Five people were indicted accused of moving stolen goods in two separate New Haven area fencing operations, according to a press release from the US Attorney’s Office.
Officials said all five face federal charges that stemmed from an FBI investigation. According to a press release, George Connelly, Jr., 45, of New Haven, Paul William Muzyka, 46, of North Haven, and William Reidell, 40, of Branford, were each indicted June 23 on one count of conspiracy and multiple counts of interstate transportation of stolen property.
Andrew Sacco, 43, of East Haven and Matthew Harwood, 42, of Stratford were each indicted July 7 on one count of conspiracy and multiple counts of interstate transportation of stolen property. Both indictments were released today, according to officials.
According to the first indictment, Connelly and Muzka operated a licensed secondhand store called Ace Amusements at 42 Kimberly Avenue in New Haven. The document alleges that the pair knowingly purchased stolen property from “boosters” – who were typically shoplifters with opiod addictions - then resold the stolen goods at Ace Amusements and online. Reidell is accused of purchasing stolen property from Connelly and Muzyka then reselling it online.
Sacco and Harwood are accused of knowingly purchasing stolen property from boosters and reselling the property online, officials said. Their indictment alleges that they rented cars for boosters to assist with the crime.
Connecticut State Police, the United States Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the Connecticut Department of Correction, the Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney’s Office, and the New Haven, North Haven, Milford, West Haven, Wallingford, Hamden and Orange Police Departments all assisted in this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and John T. Pierpont, Jr. are the prosecutors in this case.
