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Friday, March 29, 2024

Union treasurer pleads guilty to bribery plot

HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - A former union treasurer pleaded guilty July 24 to plotting to bribe a public official.

Harry Raymond Soucy, 60 and of Naugatuck, Conn., is a former employee of the Connecticut Department of Correction and also served as the treasurer of Local 387 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. He pleaded guilty to one count of plotting to bribe a public official, one count of conspiring to make false statements to the Federal Election Commission and obstructing the FEC's enforcement of federal campaign finance laws.

This indictment was part of a larger superseding indictment in which a federal grand jury charged seven individuals with conspiracy and other federal offenses related to an alleged attempt to influence Christopher Donovan, a member of the Connecticut General Assembly who is also candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives by making illegal campaign contributions to him.

The others accused are:

-Robert Braddack, Jr., the former Finance Director for Donovan's campaign;

-Benjamin Hogan, an employee of Smoke House Tobacco, a roll your own smoke shop with two locations in Waterbury;

-David Moffa, the former President of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 387, representing employees of the Connecticut Department of Correction;

-Daniel Monteiro, an owner of a company located in Waterbury;

-Joshua Nassi, the former campaign manager for Donovan's campaign;

-Paul Rogers, a co-owner of Smoke House Tobacco; and

-George Tirado, a co-owner of Smoke House Tobacco.

According to the Department of Justice, the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to direct $27,500 in conduit campaign contributions, which are contributions made by one person in the name of another person. This was to conceal the fact that the individuals who were actually financing the payments had an interest in legislation that was expected to be introduced, and eventually was introduced, before the Connecticut General Assembly during the 2012 legislative session, the DOJ says.

"This indictment represents the Department of Justice's commitment to investigate and prosecute those who aim to corrupt our system of government and the electoral process," U.S. Attorney David Fein said.

"Eight individuals have been charged with conspiring to disguise the source of contributions to a federal campaign in order to concea la corrupt effort to influence legislation pending before the Connecticut General Assembly

"Mr. Soucy's guilty plea to bribery and false statement charges attests to the FBI's thorough investigation, which is ongoing."

Soucy could receive a maximum prison term of 20 years on the honest services fraud conviction and a maximum term of imprisonment of five years on the conspiracy conviction.

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