.

NAVIN has been detained since his arrest on September 8, 2015.

The charge of possession of a firearm by an individual who is an unlawful user of and addicted to any controlled substance carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

NAVIN’s arraignment has not been scheduled.  This case has been assigned to Senior U.S. District Judge Warren W. Eginton in Bridgeport.

U.S. Attorney Daly 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 ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI Bridgeport Violent Crimes Task Force, Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad and Easton Police Department, with the assistance of the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Fairfield Judicial District and the Westport, Weston and Bridgeport Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Lee Dayton.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that DANIEL HAMLETT, SR., 53, formerly of New Haven, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to committing an armed robbery of a Seymour bank in 2013.

On April 9, 2013, HAMLETT drove a stolen vehicle to the Webster Bank on New Haven Road in Seymour.  Wearing a mask, he exited the vehicle, approached an individual who was seated in his parked car, took out a handgun, smashed the driver’s side front window and demanded money from the victim.  When the victim responded that he didn’t have any money, HAMLETT took the victim’s car keys and cell phone and told him not to move.

HAMLETT then entered the bank, ordered everyone to get on the floor, jumped over the teller counter and forcibly took $5,594 in cash from two teller drawers.  He then jumped back over the teller counter, exited the bank and fled in the stolen vehicle.  HAMLETT then met his son, Daniel Hamlett, Jr., who picked up his father and eluded law enforcement.

HAMLETT was arrested in Georgia on November 13, 2014, and has been detained since his arrest.  Judge Thompson scheduled sentencing for December 7, 2015, at which time HAMLETT faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 25 years.

Daniel Hamlett Jr. was arrested on March 14, 2014.  On October 31, 2014, he pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting bank robbery.  He awaits sentencing.

This matter was investigated by the FBI and the Seymour Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas P. Morabito and Sarala V. Nagala.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal jury in Hartford has found WILMER ANTONIO GOMEZ-RODRIGUEZ, 29, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing in New York, New York, guilty of heroin trafficking offenses.  The trial began on September 8 and the jury returned guilty verdicts on two counts of an indictment yesterday.

According to trial testimony and the evidence disclosed during the trial, this matter stems from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and the Norwalk Police Department into suspected cocaine and heroin distribution by Omar Andrade.   In September 2014, Andrade agreed to provide one kilogram of heroin to a DEA Task Force officer acting in an undercover capacity.  Andrade, GOMEZ and Joel A. Estrella-Disla, were arrested on September 30, 2014, after they delivered approximately one kilogram of heroin to a pre-arranged location in Norwalk.

The jury found GOMEZ guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, one kilogram or more of heroin, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.  The jury also found GOMEZ guilty of one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 100 grams or more of heroin, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.  He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on December 3, 2015.

GOMEZ, who had been released on bond, was remanded at the conclusion of the trial.

In August 2015, Andrade and Estrella each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 100 grams or more of heroin, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.  They await sentencing.

Andrade, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Norwalk, has been detained since his arrest.  Estrella, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing in New York, New York, is released on a $500,000 bond.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney H. Gordon Hall.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that DANIEL JESSE CONRAD, 31, of New Hartford, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with production and possession of child pornography, and enticing minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct during online video chats and to send him sexually explicit pictures.

CONRAD, who was arrested on August 19, 2014 on related state charges, surrendered to federal authorities yesterday and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven.  He was released on a $25,000 bond and electronic monitoring.

According to the criminal complaint, CONRAD’s charges relate to conduct involving three different minor females.  The complaint alleges that CONRAD met one of the minor females in February 2014 through Omegle, an internet video chatting service.  The minor was 15 years old at the time and lived in Connecticut.  After their initial conversation, CONRAD and the minor female began communicating regularly through the Kik text messaging and photo sharing application on their cell phones.  On March 1, 2014, the two met in person, and CONRAD drove the minor to Massachusetts where they engaged in sexual activity.  On five or six occasions between March 1 and June 5, 2014, CONRAD picked up the minor and drove her to his residence where they engaged in sexual intercourse.  During some of the encounters, CONRAD used his iPhone to take photographs of the minor engaged in sexual activity.  CONRAD also persuaded and enticed the minor to take sexually explicit pictures of herself and send them to him via the Kik application.

The complaint also alleges that CONRAD had more than 40 videos of recorded online video webcam sessions between CONRAD and a second minor female, who was also 15 years old and lived in New York.  The videos were created between October 2013 and March 2013 and depict the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.  The complaint further alleges that CONRAD had sexually explicit pictures of a third female, who has not yet been identified but appears to be a minor, saved on his iPhone.

The charge of production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, the charge of enticement carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and the charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

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

This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Connecticut State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.

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

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

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JASON CALABRESE, 44, of Watertown, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to six months of imprisonment, followed by three months of home confinement and two years of supervised release, for his involvement in a series of fraudulent mortgage loan applications.  CALABRESE also was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and $400,585 in restitution.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in November 2005, CALABRESE’s co-conspirator, Thomas Provenzano, obtained a $923,200 loan to purchase a lakefront home located at 27 Palmer Road in Morris for more than $1.1 million, despite lacking the income to pay off the mortgage.  The 27 Palmer Road property was owned by an entity controlled by Ryan Geddes, another co-conspirator.  To finance the purchase, Provenzano applied for a mortgage through CALABRESE, who was a mortgage broker.  The mortgage loan application contained statements that CALABRESE knew were false, namely, that Provenzano had worked for the past four years as the “General Manager” for a Geddes-owned construction company, and that Provenzano’s income from the listed job was $20,000 per month, or $240,000 per year.  In fact, Provenzano’s income was substantially less than that amount.  CALABRESE submitted the false loan application to a lender, which issued a $923,000 mortgage.  At the closing, CALABRESE’s mortgage company was paid a $32,312 broker’s fee.

In November 2006, Provenzano applied for a new mortgage through CALABRESE to refinance the November 2005 mortgage for the 27 Palmer Road property.  The mortgage refinancing application also contained statements that CALABRESE knew were false, namely, that Provenzano had worked for the past five years at Geddes’s construction company, and that Provenzano’s income from the listed job was $28,000 per month, or $336,000 per year.  CALABRESE submitted the false loan application to a federally-insured lender, which issued a $936,000 mortgage.  At the closing, CALABRESE’s mortgage company was paid an $18,720 broker’s fee.

The 2005 loan application had stated that Provenzano would reside in the 27 Palmer Road property as an owner-occupant.  In fact, Geddes and his family continued to reside in the property.  For a few years, Geddes paid Provenzano “rent,” which Provenzano used to cover the mortgage payments.  But when Geddes moved out of the 27 Palmer Road property, he stopped forwarding payments to Provenzano, who stopped paying the mortgage.  Accordingly the 27 Palmer Road property went into foreclosure.

On May 5, 2015, CALABRESE pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

Provenzano and Geddes previously pleaded guilty.  On December 1, 2014, Provenzano was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment.  Geddes awaits sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry Kopel and Michael Gustafson.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Christy Goldsmith Romero, the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, Patricia M. Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Scott S. Dahl, the Inspector General for the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and Steven Perez, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a 10-count indictment charging three former New York-based bond traders for Nomura Securities International, ROSS SHAPIRO, 41, MICHAEL GRAMINS, 33, and TYLER PETERS, 32, all of New York, New York, with conspiracy and fraud offenses.

The indictment was returned on September 3 and unsealed today.  SHAPIRO, GRAMINS and PETERS are scheduled to be arraigned on September 10 at 10 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford.

As alleged in the indictment, SHAPIRO, GRAMINS, and PETERS supervised the Residential Mortgage Backed Securities (“RMBS”) Desk at Nomura Securities International (“Nomura”) in New York.  SHAPIRO was the Managing Director who oversaw all of Nomura’s trading in RMBS, GRAMINS was the Executive Director of the RMBS Desk and principally oversaw Nomura’s trading of bonds composed of sub-prime and option ARM loans, and PETERS was the senior-most Vice President of the RMBS Desk and focused primarily on Nomura’s trading of bonds composed of prime and alt-A loans.

The indictment alleges that SHAPIRO, GRAMINS and PETERS engaged in a conspiracy to defraud customers of Nomura by fraudulently inflating the purchase price at which Nomura could buy a RMBS bond to induce their victim-customers to pay a higher price for the bond, and by fraudulently deflating the price at which Nomura could sell a RMBS bond to induce their victim-customers to sell bonds at cheaper prices, causing Nomura and the three defendants to profit illegally.

According to the indictment, the three co-conspirators trained their subordinates to lie to customers, provided them with the language to use in deceiving customers, and encouraged them to engage in the practice.  In one instance, one of the defendants’ subordinate traders told a salesperson that he “lied” about the price of bond and “marked up 2 pts,” to which the salesperson responded “haha sick . . . well played.”

The defendants are also alleged to have created fictitious third parties in an effort to increase their profits, and colluded with at least one outside client to deceptively broker trades on their behalf.  In one instance, an investment advisor for another firm concocted a false story with SHAPIRO to tell to customers.  According to the indictment, he wrote to SHAPIRO asking, “when did I buy [the bond] and at what price.”

The victims of this scheme include funds from around the world, retirement plan providers and a Trouble Asset Relief Program (TARP) fund manager.

“This indictment alleges that, for several years, these three defendants handsomely profited by repeatedly lying to Nomura’s customers in violation of federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly.  “The victims of this alleged conspiracy include numerous funds, retirement plan providers and taxpayer-provided bailout funds that helped our nation to recover from the 2008 financial crisis.  Our investigation into corrupt practices in the RMBS and other financial markets continues.  I commend SIGTARP, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General for their outstanding investigative work in this area.”

“The Government bought residential mortgage backed securities through TARP’s Public-Private Investment Program (PPIP)  to unlock frozen credit markets during the financial crisis, not to become a victim of this criminal scheme by these Nomura  traders, and to overpay for securities,” said Special Inspector General for TARP (SIGTARP) Christy Goldsmith Romero  “SIGTARP’s investigation with our law enforcement partners revealed what is charged today – that Nomura’s most senior and highly compensated traders on the RMBS trading desk, Ross Shapiro, Michael Gramins and Tyler Peters, all former Lehman Brothers employees, allegedly conspired to overcharge their customers, which included an investment firm who was managing the government’s bailout money in a PPIP fund.  The defendants’ alleged scheme was simple: To drive up profits they lied to and deceived their victims.  They are alleged to have overstated the price Nomura paid.  They are also alleged to have created fictitious third-party sellers when the RMBS sat in Nomura’s inventory.  And they are alleged to have bragged about it to each other.   All those on Wall Street who engaged in criminal schemes related to TARP programs are warned that SIGTARP will work with our law enforcement partners to uncover and stop bailout-related crime, and that will lead to prosecution.  I want to commend U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly for her steadfast commitment to fighting TARP-related crime.”

“The indictment alleges that Shapiro, Gramins and Peters orchestrated a scheme of fraud and deceit to manipulate the bond market in their own favor resulting in losses that were passed on to investors,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Patricia M. Ferrick.  “Self-dealing and special treatment of insiders have no place in American financial markets.  The special agents of the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue their work to ensure that the U.S. securities markets remain a level playing field for all investors.”

“When investment professionals put profits before prudence and the law, it creates a dangerous environment for investors and threatens the integrity of our financial markets,” said Steven Perez, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General.  “Today’s announcement signals our ongoing commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate and prosecute corrupt practices in the Residential Mortgage Backed Securities arena and level the playing field for the investing public.”

The indictment charges SHAPIRO, GRAMINS and PETERS with one count of conspiracy, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, two counts of securities fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count, and seven counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count.

In a parallel action, the Securities and Exchange Commission today announced related civil fraud charges against SHAPIRO, GRAMINS and PETERS.

U.S. Attorney Daly 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.

The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford.

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

 The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Liam Brennan and Heather Cherry.

Today’s announcement is part of the ongoing efforts of President Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force’s Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS) Working Group, a federal and state law enforcement effort focused on investigating fraud and abuse in the RMBS market that helped lead to the 2008 financial crisis and in the federal government’s bailout.  The RMBS Working Group brings together attorneys, investigators, analysts and staff from dozens of state and federal agencies including the Department of Justice,  U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the FBI, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), HUD’s Office of Inspector General, the FHFA-OIG, the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the Federal Reserve Board’s Office of Inspector General, the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and state Attorneys General offices around the country.

The RMBS Working Group is led by Associate Attorney General Stuart Delery, and co-chaired by Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division Leslie R. Caldwell, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division Benjamin Mizer, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Director of Enforcement Andrew Ceresney, U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado John Walsh and New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman.

For more information about the RMBS Working Group and the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which is chaired by Attorney General Loretta Lynch, visit: www.stopfraud.gov.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Patricia M. Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Colonel Brian F. Meraviglia of the Connecticut State Police and Easton Police Chief Timothy Shaw announced that KYLE NAVIN, 27, of Bridgeport, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with possession of a firearm by an individual who is an unlawful user of, or addicted to, any controlled substance.

As alleged in the criminal complaint, on August 7, 2015, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies began investigating the disappearance of NAVIN’s parents, Jeffrey and Jeanette Navin of Easton.  On August 13, 2015, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of NAVIN’s Bridgeport residence and seized two firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition from NAVIN’s bedroom.  On August 19, 2015, law enforcement conducted a second search of NAVIN’s residence and located and seized items indicative of substance abuse, including numerous heroin brand-stamped glassine baggies with heroin residue, hypodermic needles, empty prescription bottles for oxycodone and prescription bottles containing other controlled substances.  Investigators also recovered from NAVIN’s residence a receipt from a firearms shooting range that was issued on August 5, 2015.

The complaint further alleges that investigators conducted a court-authorized search of NAVIN’s cellphone and reviewed numerous text messages that discuss NAVIN’s use of heroin, oxycodone and Xanax.

The charge of possession of a firearm by an individual who is an unlawful user of, or addicted to, any controlled substance carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

NAVIN was arrested this afternoon at this residence.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel in Bridgeport and is currently detained.

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

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI Bridgeport Violent Crimes Task Force, Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad and Easton Police Department, with the assistance of the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Fairfield Judicial District and the Westport, Weston and Bridgeport Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Dayton.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DAJUHN GRIFFIN, 26, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport for his role in a smash-and-grab robbery of a Stamford jewelry store in November 2014.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 26, 2014, GRIFFIN and two accomplices, armed with hammers, entered Sidney Thomas Jewelers, located in the Stamford Town Center Mall, during regular business hours.  Soon after entering, they used the hammers to smash open a jewelry display case and removed more than $250,000 worth of Rolex watches.  The three then fled with security guards in pursuit.  One of GRIFFIN’s accomplices, Richard Mathew Bailey, was caught and apprehended inside the mall while fleeing.

GRIFFIN was arrested in Detroit on April 6, 2015.

GRIFFIN pleaded guilty to one count of interfering with commerce by robbery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  A sentencing date has not been scheduled.  He is released on a $10,000 bond and conditions requiring home confinement and electronic monitoring.

Richard Matthew Bailey and Brian Moore, both from Detroit, previously pleaded guilty to the same charge.  Moore helped organize and carry out the robbery by soliciting others to participate and partially funding it.  He also drove accomplices from Detroit to Stamford to carry out the robbery and picked them up after the robbery in order to return to Detroit.  Bailey and Moore await sentencing.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Stamford Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Vidoni.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Patricia M. Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that TIMOTHY J. ALLEN, 34, of Torrington, was arrested yesterday and charged by federal criminal complaint with receipt and possession of child pornography.

Following his arrest, ALLEN appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A.L. Merriam in New Haven and was released on a $50,000 bond under electronic monitoring.

The charge of receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.  The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

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

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacabed Rodriguez-Coss.

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.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Larry Steven Occhipinti, 40, of Cottonwood, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Troy L. Nunley to 6 1/2 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for receipt of child pornography, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to court documents, law enforcement identified a computer at Occhipinti’s residence offering files of child pornography. On May 2, 2014, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant and found hundreds of deleted images of child pornography on Occhipinti’s computer and compact disks containing more than a dozen videos of child pornography.

At the sentencing hearing, Occhipinti claimed that he had never hurt a child. Judge Nunley disagreed, noting that by viewing such images of child pornography, Occhipinti was contributing to the market for producers of these images. “To say that you’ve never hurt anyone, you need to understand . . . that you have,” Judge Nunley said.

“When a predator publishes the victim’s images on the Internet, they live on forever. Today’s sentencing serves as a reminder that ICE will work tirelessly with its law enforcement counterparts to identify and hold accountable those who prey on innocent children,” said Tatum King, acting special agent in charge for HSI San Francisco.

This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Special Assistant United States Attorney Josh F. Sigal prosecuted the case.

Occhipinti is scheduled to self-surrender to begin serving his sentence on November 3, 2015.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about Internet safety education.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANDREW ROSS, 58, of New Haven, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to paying nearly $350,000 in bribes to the former executive director of the West Haven Housing Authority in exchange for government contracts and business.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Michael Siwek was the executive director of the West Haven Housing Authority (“WHHA”), an agency that received federal funding.  As part of his duties, Siwek had substantial discretion over awarding WHHA business and contracts.  Siwek also owned and controlled Four Star Development Company, LLC (“Four Star”).  Between January 2007 and February 2012, ROSS, who controlled business entities that received WHHA business and contracts for financial and consulting services, made approximately $349,500 in corrupt payments to Siwek and Four Star.

In total, Siwek received approximately $1.5 million in bribes from individuals who received business with the WHHA and the entities that the WHHA controlled.

ROSS pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with a program receiving federal funds, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.  Judge Shea scheduled sentencing for January 29, 2016.

On September 4, 2014, Siwek pleaded guilty to related charges. He awaits sentencing.

U.S. Attorney Daly stated that the investigation is ongoing.

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Karwan.

Citizens are encouraged to report corruption to the Connecticut Public Corruption Task Force by calling 203-238-0505.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that CASEY KERSHAW, 27, of Danbury, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for participating in Danbury-area violent home invasion robberies of illegal drugs and drug trafficking proceeds.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2013 the Danbury Police Department began investigating a narcotics trafficking network that maintained a series of drug distribution locations, known as trap houses, in Danbury, out of which members of the organization sold crack and heroin.  The organization also rented hotel rooms where they packaged and distributed narcotics.  During the investigation, law enforcement learned that the individuals who headed the drug trafficking ring had organized and committed armed home invasion robberies of marijuana dealers.

On January 30, 2013, KERSHAW drove four of her co-defendants to the residence of a known marijuana dealer.  The men, some of whom were armed with firearms, then forced entry into the residence.  At the time, the victim of the robbery was with his mother, his girlfriend, their infant child and a friend.  Once inside, one of the defendants pistol whipped the victim and demanded that he give them drugs and money.  The victim then gave the defendants a bag containing approximately $30,000 and one pound of marijuana. The defendants then fled.  KERSHAW picked up her co-defendants and drove them to her residence.  At KERSHAW’s residence, the co-defendants divided the money, with KERSHAW receiving $2,000.  KERSHAW and her co-defendants then went to the Mohegan Sun Casino.

KERSHAW also was involved in the planning of a robbery that occurred on February 18, 2013.  During this robbery, one of KERSHAW’s co-defendants struck a male victim in the head with a handgun repeatedly before dropping the gun during a struggle.  Investigators subsequently recovered the gun and found that it was fully loaded.  After this robbery, the co-defendants gathered at KERSHAW’s residence to re-group.

The investigation also revealed that KERSHAW had been involved in drug trafficking and had allowed her co-defendants to store firearms at her residence.

KERSHAW has been detained since her arrest on October 16, 2013.  On October 14, 2014, she pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery.

This matter has been investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force and the Danbury Police Department.  The DEA Task Force includes personnel from the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, East Haven and Derby Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracy Dayton and Vanessa Richards.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Shelly A. Binkowski, Inspector in Charge for the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment yesterday charging DION EDWARD THOMPSON, 37, formerly of East Hartford, with committing an assault and robbery of a U.S. Postal Service employee in Hartford in September 2014.

On September 9, 2014, two masked men, one of whom brandished what appeared to be a firearm, robbed a U.S. Postal Service employee of U.S. Postal Service funds at the Barry Square Post Office, located at 645 Maple Avenue in Hartford.  The robbery occurred as the employee was loading the Post Office’s daily proceeds into a postal vehicle, which was parked at the loading dock.  Approximately $21,817 in cash, checks and money orders was stolen during the robbery.

The indictment charges THOMPSON with one count of robbery of a postal employee and one count of theft of government property.  Each charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

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

This matter has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford.

THOMPSON is incarcerated in Colorado on unrelated charges.  His arraignment in the District of Connecticut is not yet scheduled.

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with the assistance of the Hartford Police Department and the Colorado Springs Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deborah R. Slater and Douglas P. Morabito.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JESUS QUESADA, 24, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty yesterday in Hartford federal court to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 10, 2015, law enforcement executed a search warrant at an apartment on Glendale Avenue in Bridgeport and seized a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun that was found on top of the refrigerator.  The gun contained a magazine that was loaded with eight rounds of ammunition.  QUESADA, a previously convicted felon, subsequently admitted that he was holding the gun for his “uncle,” who was not a blood relative.

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.

QUESADA is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on November 6, 2015, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

This matter is being investigated by the Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force composed of members of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Milford Police Department, the Stratford Police Department, the Stamford Police Department, the Norwalk Police Department, and the Connecticut State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Laraia.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that CARLOS COLON, also known as “Joel,” 35, of Bridgeport, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer in New Haven to 90 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for planning to conduct an armed robbery of narcotics stash house.

This matter stems from “Operation Samson,” an initiative headed by the ATF and the Bridgeport and New Haven Police Departments that targeted violent criminals, illegal firearm possession and firearm trafficking.  In the spring of 2014, approximately 40 ATF special agents and personnel from Connecticut and across the country were deployed with New Haven and Bridgeport Police to conduct numerous covert operations.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2014, the ATF began an investigation into Joel Colon and his brother, Carlos “Camby” Colon, who were known narcotics and firearm traffickers in Bridgeport.  Law enforcement also had received information that Joel Colon was interested committing an armed robbery of a drug dealer.  During the investigation, which employed the use of an ATF agent working in an undercover capacity, the Colons recruited others to commit an armed robbery of what they believed to be a narcotics stash house of 15 kilograms of cocaine.

On April 11, 2014, the Colons, Humberto Soto, Markus Mendez, Nelson Diaz, Trevor Pierce and Hiram “Gringo” Mojica gathered at a location in Stamford where they believed they would be informed of the address of the narcotics stash house, and would then travel to the stash house to conduct the robbery.  All seven were arrested at that time.  A search of the car that Diaz, Pierce and Mojica drove to the location revealed a loaded .40 caliber pistol, an EO Tech sight, black gloves, as well as two rolls of duct tape.  A search of the vehicle that Soto and Mendez drove to the meet location revealed a loaded and 9mm pistol, black clothing and a baseball bat.

A subsequent search of an auto-detailing business in Bridgeport where Joel and Camby worked revealed several dozen rounds of ammunition, a small amount of crack cocaine, two digital scales and narcotics packaging materials.

Joel Colon has been detained since April 11, 2014.  On March 4, 2015, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and one count of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Camby Colon, Soto, Diaz, Mendez, Pierce and Mojica also pleaded guilty.  Soto was sentenced to 84 months of imprisonment, Diaz was sentenced to 108 months of imprisonment and Mendez was sentenced to 46 months of imprisonment.  Camby Colon, Pierce and Mojica await sentencing.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Richards.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Patricia M. Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that DAVID M. JOHNSON, 27, of Enfield, pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to committing the armed robbery of the First Niagara Bank in Windsor on January 10, 2015.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 10, 2015, at approximately 9:15 a.m., two masked men, at least one of whom brandished a firearm, entered the First Niagara Bank at 2133 Poquonock Avenue in Windsor.  The two men vaulted the teller counter, directed two bank employees to the bank vault and ordered one of the employees to open the vault.  Once inside the vault, the men ordered the bank employees to the ground and took $81,530 from the vault.  The men also ordered bank employees to open teller drawers and proceeded to take an additional amount of money from the drawers.  During the robbery, a customer entered the bank.  One of the masked men pointed a gun at the customer, ordered him to the ground and told him not to look up.  After exiting the bank, the men confronted a second customer who was about to enter the bank.  One of the men pointed a gun at the customer and stated “If you say anything, we’ll shoot you….”

While investigating the robbery, Windsor Police were contacted by East Windsor Police who were investigating similar bank and credit union robberies in East Windsor and Glastonbury.  East Windsor Police had recently obtained an arrest warrant for JOHNSON with respect to the robbery of the Nutmeg State Federal Credit Union in East Windsor on July 21, 2014.

After further investigation, on January 10 at approximately 9:45 p.m., law enforcement executed a search warrant at JOHNSON’s Enfield residence and found a total of $81,946 in cash, most of which was bound by First Niagara Bank strapping that was initialed by one of victim bank employees.  Investigators also found and seized other items allegedly used during the robbery earlier that day, as well as a .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun with a fully-loaded magazine.

In pleading guilty, JOHNSON admitted that he committed the armed bank robbery in Windsor on January 10, 2015, and also the armed robberies of the Nutmeg State Federal Credit Union in East Windsor on July 21, 2014, and the Nutmeg State Credit Union in Glastonbury on November 7, 2014, stealing $109,166 and $84,145, respectively.

JOHNSON, who has been detained since his arrest, is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on December 2, 2015, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

On May 29, 2015, Odain J. Johnson, 22, of Hartford, pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery stemming from his role in the Windsor bank robbery.  He has been detained since his arrest on January 17, 2015, and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 25, 2015.

This matter is being investigated by the FBI and the Windsor, East Windsor and Glastonbury Police Departments, with the assistance of the Enfield Police Department, the Capital Region Emergency Services Team (CREST) and the Maine State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deborah R. Slater and Douglas P. Morabito.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRIAN MOORE, 26, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport for his role in a smash-and-grab robbery of a Stamford jewelry store in November 2014.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 26, 2014, three of MOORE’s accomplices, armed with hammers, entered Sidney Thomas Jewelers, located in the Stamford Town Center Mall, during regular business hours.  Soon after entering, the accomplices used the hammers to smash open a jewelry display case and removed more than $250,000 worth of Rolex watches.  The three accomplices then fled with security guards in pursuit.  One of MOORE’s accomplices, Richard Mathew Bailey, was caught and apprehended inside the mall while fleeing.

In pleading guilty, MOORE admitted that he helped organize and carry out the robbery by soliciting others to participate and partially funding it.  He also admitted that he drove accomplices from Detroit to Stamford to carry out the robbery, and picked them up after the robbery in order to return to Detroit.

MOORE pleaded guilty to one count of interfering with commerce by robbery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  A sentencing date has not been scheduled.  MOORE is released on a $250,000 bond

On March 12, 2015, Bailey, also from Detroit, pleaded guilty to the same charge.  He awaits sentencing.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Stamford Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Vidoni.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that COURTNEY BYRD, also known as “Buck,” 31, of Hartford, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to one count of distributing cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).

According to court documents and statements made in court, in February and March 2015, BYRD distributed approximately 98 grams of crack cocaine to an individual working with law enforcement.

On March 5, 2015, BYRD twice fled at a high rate of speed from law enforcement officers who were attempting to stop his vehicle, first in East Hartford and then in Hartford.  During his second flight, BYRD hit a pedestrian in the area of Ann Uccello Street and Church Street in Hartford.  The victim suffered a broken leg.  A six-year-old child was in BYRD’s car at the time.

BYRD was arrested on March 19, 2015.

Judge Shea scheduled sentencing for November 23, 2015, at which time BYRD faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

BYRD, whose criminal history includes multiple felony convictions, has been detained since his arrest.

This prosecution stems from Project Longevity, 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.  A critical component of the Project Longevity strategy is the “call-in,” a face-to-face meeting where Project Longevity partners engage group members 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.  BYRD attended a call-in in August 2014.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Hartford Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JEAN NEGRON, also known “Pollo,” 24, of Groton was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 19 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a cocaine trafficking ring.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in early 2012, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), the U.S. Secret Service and the New London Police Department initiated an investigation to combat the large-scale trafficking of heroin and cocaine from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico into and around southeastern Connecticut.  The investigation revealed that certain members of the conspiracy coordinated the shipment of heroin, and sometimes cocaine, via human couriers from the Dominican Republic to the United States.  Other members of the conspiracy obtained kilogram-quantities of cocaine in Puerto Rico and then mailed the drug to locations in and around New London where it was sold to distributors and customers.  Narcotics were also obtained from sources in New York City and Rhode Island.

 More than 100 individuals were charged with federal and state offenses as a result of this investigation.

The investigation revealed that Juan G. Cheverez, known as “Guinchi,” and Juan Hernandez, known as “Johnny,” received kilogram-quantities of cocaine in the mail from Axel Matta Figueroa, known as “Joelito,” in Puerto Rico, and then distributed the drug in southeastern Connecticut.  Cheverez and Hernandez used NEGRON and others to transport their cash to Puerto Rico and to package and mail the cocaine back to the Connecticut area.  In Connecticut, NEGRON accepted packages that had been delivered from Puerto Rico and, at times, distributed cocaine to Cheverez’s customers.

On November 25, 2014, NEGRON pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.

Cheverez, Hernandez and Matta Figueroa also pleaded guilty.  On February 18, 2015, Cheverez was sentenced to 77 months of imprisonment and, on November 20, 2014, Matta Figueroa was sentenced to 66 months of imprisonment.  Hernandez awaits sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Secret Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Air and Marine; Connecticut State Police; New London Police Department, Norwich Police Department, Waterford Police Department, Groton Town Police Department, East Lyme Police Department and Putnam Police Department.  The United States Marshals Service; ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations; Drug Enforcement Administration; HSI Assistant Attaché, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; HSI Arecibo, Puerto Rico Resident Office;  Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation; Connecticut Department of Correction, Parole and Community Services; and the Groton City, Willimantic, New Haven and Bristol Police Departments have provided valuable assistance to the investigation.

The federal case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah P. Karwan, Alina P. Reynolds and Henry K. Kopel.  The state cases are being prosecuted by the State’s Attorney for the New London Judicial District and Senior Assistant State’s Attorneys Paul Narducci and Stephen Carney.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GEORGE GALLO, 47, of East Hampton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for receiving more than $100,000 from a political campaign direct mail vendor to whom he steered business.

“While he was a well-paid state employee, this defendant took advantage of Connecticut’s public campaign financing system by steering business to campaign vendors with whom he had a business relationship and profited handsomely as a result,” stated U.S. Attorney Daly.  “He further abused his position of trust as Chief of Staff to the Minority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives by lying and causing others to lie to candidates who were following his directions.  This prison term should serve as a warning.  Corrupt public employees will be prosecuted.”

According to court documents and statements made in court, GALLO was an employee of the State of Connecticut as the Chief of Staff to the Minority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives.  As part of his responsibilities, GALLO was responsible for designing and overseeing the campaign program of the House Republican Campaign Committee (“HRCC”), a state-registered political action committee that provides material and strategic support to Republican candidates for the Connecticut House of Representatives.

In 2008, GALLO and others developed a HRCC campaign program in anticipation of the first general election cycle in which candidates seeking election to the Connecticut General Assembly or statewide office would receive public financing through the state’s Citizens’ Election Program (“CEP”).  The purpose of the new program, in part, was to enable the HRCC to centrally coordinate CEP funded campaigns by providing Republican House candidates with access to comprehensive campaign related services, including direct mail services, voter information, polling, messaging advice and campaign management.  GALLO selected the campaign service vendors that were permitted to participate in the HRCC program.

GALLO informed an employee of a Florida-based company that provided direct mail services to political campaigns of a new business opportunity in Connecticut.  GALLO indicated to the employee that the CEP would lead to greater numbers of well-funded Republican House candidates in need of direct mail services, and that the Florida company could serve as a HRCC sponsored vendor with access to CEP funded Republican candidates.  In exchange, the company would make payments to GALLO equal to 10 percent of the revenue that the company received from candidates participating in the HRCC program.  GALLO indicated to the employee that such an arrangement would be “good for [the company] and good for George Gallo.”  The employee agreed to GALLO’s proposal.

As part of the scheme, GALLO and the HRCC hosted “campaign schools” for House Republican candidates where HRCC sponsored vendors, including the Florida company, gave presentations marketing their services.  GALLO and others arranged for candidates to meet individually with the Florida company to discuss in greater detail the company’s services, prices and a direct mail plan.  These meetings occurred at several locations, including the State Capitol.

During the 2008 and 2012 election cycles, GALLO made false representations to the Minority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives that he did not have a financial relationship with or receive any compensation from any of the HRCC sponsored vendors.  During the 2008, 2010 and 2012 election cycles, GALLO made additional false representations to others, knowing that his statements would be communicated to House Republican candidates participating in the HRCC campaign program, that he did not receive any compensation from any HRCC sponsored vendor.

From 2008 through 2012, the Florida company mailed checks made payable to the Vinco Group, a Cromwell based limited liability company in which GALLO was the sole member, totaling approximately $117,266.63.

GALLO also made multiple false statements to FBI special agents on October 1, 2013, when he was interviewed about his relationship with HRCC sponsored vendors.  In the interview, GALLO denied that either he or the Vinco Group had a business relationship with any vendors utilized by HRCC, and he denied that he had received any income through the Vinco Group since becoming Chief of Staff to the Connecticut House Minority Leader.

Judge Bryant ordered GALLO to pay restitution in the amount of $117,266.63

On April 27, 2015, GALLO pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud.

GALLO was ordered to report to prison on November 30, 2015.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, with the assistance of the Connecticut Public Corruption Task Force and the State Election Enforcement Commission.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher M. Mattei.

Citizens are encouraged to report corruption to the Connecticut Public Corruption Task Force by calling 203-238-0505.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has reached a voluntary compliance agreement with the Comfort Inn & Suites of Meriden, Connecticut, to resolve allegations that the hotel was not being operated in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”).

Under federal law, private entities that own or operate “places of public accommodation,” which includes hotels, are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of disability.  The ADA authorizes the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate complaints and to undertake periodic reviews of compliance of covered entities.  The Department of Justice 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.

The Comfort Inn & Suites of Meriden is in the process of making the changes required by the compliance agreement, including improvements to accessible rooms, public areas and the parking lot.  The improvements will continue over the next 18 months.

The hotel’s owners and management worked cooperatively with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to address the ADA issues without litigation.

“The Americans with Disabilities Act ensures that individuals are able to access and enjoy the state’s hotels and other public accommodations,” stated U.S. Attorney Daly.  “Our Office is committed to enforcing the ADA, which requires businesses to appropriately serve the diverse population of patrons who live, work, and visit Connecticut.  We appreciate the willingness of Comfort Inn & Suites to make the necessary changes.”

Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that a hotel or any other place of public accommodation 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’s Department’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (800) 514-0383 (TDD).  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 David C. Nelson of the District of Connecticut in coordination with the Disability Rights Section of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERNEST OPRECHT, 32, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 54 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for his role in a narcotics trafficking ring.

This matter stems from a joint law enforcement investigation headed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Drug Enforcement Administration into a drug trafficking organization that involved individuals in California using the U.S. Mail and commercial carriers to send large quantities of cocaine to co-conspirators in the Hartford area who sold the narcotics for profit.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Joseph Miller of Los Angeles, formerly of East Hartford, sent kilogram parcels of cocaine from California to Luther Nance, Jermaine Jenkins and their associates in Connecticut.  Nance, Jenkins and their associates then distributed the cocaine in Connecticut, or converted the cocaine into crack for street sale.  The investigation revealed that certain co-conspirators traveled to California with a large amount of cash to finance the purchase of cocaine.  Co-conspirators also made numerous cash deposits into local bank accounts, as well as wire transfers.  The cash deposits were made at several branches of the same bank in the Hartford area in amounts of less than $10,000 in order to evade the bank’s currency transaction reporting requirements.

OPRECHT assisted Nance’s and Jenkins’ narcotics trafficking activities.  On three occasions, OPRECHT traveled to California to deliver drug proceeds to Miller, to check the quality of cocaine that Miller was supplying, and to oversee Miller’s shipment of the cocaine parcels back to Connecticut.  Certain parcels containing cocaine were shipped to OPRECHT in Connecticut, and also to OPRECHT’s girlfriend’s house and to the residence of one of OPRECHT’s family members.

In addition, OPRECHT drove to New York with Nance to obtain narcotics, helped Nance package heroin, and traveled to Vermont with another member of the conspiracy who was purportedly selling crack cocaine in Vermont.

On June 27, 2013, a federal grand jury returned a 51-count superseding indictment charging Nance and 14 other individuals with narcotics conspiracy and related offenses stemming from the sale of crack cocaine and heroin in several communities throughout Connecticut.  On November 14, 2013, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging OPRECHT, Nance, Jenkins, Miller and four other defendants.

On October 7, 2014, JENKINS pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Miller, Nance and Jenkins have pleaded guilty.  On February 3, 2015, Jenkins was sentenced to 72 months of imprisonment.  Miller and Nance await sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Hartford, and the Hartford, Willimantic, East Hartford, Enfield and Middletown Police Departments.

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

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that two men involved in gang-related narcotics trafficking in Hartford were sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer in New Haven federal court.

HORACE STARKS, JR., also known as “Head” and “Little Head,” 23, of East Hartford, was sentenced to 10 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release.  On April 30, 2015, STARKS pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”).  STARKS had no prior criminal record, which made him eligible for a reduced sentence.

SHAQILLE BROWN, also known as “Shaq,” 23, of Hartford, was sentenced to five years of probation.  In addition, BROWN had been detained for approximately 16 months since his arrest in April 2014.  On December 23, 2014, BROWN pleaded guilty to one count of using a telephone to facilitate a narcotics trafficking offense.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a year-long joint law enforcement investigation headed by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force into narcotics trafficking by members and associates of West Hell street gang, and gang-related violent activity.  The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical surveillance, identified Melkuan Scott, also known as “Young God,” “Mel,” “Young” and “YG,” 24, as the leader of the West Hell street gang who, along with his associates, including STARKS and BROWN, distributed crack cocaine in the Westland Street area of Hartford.

On April 3, 2014, STARKS participated with Scott and others in the sale of approximately 130 grams of crack for $2,600 to an individual cooperating with law enforcement.

Twenty-five individuals were charged as a result of the investigation, and 24 have been convicted.  One defendant was shot and killed while his case was pending.

Scott awaits sentencing.

This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division.  The FBI Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Squad, Major Crimes Unit and Shooting Task Force are providing valuable assistance to the investigation, and the Capitol Region Emergency Response Team (CREST) assisted with the arrest of certain defendants.  The Office of the Chief State’s Attorney is also assisting with this ongoing investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John H. Durham and Peter S. Jongbloed.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL MASLAR, 59, of Meriden, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 151 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release for bank robbery, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction for bank robbery.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 22, 2014, MASLAR, wearing a pillowcase with holes cut into it over his head, entered the TD Bank on East Main Street in Meriden, approached the teller counter and demanded that bank employees give him cash in $50 and $100 denominations.  MASLAR also stated that he had a gun.  Bank employees complied with MASLAR’s demands and gave him $5,658.  MASLAR took the money, placed it inside a plastic bag and exited the bank.  He was arrested shortly thereafter by Meriden Police.

MASLAR’s criminal history includes two prior federal convictions for bank robbery, as well as convictions for involuntary manslaughter and assault.  In March 2003, MASLAR was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 165 months of imprisonment for robbing a bank in Meriden on September 11, 2001.  He was released from prison in January 2014, and was on federal supervised release at the time of the September 2014 bank robbery.

MASLAR was been detained since his arrest on September 22, 2014.  On March 10, 2015, he pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery and admitted that he violated the conditions of his supervised release.  Judge Shea imposed concurrent sentence of two years of imprisonment for the supervised release violation.

This matter was investigated by the FBI and the Meriden Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacabed Rodriguez-Coss.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that NELSON DIAZ, 26, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer in New Haven to 108 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for planning to conduct an armed robbery of narcotics stash house.

This matter stems from “Operation Samson,” an initiative headed by the ATF and the Bridgeport and New Haven Police Departments that targeted violent criminals, illegal firearm possession and firearm trafficking.  In the spring of 2014, approximately 40 ATF special agents and personnel from Connecticut and across the country were deployed with New Haven and Bridgeport Police to conduct numerous covert operations.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2014, the ATF began an investigation into Carlos “Camby” Colon and Carlos “Joel” Colon, who were known narcotics and firearm traffickers in Bridgeport.  Law enforcement also had received information that Joel Colon was interested committing an armed robbery of a drug dealer.  During the investigation, which employed the use of an ATF agent working in an undercover capacity, the Colons recruited DIAZ and others to commit an armed robbery of what they believed to be a narcotics stash house of 15 kilograms of cocaine.

On April 11, 2014, DIAZ, the Colons, Humberto Soto, Markus Mendez, Trevor Pierce and Hiram “Gringo” Mojica gathered at a location in Stamford where they believed they would be informed of the address of the narcotics stash house, and would then travel to the stash house to conduct the robbery.  All seven were arrested at that time.  A search of the car that DIAZ, Pierce and Mojica drove to the location revealed a loaded .40 caliber pistol, an EO Tech sight, black gloves, as well as two rolls of duct tape that DIAZ had recently purchased.  A search of the center console of the vehicle that Soto and Mendez drove to the meet location revealed a loaded and 9mm pistol.

Eleven days before he was arrested in this case, DIAZ had pleaded guilty in state court to three counts of sale of narcotics and one count of violating probation for selling heroin on multiple occasions in 2013 while he was on probation for prior drug and gun convictions.  He was released on bond prior to reporting to prison.

DIAZ has been detained since April 11, 2014.  On March 6, 2015, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and one count of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Camby Colon, Joel Colon, Mendez, Soto, Pierce and Mojica also pleaded guilty.  On June 17, 2015, Soto was sentenced to 84 months of imprisonment.  The other defendants await sentencing.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Richards.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and William P. Offord, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, announced that JOHN ZELEPOS, 49, of North Stonington, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for tax evasion and structuring cash transactions.  ZELEPOS also was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine, forfeit more than $500,000, and pay back taxes with interest and penalties.

According to court documents and statements made in court, ZELEPOS is the sole owner of Mystic Pizza, LLC, a Schedule C retail restaurant business in Mystic, Connecticut.  From 2006 to 2010, ZELEPOS diverted approximately $567,435 in cash from Mystic Pizza’s gross receipts, approximately $330,005 of which was deposited into his personal bank account, his and his wife’s personal checking account, his wife’s personal checking account and passbook savings accounts in the name of each of his three minor children.  During the same time period, ZELEPOS caused Mystic Pizza to pay a total of $162,168 to two “no-show” employees who performed no work for the restaurant.  He then deducted the wages as expenses on his tax return’s Schedule C for Mystic Pizza.  ZELEPOS failed to disclose to his tax return preparer receipt of the diverted cash and the two no-show employees.

Based on this conduct, the federal tax loss for 2006 to 2010 was $234,407.  ZELEPOS has paid restitution in that amount, but still is required to pay interest and substantial penalties.

ZELEPOS also intentionally structured financial transactions to avoid having the bank file Currency Transaction Reports (“CTR”).  Federal law requires all financial institutions to file a CTR for currency transactions that exceed $10,000.  To evade the filing of a CTR, individuals will often structure their currency transactions so that no single transaction exceeds $10,000.  Structuring involves the repeated depositing of amounts of cash less than the $10,000 limit, or the splitting of a cash transaction that exceeds $10,000 into smaller cash transactions in an effort to avoid the reporting requirements.  Even if the deposited funds are derived from a legitimate means, financial transactions conducted in this manner are still in violation of federal criminal law.  Structured funds are subject to forfeiture to the United States.

Between January 2010 and January 2011, ZELEPOS engaged in 61 currency transactions in amounts less than $10,000, depositing a total of $522,658 into the business account, his personal account, his and wife’s personal bank account, and his three children’s bank accounts in amounts ranging from $3,000 to $9,998.  The cash deposits were made on sequential days, or multiple cash deposits were made on the same day.  ZELEPOS knew that the bank was required to issue a report for a currency transaction in excess of $10,000 and by conducting his financial transactions in amounts less than $10,000 he intended to evade the transaction reporting requirements.

ZELEPOS was ordered to forfeit $522,658 as a result of his illegal structuring.

On January 2012, pursuant to a court-authorized federal seizure warrant, the IRS seized $63,084.49 from a payroll account Mystic Pizza held at Chelsea Groton Bank.  Those funds are being applied to the forfeiture, reducing the remaining forfeiture amount to $459,573.51.

On March 31, 2015, ZELEPOS waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion and one count of structuring financial transactions.

ZELEPOS was ordered to report to prison on October 30, 2015.

This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PENNY ROY, 44, of Wethersfield, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joan G. Margolis in New Haven to tax and wire fraud charges stemming from her theft of nearly $1.7 million from a Connecticut-based computer software company.

According to court documents and statements made in court, ROY used her position as the software company’s payroll manager to insert her own bank account information into the profiles of other employees.  She then processed fraudulent expense reimbursements and payroll payments in the other employees’ names, with the payments flowing into her own bank account.  ROY was fired after the company discovered fake expense reimbursements she had processed in her own name.  In all, ROY stole almost $1.7 million.  To hide her theft, ROY failed to declare the stolen money on her tax returns, depriving the Internal Revenue Service of just under $500,000 in tax revenues.

ROY is scheduled to be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Warren W. Eginton in Bridgeport on November 17, 2015, at which time she faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 23 years.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi M. Perry.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that on August 18, 2015, GIOVANNI CANDELARIO, 22, of Bridgeport, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 57 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release during which he must complete 300 hours of community service, for illegally possessing a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, at approximately 10 p.m. on February 1, 2014, a vehicle in which CANDELARIO was a passenger engaged in a chase with Bridgeport Police.  The vehicle eventually stopped on Ogden Street in Bridgeport and CANDELARIO fled on foot.  CANDELARIO was apprehended after he was found hiding in a trash can behind an apartment building on Hallet Street.  Officers subsequently traced the route of CANDELARIO’s flight and located a Smith and Wesson MP .40 caliber pistol on the driveway of an Ogden Street residence.  The firearm had been previously reported stolen.

In March 2012, CANDELARIO was convicted in state court of possession with intent to distribute narcotics.  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.

CANDELARIO has been detained since his arrest.  On August 19, 2014, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

This prosecution stems from Project Longevity, 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 violence.  A critical component of the Project Longevity strategy is the “call-in,” a face-to-face meeting where Project Longevity partners engage group members 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.  CANDELARIO attended a call-in on October 30, 2013, in Bridgeport, and was offered services.  CANDELARIO rejected the offer of services and he and his group committed acts of violence, which in turn drew the full and focused attention of local, state and federal law enforcement.

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

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and William P. Offord, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, announced that STEPHANIE ELLIOTT, 42, of West Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 16 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for tax evasion.

This matter stems from an Internal Revenue Service investigation into State of Connecticut employees and others who had little or no federal withholding taken out of their paychecks and who failed to file income tax returns.  The investigation revealed that certain state employees submitted fraudulent W-4 forms claiming numerous exemptions and had no money withheld from their wages.

According to court documents and statements made in court, ELLIOTT has been employed by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services at the Connecticut Valley Hospital since 1999, first as a mental health assistant, and later as a nurse.  ELLIOTT submitted a false Form W-4 to the state indicating that she had 99 exemptions and was exempt from tax withholding.  As a result, no money was withheld from her wages.  During the 2007 through 2012 tax years, ELLIOTT paid no federal income taxes on more than $515,000 in income she received, resulting in a federal tax loss of $73,599.

 “Our government can only function when citizens comply with our tax laws,” said U.S. Attorney Daly.  “Public employees, who rely on taxpayers to fund their salaries, have a special responsibility to pay their fair share of taxes.  Those who deliberately choose to disregard their tax obligations may be prosecuted, ordered to pay back taxes with interest and penalties and, as this case shows, face time in prison.”

“We must not forget that the ultimate victims in tax fraud cases are the citizens of the United States – those honest taxpayers who diligently file tax returns every year,” said Special Agent in Charge William Offord, IRS Criminal Investigation.  Today’s sentencing sends a clear message to would-be criminals—you will be caught and you will be punished.”

ELLIOTT was ordered to pay $105,697.22 in back taxes and interest.

On February 12, 2015, ELLIOTT pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion.

Three other individuals, including two who worked at the Connecticut Valley Hospital, have been charged as a result of this ongoing investigation.  They have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Wines.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MATTHEW GOLDREICH, 46, of East Lyme, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to a false advertising offense stemming from his production and dissemination of false advertisements for mortgage modification services.

According to court documents and statements made in court, GOLDREICH used his New London-based media agency, National Media Connection, LLC, to produce and air television, radio, and Internet advertisements for the National Mortgage Help Center, LLC (“NMHC”), a shell company incorporated by GOLDREICH.  The advertisements falsely claimed that NMHC could help struggling homeowners obtain home mortgage loan modifications.  For example, one advertisement that aired in 2010 stated:  “Attention homeowners.  We know it’s tough out there.  And while America’s homeowners are facing more challenges than ever before, the National Mortgage Help Center is ready to help.”  The same advertisement also stated:  “We may be able to lower your rate to as low as 1% and cut your mortgage payment in half.  Our trained specialists know all the new regulations to get you quick relief.  We help thousands of homeowners every day.”

The advertisements included toll-free telephone numbers for mortgage borrowers to call for help modifying their mortgages.  In truth, NMHC did not provide mortgage modification services for any homeowners, and operated only as a front.  Homeowners who called the toll-free telephone numbers advertised by NMHC were routed to National Media Connection’s clients.  The clients, in turn, paid National Media Connection for these “leads.”  Under the pretense of helping homeowners modify their mortgages, certain National Media Connection clients then charged the homeowners fees and provided no services whatsoever in return.

GOLDREICH pleaded guilty to one count of false advertising, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of one year and a fine of up to $100,000.  He is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall on November 5, 2015.

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Avi Perry and Liam Brennan.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TYSHAWN McDADE, also known as “S Dot” and “S Diddy,” 30, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer in New Haven to 132 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking crack cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a year-long joint law enforcement investigation headed by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force into narcotics trafficking by members and associates of West Hell street gang, and gang-related violent activity.  The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical surveillance, identified Melkuan Scott, also known as “Young God,” “Mel,” “Young” and “YG,” 24, as the leader of the West Hell street gang who, along with his associates, including McDADE, distributed crack cocaine in the Westland Street area of Hartford.

On May 18, 2015, a jury found McDADE guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”), and one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine base.

Twenty-five individuals were charged as a result of the investigation.  Scott and 22 other defendants pleaded guilty to various offenses.  One defendant was shot and killed while his case was pending.

Scott awaits sentencing.

This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division.  The FBI Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The Hartford Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Squad, Major Crimes Unit and Shooting Task Force are providing valuable assistance to the investigation, and the Capitol Region Emergency Response Team (CREST) assisted with the arrest of certain defendants.  The Office of the Chief State’s Attorney is also assisting with this ongoing investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John H. Durham and Peter S. Jongbloed.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that VICKY SUE COHRAN, 53, of Villa Rica, Georgia, waived her right to indictment and pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to stealing numerous identities while operating a “fictitious employer scheme” that defrauded state unemployment insurance programs of approximately $125,000.

According to court documents and statements made in court, state unemployment insurance programs use employee wages as reported by employers to determine an employee’s benefit amount when the employee files a valid claim for benefits.  COHRAN and others utilized several state unemployment insurance program websites to register businesses that had no actual employees, business operations or normal business expenses.  COHRAN and her co-conspirators then created and submitted fictitious wage reports that used names and identifying information of individuals without their knowledge.  COHRAN and others then posed as fictitious employees to file claims for unemployment benefits.

Through this scheme, COHRAN and her co-conspirators used the names and identifying information of approximately 27 individuals to steal a total of approximately $125,000 from the unemployment insurance programs of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Washington, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and New Jersey.

The scheme was uncovered shortly after COHRAN registered a fictitious business with the Connecticut Department of Labor in September 2014.  In November 2014, three purported employees of the fictitious business filed claims for unemployment benefits with the Connecticut Department of Labor.

COHRAN pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of two years, and misuse of a social security number, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.  She is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson on November 3, 2015, in Hartford.

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, Connecticut Department of Labor, Winter Park (Fla.) Police Department, Pinellas County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Department, Villa Rica (Ga.) Police Department, Temple (Ga.) Police Department and Carroll County (Ga.) Sheriff’s Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRISTOPHER T. AGRITELLY, 31, formerly of New Britain, Conn., and Tempe, Ariz., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by eight years of supervised release, for violating federal sex offender registration laws.

The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”), which was passed by Congress in 2006 as part of the Adam Walsh Act, provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States and seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs.  In part, SORNA requires registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in September 2007, AGRITELLY was convicted in Connecticut Superior Court in New Britain of first degree sexual abuse and was sentenced to a term of incarceration of 15 years, execution suspended, seven years to serve, followed by 15 years of probation and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration.  When he was released from prison in February 2013, AGRITELLY was informed of his registration obligations under SORNA.

AGRITELLY initially complied with Connecticut Sex Offender Registry requirements while he resided in New Britain after his release from prison.  However, in August 2013, he failed to respond to an address verification request and a subsequent Notice of Violation sent by the Sex Offender Registry Unit.  He also failed to report to his state probation officer.  The state then obtained an arrest warrant for AGRITELLY for a violation of the terms and conditions of his probation.

On January 29, 2014, AGRITELLY was arrested by law enforcement in Tempe, Ariz., pursuant to the probation violation warrant issued in Connecticut.  He never registered as a sex offender in Arizona.

AGRITELLY has been detained since his arrest.  On December 2, 2014, he pleaded guilty to one count of failing to register as a sex offender.

AGRITELLY currently is serving a 78-month state prison term for violating his state probation and absconding to Arizona, and a two-year concurrent sentence for possessing a weapon while incarcerated.  Judge Thompson ordered that AGRITELLY will begin serving his two-year federal sentence when he is released from state custody.

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Slater.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that AGOSTINO INCORVAIA, 47, of Danbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to three years of probation, the first six months of which INCORVAIA must serve in home confinement, for tax evasion.  INCORVAIA also was ordered to pay a fine of $5,000 and more than $800,000 in back taxes, interest and penalties.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2007 to 2012, INCORVAIA failed to report to the Internal Revenue Service approximately $2.65 million in gross receipts generated by “Augie’s #1,” a restaurant he operates in Danbury.

During the investigation of this matter, INCORVAIA admitted to an undercover IRS agent that, for five years, he understated the restaurant’s gross receipts on his income tax returns and provided false numbers to his accountant, that he employed a large group of “off the books” workers, and that a portion of the unreported receipts supported his business interests and properties, including those in the Dominican Republic.  INCORVAIA’s admissions, which were recorded, were corroborated by the restaurant’s “point of sale” system that was seized pursuant to a search warrant.

In 2012, INCORVAIA advertised his restaurant for sale with an asking price of $1.25 million.

On April 14, 2015, INCORVAIA pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion and admitted that he evaded payment of income taxes when filing his joint income tax returns for the 2007 through 2011 tax years.

As part of his sentence, INCORVAIA is required to pay $396,650 in back taxes, as well approximately $427,000 in interest and penalties.

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

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ANTHONY REID, 26, of New Haven, was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Judge Warren W. Eginton in Bridgeport to 37 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 20, 2014, REID was arrested on state narcotics warrants.  On that date, New Haven Police officers searched a residence where REID had stayed the prior night and seized a Global Machine and Tool, model M70AB2 7.62 x 39 millimeter semi-automatic rifle.  The firearm was loaded with 35 rounds of ammunition.  The search also revealed approximately 147 grams of suspected marijuana.

REID has admitted that he possessed the firearm for approximately three weeks.

REID’s criminal history includes felony convictions for stealing a firearm and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.  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.

REID has been detained since his arrest.  On April 30, 2015, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the New Haven Police Department.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Laraia and David Nelson.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that LAMAR JONES, also known as “Cream,” 31, of New Haven, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for distributing crack cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from “Operation Bloodline,” a joint law enforcement investigation targeting narcotics trafficking and gang violence in the Dwight-Kensington and Fair Haven sections of New Haven.  Led by the DEA New Haven Task Force and the New Haven and Hamden Police Departments, the year-long investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps on numerous telephones, extensive physical surveillance, controlled purchases of narcotics, execution of search warrants, and seizures of narcotics and firearms.  Approximately 100 individuals were convicted of federal charges as a result of the investigation.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Kevin Wilson, also known as “Nature,” operated a large-scale cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin trafficking operation, primarily in the Dwight/Chapel area of New Haven.  Wilson supplied JONES with distribution quantities of crack cocaine, which JONES then sold to his own customers.

JONES was arrested on May 17, 2012, and was released on bond in September 2012.  On August 30, 2013, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 28 grams or more of JONES has been detained in state custody since September 21, 2014, when he was arrested by New Haven Police on charges of assault in the first degree, home invasion (two counts), larceny in the fifth degree, assault in the third degree, and interfering.

Chief Judge Hall imposed the federal sentence to run consecutively to any sentence imposed as a result of the pending state charges.

Wilson has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia and Meriden Police Departments.  The United States Marshals Service, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, Parole and Community Services and the Milford, Hartford, New Britain, North Branford and Stratford Police Departments provided valuable assistance to the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys S. Dave Vatti and Marc Silverman.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALAN WILSON, 24, of Stamford, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to one count of possession with intent to distribute 20 kilograms or more of marijuana.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in late 2013, the Stamford Police Department received information that WILSON was selling marijuana from his residence located at 15 Mead Street in Stamford.  In January 2014, law enforcement officers conducted a search of WILSON’s residence and discovered 8.77 pounds of marijuana stored in Foodsaver bags and Tupperware containers, a Foodsaver sealing machine and three boxes of new Foodsaver bags, a digital scale, $1,548 in cash, a .32 caliber long revolver, a loaded .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle, a .38 caliber revolver; a .25 caliber automatic pistol, 229 assorted rounds of ammunition and financial records.

WILSON is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on October 14, 2015, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000.

As part of the resolution of this case, WILSON also agreed to pay the government $200,000 to resolve a related civil forfeiture action (USA v. 15 Mead Street, Stamford, Connecticut, 3:14cv645).

This matter is being investigated by the Bridgeport Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force and the Stamford Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David X. Sullivan and Michael E. Runowicz.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BELLARMIN NAMEGABE, 47, of Shelton, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Warren W. Eginton in Bridgeport to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for preparing false tax returns.

According to court documents and statements made in court, NAMEGABE, while operating a tax preparation business based in Shelton, falsely reported expenses, deductions and credits on numerous clients’ tax returns without his clients’ knowledge or consent.  The false returns included fabricated Schedule A’s, Schedule C’s, number of dependents, fuel tax credits and other items.

As part of the investigation, special agents with the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division interviewed 11 of NAMEGABE’s clients who stated that NAMEGABE had falsified their returns.  In addition, as part of an undercover operation, an agent simply dropped off his Form W-2 at NAMEGABE’s business, provided his name and some identifying information, such as his Social Security Number, and left.  With the information provided, the undercover agent was only entitled to a refund of $632.  Approximately two weeks later, the undercover agent’s return was posted to the IRS database.  The return was prepared falsely and generated a refund of $3,235.

On December 4, 2014, NAMEGABE pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting the filing of a false tax return.

As part of his sentence, NAMEGABE is required to pay back taxes, penalties and interest related to the false tax returns he prepared during the 2007 through 2011 tax years for the 11 individuals who were interviewed as part of the investigation.  The tax loss attributed to those false returns is approximately $240,196.

This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JASON SHEEHAN, 41, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 37 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for engaging in an extensive bankruptcy and tax fraud scheme.  In addition, Judge Thompson sentenced SHEEHAN’s wife, GLORVINA CONSTANT, 36, to one year of probation for participating in a related mortgage fraud scheme.

According to court documents and statements made in court, SHEEHAN was the sole member of a limited liability company known as Infinistaff, LLC, which provided temporary workers to employers.  In September 2010, Infinistaff filed a voluntary chapter 11 bankruptcy petition with the Connecticut Bankruptcy Court.  As part of the bankruptcy case, SHEEHAN filed operating reports that falsely claimed that another company was being paid to process Infinistaff’s payroll checks and to prepare and file its payroll tax returns and tax payments.  During this time, SHEEHAN also falsely represented to the Internal Revenue Service that this other company was making tax deposits under its taxpayer identification number.  Although Infinistaff had such an arrangement with the other company for a period of time, the arrangement was terminated at the time SHEEHAN made these representations.  After the arrangement with the other company was terminated, SHEEHAN continued to file operating reports with the bankruptcy court indicating that the arrangement was still in place, and that this other company was being paid monthly “administration fees.”  SHEEHAN filed these reports in order to conceal his embezzlement of more than $1 million from Infinistaff’s bankruptcy estate.

In addition, between 2011 and 2013, Infinistaff failed to account for and pay to the IRS more than $2.5 million in employment taxes the company had withheld from employee paychecks, and also failed to pay approximately $1.4 million in employer payroll taxes.

The investigation further revealed that CONSTANT received Infinistaff payroll checks totaling $354,000 during the bankruptcy proceedings even though she performed no work for the company.

SHEEHAN and CONSTANT used the stolen money to support a lavish lifestyle, including foreign travel and the purchase of a $650,000 home in CONSTANT’s name.

In 2013, CONSTANT purchased a home using proceeds from a $390,000 mortgage loan she obtained from a local bank, as well as approximately $260,000 embezzled by SHEEHAN from the Infinistaff bankruptcy estate.  The mortgage loan application falsely stated that CONSTANT worked for Infinistaff and earned approximately $16,000 per month, when in fact, she did not work for Infinistaff at all.  After a bankruptcy trustee was appointed in the Infinistaff bankruptcy case and the company was no longer operating, CONSTANT applied for a second mortgage loan of $131,000 from the bank.  CONSTANT again misrepresented on the loan application that she was employed by Infinistaff and earning a substantial salary.

On October 8, 2014, SHEEHAN pleaded guilty to one count of willful failure to collect, account for and pay tax, one count of embezzlement from a bankruptcy estate and one count of making a false declaration  statement under penalty of perjury in a bankruptcy case.

On October 7, 2014, CONSTANT pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

Judge Thompson will hold a subsequent hearing to determine restitution.

This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the U.S. Trustee Program.

The U.S. Trustee Program is the Department of Justice component that promotes and protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case administration and litigating to enforce the civil bankruptcy laws.  Members of the public can report suspected bankruptcy fraud via email to USTP.Bankruptcy.Fraud@usdoj.gov.

In the District of Connecticut, the U.S. Attorney’s Office coordinates a Bankruptcy Fraud Working Group that includes representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Office of the U.S. Trustee, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherry and Senior Litigation Counsel Richard J. Schechter.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALEXANDER BERGEN, 22, of Danbury, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to stealing approximately $300,000 from individuals who invested in his Internet business.

According to court documents and statements made in court, BERGEN operated CT Wholesale, a company that sold electronic equipment and other items by buying the product for a cheaper price and then reselling those products to the customer at a higher price.  Beginning in approximately 2013, BERGEN began to accept investment funds from investors who were promised a return on their investments.  BERGEN represented to the investors that he would use their investment funds solely to purchase products for resale to his customers and that the investors would receive their principal investment back with a profit in a specified period of time.  In some cases, BERGEN entered into written investment agreements with investors in which he expressly represented that the investment funds provided by the investor would be used solely to purchase products.

BERGEN received a total of more than $300,000 from approximately 10 investors.  Despite representing to the investors that all of their funds would be used solely to purchase products for resale by CT Wholesale, BERGEN did not use these funds solely to purchase products.  In 2013, BERGEN used approximately $150,000 of the investors’ money to pay for his personal credit card bills which included personal expenses for fine dining, travel, and to shop at high-end retail stores.

BERGEN returned less than $40,000 in funds to his investors.  Collectively, the investors lost approximately $286,000 of the investment funds they provided to BERGEN.

BERGEN pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of money obtained by fraud.  He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on October 14, 2015, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum fine of more than $500,000 and an order of restitution.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Richard J. Schechter.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on July 28, 2015, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging ALIONIS PEREZ, 39, a citizen of Cuba last residing in New Jersey, and YOANDRYS CUE, 29, a citizen of Cuba last residing in Florida, with engaging in a conspiracy to burglarize outlet stores in six states between August and November 2013.

As alleged in the indictment:

On August 2, 2013, PEREZ, CUE and others traveled from New Jersey to Connecticut.  On August 3, 2013, PEREZ and CUE broke into the Fossil store located in Clinton, Connecticut, disabled the alarm system and stole more than $5,000 in property.  Following the burglary, PEREZ, CUE and others returned to New Jersey with the stolen merchandise.

On August 18, 2013, PEREZ and others attempted to break into the Movado store located in Kittery, Maine.

On September 19, 2013, PEREZ and CUE broke into the Fossil store located in Miramar Beach, Florida, and stole more than $5,000 in watches.

On October 4, 2013, PEREZ and CUE broke into the Fossil store located in Hagerstown, Maryland, and stole more than $5,000 in watches.

On October 24, 2013, PEREZ and CUE broke into the Fossil store located in Grove City, Pennsylvania, and stole more than $5,000 in watches.

On November 22, 2013, PEREZ, CUE and others traveled from New Jersey to Massachusetts and stole a van.  On November 23, 2013, PEREZ, CUE and another individual broke into the Michael Kors store in Lee, Massachusetts, disabled the alarm system and stole more than $5,000 in watches and bags.  The conspirators then traveled from Massachusetts, disposed of the stolen van in Staten Island, New York, and returned to New Jersey with the stolen merchandise.

The indictment charges PEREZ and CUE with one count of conspiracy, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000, and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000

PEREZ has been detained in federal custody since August 2014 after his arrest in Tennessee on a separate charge of interstate transportation of stolen property.

CUE is currently incarcerated in New Jersey.

U.S. Attorney Daly 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, Clinton (Conn.) Police Department, Kittery (Maine) Police Department, Walton County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office, Washington County (Md.) Sheriff’s Office,  Pennsylvania State Police, Lee (Mass.) Police Department and Berkshire County (Mass.) Sheriff’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and Heather Cherry.

This matter is assigned to U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford.