NEWS-TIMES
Letter to the Editor
March 23, 2010
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$50,000+ EMBEZZLEMENT IN NEW FAIRFIELD!
Two weeks ago a staggering discovery was made by a concerned citizen and resident of New Fairfield that relates to what certainly appears to be a cover up of the embezzlement of over $50,000 of cash receipts that are missing from the Parks & Recreation Department receipts. We are not certain of the exact amount of money that was skimmed off the Park & Recreation’s receipts over a number of years by the employee, but the minimum amount appears to be $50,000. That is a Felony! WOW!
It was only after a conscientious resident smelled a rat and successfully negotiated an obstacle course to obtain documentation related to this mess that hard evidence of the crime and the attempt to sweep it under the rug finally surfaced. The resident was repeatedly stonewalled, but he was persistent, knew the Freedom of Information laws, and finally prevailed in obtaining the documents he was seeking. Was a deliberate cover up of Grand Larceny and Embezzlement orchestrated behind closed doors? If so, WHY?
It gets worse: The employee who robbed all the cash was not charged with any crime in what sure appears to be an attempt to cover up this most disturbing discovery. As I read the State Statutes, a failure to immediately advise law enforcement of the embezzlement of money is a Felony.
And even worse: A joint decision was made that prosecution was not required and the employee should merely resign and make restitution of the funds that were stolen. WOW! The main point is: Was anyone involved in that decision aware of the applicable law related to municipal embezzlement? Were they aware that aiding and abetting the cover-up of Grand Larceny is a Felony? If not, those people will be in for a rude awakening in due time.
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Doug Thielen
New Fairfield
NOW THE RUB! WHERE DOES THIS ALL END?
Former New Fairfield cop seeks accelerated rehabilitation
Former New Fairfield cop seeks accelerated rehabilitation
John Pirro, Staff WRITER
Published: 11:51 p.m., Monday, March 22, 2010
A former New Fairfield police officer arrested twice in the past year wants to have all the charges against him expunged from his record.
The attorney for Christopher Pimentel on Monday filed an amended application for accelerated rehabilitation that would include Pimentel's arrest last March for the alleged theft of gym equipment and new charges filed against him earlier this month alleging he embezzled several thousand dollars from the New Fairfield Police Benevolent Association.
Under the accelerated rehabilitation program, an accused person doesn't enter a plea to the charges and his record is wiped clean if a judge decides he is not likely to offend again.
The 36-year-old Pimentel had already filed a request for accelerated rehabilitation stemming from his arrest by Connecticut State Police last year for second-degree larceny and interfering with a police officer.
In that case, Pimentel allegedly accepted more than $6,000 worth of exercise equipment from a New Fairfield resident who intended it as a donation to the department, but Pimentel kept it for his own use, investigators said.
While the original charge was still pending, Pimentel was arrested again earlier this month and accused of third-degree larceny for allegedly misappropriating nearly $5,000 in Police Benevolent Association funds while he served as treasurer of the organization between 2003 and 2005, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.
He resigned from the police force shortly after his first arrest.
Contact John Pirro
at jpirro@newstimes.com
or at 203"'731-3342.
