At least 10 people suspected of involvement in a theft and stolen goods trafficking operation, including owners, managers and employees at three pawn shops in Bristol, Torrington and Wolcott, have been arrested in a year-long multi-town police investigation.
The New Hartford resident state trooper's office launched an investigation a year ago " into an organized ring of thieves and fencing operations" in the Torrington, Bristol and Wolcott areas, state police said. Fencing is when a person buys stolen items from thieves to resell, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.
The case was transferred to the Western District Major Crime Squad, who identified the Coliseum Trading Post in Torrington, Coliseum Pawn in Bristol and Gold N Pawn in Wolcott as places where some of the theft and fencing suspects work.
The following 10 people were arrested on multiple charges.
As a result of the investigation, the following individuals have been arrested throughout the day Sunday March 15, 2015 by warrant:
- Alfredo Viscariello, 42, of Torrington, the co-owner of the Coliseum Trading Post in Torrington and Coliseum Pawn, formerly Ez Money, in Bristol was charged with first-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny. He was released after posting his $75,000 bond and is due in Bristol Superior Court on March 23.
- Nicholas Daddona, 38, of Watertown, co-owner of Coliseum Trading Post and Coliseum Pawn, was charged with first-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny. He was released after posting a $75,000 bond and is due in Bristol Superior Court.
- Kristopher Kelsey, 30, of Torrington, manager of Coliseum Pawn, was charged with second-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny. He was released after posting a $75,000 bond and is due in Bristol Superior Court on March 23.
- David Brignolo, 43, of Goshen, an employee of Coliseum Trading Post, was charged with third-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit fifth-degree larceny, criminal attempt at fifth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit fifth-degree larceny and criminal attempt at fifth-degree larceny. He was held on a $75,000 bond and is due in Bristol Superior Court on March 16.
- Justin Root, 25, of Winsted, merchandise "booster" for Coliseum Trading Post, was charged with third-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny. He was released after posting a $25,000 bond and is due in Bristol Superior Court on March 23.
- Melissa Bogert, 21, of Winsted, merchandise "booster" for Coliseum Trading Post, was charged with third-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny. Bogert was held on a $25,000 bond and is due in Bristol Superior Court on March 16.
- Adam Dellabianca, 29, of Bristol, co-owner of Gold N Pawn in Wolcott, was charged with illegal sale of narcotics, possession of narcotics, conspiracy to commit illegal sale of narcotics, second-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny, illegal sale or transfer of assault weapon, conspiracy illegal sale or transfer of assault weapon, possession of an assault weapon, false statement in connection with the sale or transfer of firearm other than pistol 29-37e, Conspiracy false Statement in connection w/ sale or transfer of firearm other than pistol, intimidating a witness, breach of peace, criminal attempt at fifth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny and criminal attempt at sixth-degree larceny. He was held on a $100,000 bond and is due in Bristol Superior Court on March 16
- Jesse Hovanesian, 27, of Bristol, co-owner of Gold N Pawn in Wolcott, was charged with illegal sale or transfer of an assault weapon, conspiracy to commit illegal sale or transfer of an assault weapon, possession of an assault weapon, false statement in connection with the sale or transfer of a firearm other than a pistol, two counts of second-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit illegal sale of a narcotic substance, criminal attempt to commit the sale of narcotics, conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny and criminal attempt to commit sixth-degree larceny. He was held in custody on a $100,000 bond and is due in Bristol Superior court on March 16.
- James Myers, 34, of Bristol, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to make a false statement in connection with the sale or transfer of a firearm other than a pistol, two counts of making a false statement in connection with the sale or transfer of a firearm other than a pistol, two counts of possession of a prohibited assault rifle and conspiracy to possess a prohibited assault rifle. He was released after posting a $100,000 bond and is due in Bristol Superior Court on March 23.
- Christal Myers, 31, of Bristol, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to make a false statement in connection with the sale or transfer of a firearm other than a pistol, two counts of conspiracy to purchase a firearm with the intent to transfer to a prohibited person, two counts of making a false statement in connection with the sale or transfer of a firearm other than a pistol, two counts of purchasing a firearm with the intent of transferring to a prohibited person, two counts of conspiracy to sell or transfer a prohibited assault weapon, two counts of selling or transferring a prohibited assault weapon, two counts of conspiracy of possession of an assault weapon prohibited and two counts of possession of assault prohibited. She was released after posting a $100,000 bond and is due in Bristol Superior Court on March 23.
Torrington, Winsted and Wolcott police, FBI based in New Haven, the Lowes Corporation Loss Prevention Unit, the Home Depot Corporate Investigation Division, the Chief State's Attorney's Office Statewide Prosecution Unit, the Litchfield State's Attorney's Office, the Connecticut State Police the Special Licensing and Firearms Unit, the Computer Crimes Unit, the Central Criminal Intelligence Unit, the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, the Statewide Narcotics Task Force and state police from Troop B and Troop L barracks assisted with the investigation.
