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District of Connecticut

Stamford Man Charged With Sexually Abusing 16-Year-Old Boy He Met On Snapchat Stamford Man Charged With Sexually Abusing 16-Year-Old Boy He Met On Snapchat
Stamford Man Charged With Sexually Abusing 16-Year-Old Boy He Met On Snapchat A Fairfield County man is behind bars following his arrest on child exploitation charges for allegedly sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy. Rick Marro, age 42, of Stamford was charged on Thursday, Jan. 18 following an investigation into the allegations made by the boy in August 2023, said Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Marro appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and was ordered detained, Avery said. As alleged in court documents, law enforcement began investigating Marro in August 2023 after a 16-year-old boy reported that he …
Aaron Hernandez's Brother Threatens To Shoot Up UConn, Makes Other Threats: Feds Aaron Hernandez's Brother Threatens To Shoot Up UConn, Makes Other Threats: Feds
Aaron Hernandez's Brother Threatens To Shoot Up UConn, Makes Other Threats: Feds Dennis Hernandez, brother of the former NFL player Aaron Hernandez of the New England Patriots, has been slapped with federal charges after allegedly threatening to carry out a shooting at the University of Connecticut, officials said.  Hernandez, also known as “DJ Hernandez” and “Jonathan Hernandez,” has been charged with interstate threatening and stalking offenses, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced on Friday, July 28.  According to federal officials, on both Thursday, July 6, and Friday, July 7, Hernandez, a 37-year-old Bristol resident, communicated wit…
$450K Scheme: CT Man Admits Helping Defraud Victims On Social Media $450K Scheme: CT Man Admits Helping Defraud Victims On Social Media
$450K Scheme: CT Man Admits Helping Defraud Victims On Social Media A Connecticut man faces more than 20 years in prison after admitting to taking part in a scheme to defraud numerous victims by befriending them on social media.  New London County resident Dexter Enwerem, age 36, of Norwich, pleaded guilty to taking part in a scheme to defraud women through social media on Tuesday, May 23, according to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut.  According to federal officials, between September 2019 and March 2021, a co-conspirator of Enwerem would contact multiple victims, who were mostly women, through their Facebook and Inst…
Greenwich Man Charged With Child Porn Offenses, Including Possessing Images With Infants Greenwich Man Charged With Child Porn Offenses, Including Possessing Images With Infants
Greenwich Man Charged With Child Porn Offenses, Including Possessing Images With Infants A Fairfield County man is facing charges after investigators found that his laptop contained about 1,000 images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants.  Christopher Bates Jr., age 36, of Greenwich, was arrested on a federal complaint charging him with child pornography offenses on Tuesday, Dec. 13, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Investigators found that an IP address at Bates' home was being used to access the dark web to view images that depicted the sexual abuse of children, Roberts Avery reported. …
CT Man Admits To Failing To Report Nearly $1M In Income CT Man Admits To Failing To Report Nearly $1M In Income
CT Man Admits To Failing To Report Nearly $1M In Income A business owner from Connecticut has admitted he failed to report more than $900,000 in income on his personal federal tax returns. Windham County resident Mariusz Kalinowski, age 47, of Woodstock, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Nov. 29, to one count of filing a false tax return, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Kalinowski is the owner and operator of Kalinowski General Construction, Inc., which is based in the Worcester County town of Webster, Massachusetts, and provides construction services in Connecticut and Massachusetts…
Woman Who Owns Danbury Grocery Store Sentenced For $400K Tax Offense Woman Who Owns Danbury Grocery Store Sentenced For $400K Tax Offense
Woman Who Owns Danbury Grocery Store Sentenced For $400K Tax Offense An owner of a Fairfield County grocery store was sentenced for a tax fraud offense that caused the IRS a loss of more than $400,000. Lizbel Sanchez, of Brookfield, was sentenced on Tuesday, Oct. 18, to two years of probation and ordered to pay a $400,000 fine, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Sanchez pleaded guilty on April 14 to one count of willful failure to collect or pay over taxes, Avery reported. Earlier report - Woman Who Operates A C-Town In Danbury Admits To Failure To Pay Taxes Sanchez is a minority owner…
CT Man Admits Trafficking Cocaine Through US Mail CT Man Admits Trafficking Cocaine Through US Mail
CT Man Admits Trafficking Cocaine Through US Mail A 35-year-old Connecticut man has admitted to trafficking cocaine through the United States Mail. Jean Mangual-Castro, of West Haven, pleaded guilty on Monday, Sept. 12, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Investigators found that Mangual-Castro orchestrated shipments of cocaine from Puerto Rico through the US Mail, Avery said. Authorities identified a suspicious package that had been delivered to Mangual-Castro's …
Stamford Men Sentenced For Trafficking Counterfeit Oxycodone Pills Containing Fentanyl Stamford Men Sentenced For Trafficking Counterfeit Oxycodone Pills Containing Fentanyl
Stamford Men Sentenced For Trafficking Counterfeit Oxycodone Pills Containing Fentanyl Two Fairfield County men were sentenced for trafficking counterfeit oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl. Stamford residents Arber Isaku and Vincent Decaro, both age 32, were sentenced on Monday, Aug. 8, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Isaku was sentenced to 51 months in prison and three years of supervised release, and Decaro was sentenced to 48 months in prison and three years of supervised release, Avery said.  Decaro pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl analogs on June 15, 2…
Woman From Stratford Admits Committing Fraud While Awaiting Sentencing In Other Case Woman From Stratford Admits Committing Fraud While Awaiting Sentencing In Other Case
Woman From Stratford Admits Committing Fraud While Awaiting Sentencing In Other Case A 32-year-old former Farifield County resident pleaded guilty to a health care fraud offense that she committed while waiting to be sentenced for a separate health care fraud charge. Nicole Steiner, a former Stratford resident, pleaded guilty to the charge on Friday, July 29, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Steiner, who is now a resident of Edison, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud on April 28, in relation to the operation of Helping Hands Academy, LLC in Bridgeport, which offered app…
Bridgeport Gang Member Admits Role In 2019 Murder Bridgeport Gang Member Admits Role In 2019 Murder
Bridgeport Gang Member Admits Role In 2019 Murder A 20-year-old man has admitted to his role in a Fairfield County gang and the murder of a victim in 2019. Tyrone Moore, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, July 5, to one count of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity stemming from his involvement in the "East End gang," according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Avery said in pleading guilty to the charge, Moore admitted that he and another East End member fatally shot Shawn Warren, a member of rival "O.N.E. gang," on July 12, 2019. The US Attorney's Office s…
Danbury Man Sentenced In Arson, Murder Scheme Danbury Man Sentenced In Arson, Murder Scheme
Danbury Man Sentenced In Arson, Murder Scheme A 33-year-old man was sentenced for his role in a plan to murder an individual and set fire to a Fairfield County business. George Rivera, of Danbury, was sentenced on Wednesday, June 29, to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. He pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon on Saturday, March 25, the US Attorney's Office said. According to the announcement, on April 2, 2018, police tried to pull over a car that was driving with unlit taillights.  The …
Connecticut Man Sentenced For Producing Child Pornography Connecticut Man Sentenced For Producing Child Pornography
Connecticut Man Sentenced For Producing Child Pornography A 52-year-old Connecticut man was sentenced to decades in prison for producing child pornography. Ronald Daniel, of Hartford, was sentenced on Monday, May 2, to 27 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release, according to Leonard Boyle, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. He pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of production of child pornography on Feb. 24, 2021, the US Attorney's Office said.  According to court documents, Daniel took cell phone photos of himself engaging in sexual contact with a prepubescent child on at least two occas…
Stratford Woman Awaiting Sentencing In Fraud Case Arrested For Same Offense Stratford Woman Awaiting Sentencing In Fraud Case Arrested For Same Offense
Stratford Woman Awaiting Sentencing In Fraud Case Arrested For Same Offense A Fairfield County woman who pleaded guilty to health care fraud was arrested and accused of committing the same offense while released on bond. Nicole Steiner, age 32, of Stratford, was arrested on Monday, May 2, and charged with committing health care fraud, according to Leonard Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Steiner had pleaded guilty on April 28, 2021, in a separate health care fraud case, Boyle said.  Following her arrest on Monday, she was released into home detention under electronic monitoring on a $250,000 bond, according to the announceme…
CT Woman Admits Straw Purchasing Several Firearms CT Woman Admits Straw Purchasing Several Firearms
CT Woman Admits Straw Purchasing Several Firearms A Connecticut woman faces 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of making a false statement to a firearms dealer. Hartford County resident Leah Boucher, age 30, of Bristol, made the plea on Friday, April 29, said Leonard Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut According to court documents and statements made in court in August 2021, law enforcement conducted a court-authorized search of Tyrone Brown’s residence on Stevens Street in New Haven and seized a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol.   Brown, who was a convicted felon and was prohibited by federal l…
Money Courier For Large-Scale CT Fentanyl Trafficking Ring Sentenced Money Courier For Large-Scale CT Fentanyl Trafficking Ring Sentenced
Money Courier For Large-Scale CT Fentanyl Trafficking Ring Sentenced A Connecticut man has been sentenced to more than nine years in prison for his role in a fentanyl trafficking ring and for violating the conditions of his supervised release after a previous federal conviction. Domingo Guzman, age 45, of Waterbury, was sentenced on Thursday, April 28, to a total of 114 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release, according to Leonard Boyle, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. He pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl on Nov. 22, B…
New Haven Man Sentenced For Distributing Heroin, Cocaine, Crack New Haven Man Sentenced For Distributing Heroin, Cocaine, Crack
New Haven Man Sentenced For Distributing Heroin, Cocaine, Crack A 33-year-old man has been sentenced for distributing heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine in Connecticut. Darryl Russell, of New Haven, was sentenced on Monday, April 11, to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, according to Leonard Boyle, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. New Haven Police encountered James Lee on March 13, 2021, when he was sitting in a car that had fled police days prior, and police searched Lee's person and found $3,815 and $3,443 in the car, the DA's Office reported. Police also found heroin, crack cocaine, and coc…
Former Yale Med School Employee Admits Stealing, Selling $40 Million In Electronics Former Yale Med School Employee Admits Stealing, Selling $40 Million In Electronics
Former Yale Med School Employee Admits Stealing, Selling $40 Million In Electronics A former Yale University School of Medicine employee has admitted to stealing $40 million in computer and electronic hardware from the university. Jamie Petrone, age 42, pleaded guilty on Monday, March 28, to wire fraud and filing a false tax return, according to Leonard Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Petrone is a former resident of Naugatuck in New Haven County, and she currently resides in Georgia, Boyle said.  Beginning in about 2008, Petrone worked for the Yale University School of Medicine's Department of Emergency Medicine and most recently w…
CT Man Admits Defrauding His Grandparents Of $679K CT Man Admits Defrauding His Grandparents Of $679K
CT Man Admits Defrauding His Grandparents Of $679K A Connecticut man has pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing some $679,000 from his grandparents. Leonard Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Hartford County resident Douglas Senerth, age 32 of South Windsor, plead guilty to the fraud on Wednesday, Feb. 23. According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2011 and 2019, Senerth defrauded his grandmother and his late grandfather by falsely claiming to be a college student and inducing them to give him approximately $419,000 to pay for nonexistent college tuition and other related expenses…
Fairfield County Man Sentenced For Recording Repeated Sexual Abuse Of A Child Fairfield County Man Sentenced For Recording Repeated Sexual Abuse Of A Child
Fairfield County Man Sentenced For Recording Repeated Sexual Abuse Of A Child A 42-year-old Fairfield County man has been sentenced to decades in prison for producing photographs and videos documenting his sexual abuse of a child. Robert McGuire, of Easton, was sentenced on Tuesday, Feb. 1, to 30 years in prison followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, according to Leonard Boyle, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. McGuire pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography on June 8, Boyle said. Between February 2019 and June 2020, McGuire sexually assaulted a child repeatedly and took photos and videos of the assaults, the …
Doctor In Fairfield County Admits To Illegally Prescribing Controlled Substances Doctor In Fairfield County Admits To Illegally Prescribing Controlled Substances
Doctor In Fairfield County Admits To Illegally Prescribing Controlled Substances A 62-year-old Fairfield County man has admitted to illegally distributing prescription medication. David Ciancimino, of Trumbull, pleaded guilty on Monday, Jan. 24, to one count of distribution of a controlled substance without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the scope of professional practice, according to Leonard Boyle, the United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Ciancimino also agreed to forfeit $175,773.45 as part of his plea, Boyle said. Ciancimino was practicing psychiatry at an office on Corporate Drive in Shelton, according to the announcement. In Oct…
Fairfield County Man Sentenced For Trafficking Narcotics Fairfield County Man Sentenced For Trafficking Narcotics
Fairfield County Man Sentenced For Trafficking Narcotics A 62-year-old Fairfield County man has been sentenced to 36 months in prison for trafficking narcotics. Kevin Lucas, also known as "Dutch," of Bridgeport, was sentenced on Wednesday, Jan. 19, said Leonard C Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, between May and August 2019, law enforcement made a series of controlled purchases of redistribution quantities of heroin from Lucas.   Lucas was arrested in August 2019, and a search of his residence on that date revealed additional distribution quantities of heroin,…
CT Man Sentenced For Downloading Thousands Of Child Sex Abuse Images CT Man Sentenced For Downloading Thousands Of Child Sex Abuse Images
CT Man Sentenced For Downloading Thousands Of Child Sex Abuse Images A Connecticut man has been sentenced to 60. months in prison for downloading more than 50,000 child sex abuse images and videos over the internet. New Haven County resident Michael Schmeer, age 52, of Waterbury, was sentenced on Tuesday, Jan. 18, followed by five years of supervised release, said Leonard C Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation revealed that an IP address at Schmeer’s residence was being used to download child sex abuse images and videos from a peer-to-peer file-sharing network.  …
CT Man Sentenced For Distributing Cocaine CT Man Sentenced For Distributing Cocaine
CT Man Sentenced For Distributing Cocaine A Connecticut man has been sentenced to 41 months in prison for distributing cocaine and crack cocaine. Windham County resident Andre Smith, also known as "Dre", age 42, of Woodstock, was sentenced on Thursday, Jan. 13, said Leonard C Boyle, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Smith was also sentenced to three years of supervised release following his imprisonment. According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2018, the FBI, Norwich Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies began investigating a drug trafficking organization that was distributing heroin…
CT Man Sentenced For Trading Child Sex Abuse Images On Internet CT Man Sentenced For Trading Child Sex Abuse Images On Internet
CT Man Sentenced For Trading Child Sex Abuse Images On Internet A Connecticut man was sentenced for trading images of child sex abuse on the internet. New Haven County resident Robert Harrington, age 55, of Milford, was sentenced on Wednesday, Dec. 22, to 72 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release, according to Leonard Boyle, acting United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. In January of 2019, Homeland Security Investigations received information from Canadian and Australian law enforcement that two usernames associated with an IP address in Harrington's residence were sending and receiving images through an online a…
Former USPS Employee In CT Admits Stealing Funds Former USPS Employee In CT Admits Stealing Funds
Former USPS Employee In CT Admits Stealing Funds A former United States Postal Service employee from Connecticut has pleaded guilty to a charge related to stealing USPS funds. Lindim Asipi, age 44, of Waterbury, pleaded guilty on Monday, Dec. 20, to one count of wire fraud related to his theft of USPS funds, according to an announcement from Leonard Boyle, acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Asipi worked as a driver for the USPS in Waterbury, and the USPS gave him a fleet credit card for gas, Boyle said.  Between about January 2019 and June 2020, he conducted several hundred fraudulent transactions with the card…
CT Resident Indicted For Alleged Child Exploitation Offenses CT Resident Indicted For Alleged Child Exploitation Offenses
CT Resident Indicted For Alleged Child Exploitation Offenses A Connecticut man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for receiving child pornography and the distribution of child pornography. New Haven County resident Kevin Curley, age 40, of Naugatuck, appeared on Tuesday, Dec. 21, in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges, said Leonard C Boyle, Acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. In 2020, officials began investigating Curley for his involvement in an online community of individuals who sent and received child pornography images and videos via a hidden service website, court documents show. In August 2020, investigators con…
Operator Of Company In Fairfield County Admits To Tax Evasion Operator Of Company In Fairfield County Admits To Tax Evasion
Operator Of Company In Fairfield County Admits To Tax Evasion A Fairfield County company owner has pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. Robert Porzio, age 48, of Westport, plead guilty on Thursday, Dec. 16, following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, said Leonard C Boyle, acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, Porzio, who operates Bert’s Tree Service, Inc., deposited numerous customers’ checks into personal bank accounts, transferred a significant portion of the funds into a personal investment account, and kept from the corporation’s bookkeeper his receipt …
CT Investment Advisor Sentenced For Stealing More Than $600K From Client CT Investment Advisor Sentenced For Stealing More Than $600K From Client
CT Investment Advisor Sentenced For Stealing More Than $600K From Client A Connecticut man has been sentenced for stealing more than $600,000 from an investment client.  New Haven County resident Matthew Clason, age 40, of Cheshire, was sentenced on Tuesday, Dec. 7, to 30 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for one count of wire fraud, according to an announcement from Leonard Boyle, acting United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Clason pleaded guilty to the charge on May 12, Boyle said.  The US Attorney's Office said that beginning in 2015, while working as an investment advisor and representative of Linc…
Duo, Including CT Man, Accused Of Using Project Fraud Scheme To Pay Personal Expenses Duo, Including CT Man, Accused Of Using Project Fraud Scheme To Pay Personal Expenses
Duo, Including CT Man, Accused Of Using Project Fraud Scheme To Pay Personal Expenses Two men have been charged in separate criminal complaints with conspiracy and fraud offenses stemming from their alleged involvement in construction project fraud schemes. New Haven County resident Don Richards, age 53, of Milford, and William Sacco, age 48, of Pelham, New Hampshire, were arrested in connection with the case, said Leonard C Boyle, Acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Both men were described in a criminal complaint as senior project managers at a Massachusetts mechanical contracting company during the time of the scheme.  From June 2014 through Dece…
CT Teen Charged With Kidnapping Minor CT Teen Charged With Kidnapping Minor
CT Teen Charged With Kidnapping Minor A Connecticut teen has been charged with kidnapping a minor and sexually assaulting her before locking her in the trunk of a car. Litchfield County resident Christopher Jesus Constanzo, age 19, of Torrington, was arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 7, said Leonard C Boyle, Acting US Attorney of the District of Connecticut. As alleged in court documents, on Thursday, Dec. 2, Constanzo and a minor female arrived by car at the US Port of Entry at Highgate Springs in Vermont.  Just prior to their arrival, officials at the St-Armand/Philipsburg Border Crossing in Canada had refused Constanzo and the…
CT Man Admits To Enticing Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity CT Man Admits To Enticing Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity
CT Man Admits To Enticing Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity A Connecticut man admitted to the enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. New Haven County resident Dennis Anthony Szantyr Jr., age 47, of Prospect, pleaded guilty on Monday, Dec. 6 in Hartford, said Leonard C Boyle, acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, on multiple occasions between November 2018 and October 2019, Szantyr used smartphones, tablets, and other computer devices, to entice the victim under the age of 16 to engage in sexual acts.   At times, including during the commission of th…