BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT (BNO NEWS) – A Guatemala citizen was sentenced on Friday to two years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegal re-entry to the United States, prosecutors said.

Javier Moreno, 23, also known as “Javier Moreno DeLeon,” recently illegally resided in Scotland, Connecticut. Moreno has been convicted three times and deported twice to Guatemala in the past.

Moreno was arrested for assault on October 15, 2005. He was deported to his native country on May 26, 2006. Moreno illegally reentered the United States and was arrested once again in Windham, Connecticut on December 29, 2006. He was convicted for assault and violation of probation. His was again deported to Guatemala on September 28, 2007.

The defendant’s criminal record continued to grow when on September 15, 2005 he was convicted of criminal impersonation and operation under the influence. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requested the deportation of Moreno on September 23, after finding out he was under custody of the Connecticut’s Department of Correction.

On June 12, 2009, Moreno was sentenced to one year in prison for assault and failure to appear. He was also convicted of violation of probation.

Each time Moreno reentered to American soil, he did not seek or obtain the required permit of the U.S. Attorney General.

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HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT (BNO NEWS) – Two Connecticut men charged for robbing a series of banks, prosecutors said Friday.

Spero Moschos, 29, and crishtopher Davis, 34, both of Stamford, Connecticut, allegedly stole a total of approximately $40,000 from 11 banks in Norwalk, Westport, Stamford, Darien, Wilton, and Fairfield between May 2009 and August 2009.

Moschos and Davis were charged Thursday with 12 and 8 counts of bank robbery, respectively. If convicted, each count carries a maximum prison term of 20 years. They were have been incarcerated since August 26, 2009, after they were arrested by the Stamford Police Department.

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HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT (BNO NEWS) – A Connecticut man was sentenced for his participation in a cocaine and heroin distribution conspiracy, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Jose Veras, also known as“Che Luis” and “Shinobi,” 30, of Garden Street, Hartford, Connecticut, was a significant distributor of heroin who supplied other members of a conspiracy in the Hartford area.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force have been heading a year-long joint law enforcement investigation called “Operation Solid Gold,” which has resulted in 55 individuals being charged with various offenses related to the distribution of cocaine and heroin in and around Hartford. The investigation includes the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of cocaine and heroin, and physical surveillance.

Veras pleaded guilty on November 30, 2009, and was sentenced Wednesday to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his participation in a narcotics trafficking ring.

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HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT (BNO NEWS) – A Newington, Connecticut man pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on Wednesday, prosecutors announced.

David M. Besaw, 26, in March 2008, was caught in an investigation by an undercover FBI agent in Chicago connected to a peer-to-peer Internet file sharing program in an effort to identify individuals distributing child pornography. The investigation revealed that images of child pornography had been sent from an Internet Protocol (IP) address assigned to Besaw.

On July 16, 2008, the FBI conducted a court-authorized search of the Horizon Hill residence and seized a desktop computer. Agents also interviewed Besaw who acknowledged that he used a peer-to-peer program to download images of child pornography. A subsequent forensic analysis of the hard drive of the seized computer confirmed the existence of child pornography images and videos.

Besaw faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a minimum period of five years supervised release to a maximum of life, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case is a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT (BNO NEWS) – Four New Haven, Connecticut residents were sentenced to federal prison on Tuesday for their involvement in heroin trafficking ring, prosecutors announced.

In the fall of 2008, the Drug Enforcement Administration initiated “Operation King of the Hill,” an investigation into a narcotics trafficking organization operating in New Haven. The investigation included controlled purchases of heroin, physical surveillance and court-authorized wire taps on wireless phones.

Operation King of the Hill found that the organization regularly received bulk quantities of packaged bundles of heroin, mostly from a New York source. The heroin was later distributed through a network of mid-level dealers.

Victor Nieves, 34, aka “Bori,” was sentenced on Tuesday to 120 months in federal prison and eight years of supervised release. Nieves was a “runner” that means a street dealer of the organization.

Last week two runners were also sentenced. Pedro Santiago, 27, also known as “Pedrito,” was sentenced to 77 months of imprisonment and six years of supervised release. Arturo Velasquez, 45, aka “Calvo,” was sentenced to 57 months in prison, followed by six years of supervise release.

On April 29, Marisol Martinez, 44, was sentenced to six months of imprisonment, followed by six months of home confinement and three years of supervised release. She was the wife of the alleged leader of the organization. Martinez collected, counted and secreted drug proceeds with her home in New Haven.

Until this day, twenty individuals have been charged as a result of Operation King of the Hill.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) — U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday that the Times Square bombing suspect Faisal Shahzad will be charged “with an act of terrorism.”

“We anticipate charging him with an act of terrorism transcending national borders, attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, use of a destructive device during the commission of another crime, and explosives charges,” AG Holder said.

According to Holder, the failed Times Square bombing was “was a terrorist plot aimed at murdering Americans in one of the busiest places in this country.” He said the suspect has been providing useful information.

“We believe this suspected terrorist fashioned a bomb from rudimentary ingredients, placed it in a rusty SUV and drove it into Times Square with the intent to kill as many innocent tourists and theater-goers as possible,” Holder added.

“Make no mistake – although this car bomb failed to properly detonate – this plot was a serious attempt. If successful, it could have resulted in a lethal terrorist attack causing death and destruction in the heart of New York City.”

Shahzad was taken into custody by Customs and Border Patrol agents at New York’s JFK International Airport on Monday night after being removed from a Dubai-bound plane. Shahzad was placed on the no-fly list just hours before his arrest.

Shahzad lives in Bridgeport, Connecticut but is of Pakistani descent. According to The Wall Street Journal, Shahzad was granted a F-1 student visa in December 1998. He was granted a H1-B visa for skilled workers in 2002.

On October, 2008, he reported his marriage to a woman called Huma Asif Mian, an American Citizen. He was naturalized as U.S. citizen in 2009, The The Wall Street Journal added.

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NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT (BNO NEWS) – A Waterbury, Connecticut business owner was sentenced to five years of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for defrauding more of a dozen of clients of approximately $2.1 million, prosecutors announced on Tuesday.

Thomas Cipriano, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of money laundering on October 30, 2009. Cipriano was the principal of Cipriano Agency, an insurance and financial services agency, and Selective Benefits Group, a financial services agency. Both agencies conducted business from Watertown Avenue in Waterbury.

Cipriano planned a scheme to defraud money from retired citizens. He advertised himself and his company in websites, radio advertisements, and seminars to attract clients. He managed to convince several clients to remove their money from conventional investments and from personal bank accounts and give it to Cipriano.

The defendant directed clients to make their initial investment with him in a conventional instrument such as an annuity with an established insurance company. After that, he convinced them to surrender their conventional investments and the proceeds by falsely representing to clients that he would pay them back all of their money plus interest.

However, Cipriano did not invest the money and used it to pay personal expenses like his gambling habit, family expenses, and to make lulling payments to clients. He used two bank accounts in order to launder the money and avoid federal detection.

In total, Cipriano received approximately $3.2 million from more than two dozen of citizens. From that amount, Cipriano reimbursed $1.1 million and financial institutions and insurance companies gave the victims $794,151. The defendant was ordered to pay $1,309,778 in restitution to his victims and $794,151 to the financial and insurance companies.

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(Eds: Adds immigration history)

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) — Authorities on late Monday arrested a U.S. citizen of Pakistani descent in connection with last Saturday’s failed car bombing in Times Square.

The suspect, who was identified as 30-year-old Faisal Shahzad, was taken into custody by Customs and Border Patrol agents at New York’s JFK International Airport at 11.45 p.m. EDT. Other agencies also participated in his arrest.

Shahzad lives in Bridgeport, Connecticut but is of Pakistani descent. According to The Wall Street Journal, Shahzad was granted a F-1 student visa in December 1998. He was granted a H1-B visa for skilled workers in 2002.

On October, 2008, he reported his marriage to a woman called Huma Asif Mian, an American Citizen. He was naturalized as U.S. citizen in 2009, The The Wall Street Journal added.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Shahzad was attempted to board a flight to Dubai. It was not immediately clear if Dubai was his final destination or if he planned to take a connecting flight to Pakistan.

Holder, who appeared in a rare early morning news conference, said it was clear that the “intend of this terrorist attack was to kill Americans.” He said authorities are continuing to pursue a number of leads and urged citizens to be vigilant.

Shahzad is expected to appear in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday at a currently undetermined time to be presented on formal charges, which were not immediately announced.

Shahzad is believed to be the person who recently bought the 1993 Nissan Pathfinder that was found loaded with gasoline, propane tanks, fireworks, and fertilizer in New York’s Times Square. The New York Times earlier reported that the man had recently returned from a trip to Pakistan.

According to the newspaper, authorities began focusing on the man after they tracked the vehicle to its previously registered owner in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The previous owner had advertised his vehicle for sale on several websites.

On Sunday, the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attempted car bombing.

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HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT (BNO NEWS) – Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal on Monday issued a subpoena to Craigslist, Inc. to seek evidence that the company is fulfilling its public promise to fight advertisements for prostitution and other activity.

Blumenthal, co-leading a coalition of 39 states, has monitored the site and found that prostitution ads persist on Craigslist’s “adult” section and elsewhere, raising serious questions regarding the company’s efforts to screen out the content.

Recent reports also indicated that Craigslist may be profiting, in the tens of millions, from prostitution ads, rather than providing the ad proceeds to charity as it publically promised in 2008. “The Craigslist brothel business seems booming – belying its promise to fight prostitution,” Blumenthal said. “The best evidence is the thousands of ads that remain on craigslist – skimpily and slickly disguised with code words. We’re asking Craigslist for specific answers about steps to screen and stop sex-for-money offers – and whether the company is actually profiting from prostitution ads that it promised states and the public that it would try to block.”

Blumenthal went on to point out that if Craigslist is breaking its promises to the public, it may be breaking the law.

“The truly dangerous and darkest side of these ads is their potential to enable and even encourage human trafficking and child exploitation. This lucrative online red light district has real victims — women and children virtually entrapped and exploited.”

“If published reports prove true, craigslist may be earning $36.3 million or more from adult and possibly illegal ads – huge profits from prostitution and human trafficking. Even if craigslist only provides a host site for the ads, it should be held accountable.”

The subpoena seeks all documents describing the “manual review process” used to review potentially objectionable advertisements, including the total number of employees assigned to such a review, and the number of advertisements eliminated or rejected as a result of these procedures. Additionally, it seeks information regarding Craigslists telephone verification system for its “erotic services” or “adult services” sections, including the total number of ads eliminated as a result of those procedures.

The Attorney General issued the subpoena in coordination with Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr.

Blumenthal is a candidate in the 2010 U.S. Senate election for the seat currently held by Christopher Dodd – now the longest-serving senator in Connecticut’s history.

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HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT (BNO NEWS) – A Stuart, Florida man was sentenced on Friday to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a bribery scheme in southern Connecticut, prosecutors said.

Richard R. Girouard, 56, was a real estate developer and the owner and operator of Girouard Associates, Inc., a company based in New Canaan, Connecticut. He pleaded guilty on November 24, 2009 to one count of conspiracy to commit financial institution bribery.

Girouard, previously of Norwalk, Connecticut, engaged in a bribery scheme with attorney Paul A. Aparo and Kevin J. O’Keefe, an officer at Fleet Bank (now Bank of America). Aparo was Girouard’s attorney and introduced him to O’Keefe.

In 2002, Fleet Bank owned 49.12% of LINC Receivables, the owner of certain leases and installment sales contracts that produced a stream of revenue. O’Keefe was the officer responsible of overseeing Fleet Bank’s interests in LINC Receivables.

Aparo and O’Keefe approached Girouard about their interest in purchasing Fleet Bank’s share of LINC. O’Keefe told Girouard that if he could raise the capital, Fleet Bank would select Girouard’s company to purchase such share. The Girouard company set up to purchase LINC Receivables was called RRG Investments, LLC.

Girouard paid 15 percent of the profits from RRG investments’ purchase of the share of LINC Receivables to Lexington Associates, an entity controlled by Aparo. Girouard made payments of between $400,000 to $1 million, knowing that Aparo would in turn pay O’Keefe to influence and reward him for his assistance in the transaction with Fleet Bank.

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