BRINSON LAW LICENSE SUSPENDED, MORE TROUBLES COMING

As reported here first last week, former Hartford City Councilman and now former attorney, Corey Brinson has had his law license suspended by the State of Connecticut. You can read the original posting here https://wethepeoplehartford.blogspot.com/2016/11/more-trouble-for-former-hartford.html

The suspension order was signed on November 10, 2016 by Superior Court Judge, the honorable  Antonio Robaina. The suspension is apparently effective immediately and the Court appointed a trustee to oversee Brinson's accounts and client funds.

 The suspension would seem to be the least of Brinson's worries now though. Brinson is allegedly embroiled deep in a federal investigation over Federal Charges of alleged money laundering, stock fraud  and other illegal schemes involving millions of dollars You can read more about the Federal allegations in this article in the Journal Inquirer http://m.journalinquirer.com/mobile/article_e2f1cb7e-a666-11e6-980d-3b8a69ac1b87.html

According to sources familiar with the Federal investigation, it is expected that Brinson will plead guilty to charges resulting from the investigation. That guilty plea will also apparently involve incarceration in a Federal Prison , according to sources, for potentially 2 years. That plea could be as soon as next week in Hartford Federal Court.

The choice of the trustee is also somewhat surprising. Judge Robaina appointed attorney Devaughn Ward as the trustee to oversee Brinson's matters. Devaughn Ward was recently apparently let go from Hartford City Hall where he served as the Inter-Governmnetal Affairs Liasion for Mayor Luke Bronin for less than a year.

. Although Ward is supposed to bring some order to Brinson's financial affairs, Ward is currently subject of a lawsuit by People's Bank for a loan People's claims Ward defaulted on. Ward \has also apparently ignored court orders for weekly payments to People's Bank. Ward and his finanacial records will be the subject of an "EJD" hearing in December.

 EJD or Examination of Judgement Debtor  is a legal procedure that will force Ward to present all of his financial records to attorneys for People's bank to help determine why Ward has not repaid the loan and what financial means he has available to repay the loan, under oath and supervision of the Court. Hopefully Ward can have better control and management over Brinson's finances. You can read that order below for a better understanding of the EJD process

Also interesting is that even though Ward is a licensed attorney in Connecticut, he is not affiliated with an actual law firm and appears to operate out of his apartment at 55 Trumbull Street, as reflected in the documents on the Connecticut Judicial website.

You can read and review the Ward vs People's Bank complaint here http://civilinquiry.jud.ct.gov/CaseDetail/PublicCaseDetail.aspx?DocketNo=HHDCV156058463S

Brinson Suspension  on Scribd

Brinson Suspension Order  on Scribd

Brinson Suspension Order by kevinhfd on Scribd

Ward Ejd Order  on Scribd

FROM HPD: MORE GUNS OFF THE STREETS

On November 9, 2016 Hartford Police Department Detectives from the Vice and Narcotics Unit conducted a surveillance operation within the Branford Street area of Hartford. This was in direct response to the numerous and recent shooting incidents from the area.

While conducting surveillance, Detectives observed a known suspect who was recently involved in a shooting,

traveling in a vehicle which was involved in a hand to hand drug transaction. HPD Detectives covertly followed the suspect vehicle. Detectives conducted a motor vehicle stop after a traffic violation was observed and to further the investigate the possible drug transaction. During the M/V stop, the passenger was observed to have a handgun magazine protruding from the front of his pants. Both the operator and passenger were removed from the vehicle and both were found to be in possession of a loaded handgun. Both the passenger and operator were charged with various weapons charges, including possession of a stolen handgun.

Arrested: Williams, Johnathan 31yo, 23 Ashley Rd. Windsor, CT

Charges: Possession of a high capacity magazine, Failure to use traffic signal.

Arrested: Weaver, Johnathan 27yo,  123 East Morningside Rd. Bloomfield, CT

CHARGES: Carrying pistol w/o a permit, Weapons in a M/V, Possession stolen firearm, Possession high cap.

magazine, Possession of controlled substance.

(R) Recovered: (1) Ruger 9mm pistol, (12) rounds in the magazine. (Pistol permit holder/Williams).

(R/E) Recovered stolen: (1) Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol, (9) rounds and a second loaded magazine containing 14 rounds. Stolen 6-30-2009 Westbrook Troop F

FROM HPD: HOW DO GUNS END UP ON HARTFORD'S STREET'S

On July 28, 2016, at approximately 10:28pm, Hartford Police Department Patrol Officers responded to the area of 146 Mather Street in response to a Shot Spotter activation reporting the detection of seven gunshots (HPD case 16-21465).

Detectives from the Hartford Shooting Task Force responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. The  subsequent on scene investigation led to the development of a suspect, Felix Tosado, as the shooter. On the same date STF Detectives located Tosado at his residence, 68 Pliny Street, and during the investigation he was placed under arrest and charged in connection to the shooting. Further investigation led to the recovery of the firearm utilized

during the incident, a Berretta Tomcat .32 caliber handgun.

A second firearm, a Colt Task Force Corsair .45 caliber handgun, was also recovered. The recovered firearms were found to be reported stolen in connection to two separate incidents. STF Detectives developed information regarding Tosado illegally purchasing the firearms during two unknown dates in July of 2016. Detectives learned that Tosado purchased the guns from a person he knows only by the nickname "Electrical Man." Detectives also learned that “Electrical Man” is known to be drug dependent as he sold the firearms  to Tosado for a combined payment of narcotics and money on two separate occasions.

STF Detectives then initiated a secondary investigation in regards to the origin and illegal sale of the recovered firearms.

The recovered Beretta Tomcat .32 caliber handgun was found to have been stolen during a burglary that occurred in Bristol, CT sometime between the dates of July 19, 2016 and July 25, 2016. It was found that a suspect had been listed in the initial burglary investigation, Patrick Cistulli. Cistulli was found to be a convicted felon with an extensive arrest history who resides in Bristol, CT. The Hartford STF Detectives were able to further investigate the incident resulting in the positive identification of Cistulli as the suspect in the illegal firearm sales to Tosado.

On October 12, 2016, an arrest warrant was drafted and submitted to G.A. 14 charging Patrick Cistulli with

Illegal Transfer of a Firearm (2 counts), Criminal Possession of a Firearm, and Pistol without a Permit. The

arrest warrant was later approved by a Superior Court Judge with a judge set cash bond of $50,000.

On November 4, 2016, at approximately 1140 hours, a Hartford Police Community Service Officer observed a man

panhandling in the area of 255 Asylum Street. As the Community Service Officer approached the panhandler he immediately recognized the man to be Patrick Cistulli. The HPD CSO took Cistulli into custody without incident.

Patrick Cistulli was found to have two other active arrest warrants for larceny related charges with a combined

bond of $55,000. Cistulli was transported to the the HPD  PSC to complete the booking and processing procedures.

Cistulli declined to provide a statement in reference to the illegal firearm sales investigation and is currently

being held on a combined bond of $105,000.

Arrested: Patrick Cistulli (dob 3/6/87) of 78 Constance Lane, Bristol, CT

Charges: Illegal Transfer of a Firearm (2 counts), Criminal Possession of a Firearm, and Carrying a Pistol

without a Permit.