Alexander Bergen, 23, of Danbury, is headed to federal prison for stealing more than $280,000 from investors who trusted him with their money. U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant sentenced Bergen today in Hartford to 24 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, after he admitted to bilking approximately 10 individuals through his now-defunct internet business, CT Wholesale.
Bergen claimed his company profited by buying electronics and reselling them at a markup. Starting in 2013, he began soliciting investment funds, promising returns and signing written agreements stating that the money would be used exclusively to purchase inventory. Investors believed their cash was funding a real business model—instead, Bergen used at least $150,000 to cover personal credit card bills, splurging on luxury dinners, high-end shopping, and travel.
The betrayal ran deep. Court records show Bergen collected over $300,000 in total from trusting individuals, many of whom expected their principal back with profit in a set timeframe. Instead, he returned less than $40,000—leaving victims holding shattered promises and mounting losses. His deceit unraveled as investors demanded answers and found no trace of the inventory or profits he’d sworn existed.
Judge Bryant ordered restitution in the exact amount of $282,609.71, a number that reflects the cold arithmetic of betrayal. While Bergen pleaded guilty on August 3, 2015, to one count of interstate transportation of money obtained by fraud, he remained free on bond—until March 7, 2016, when he violated release conditions and was taken into custody. His bond was revoked, and he’s been locked up ever since.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the probe, with crucial support from the Bethel and Greenwich Police Departments. Investigators peeled back layers of financial deception, tracing investor money from wire transfers to luxury stores and five-star restaurants. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry, who emphasized the damage done to individuals who risked hard-earned cash on a scheme built on lies.
This case is a stark reminder: even small-scale fraud can devastate lives. Bergen’s dreams of fast money crashed into the reality of a federal sentence. For his victims, the cost won’t be measured just in dollars—but in the trust that was spent, never to return.
Related Federal Cases
- Danbury’s Ian Parker Bick Gets 3 Years for $480K Investor Scam · Rhode Island
- Carlton P. Cabot Jailed 10 Years for $17M Elder Investor Scam · New York
- Robert Terry Bruce Sentenced in Sandy Hook Charity Scam · Tennessee
- Raymond Morales Gets 7 Years for Oxycodone Prescription Scam · Connecticut
- David Quatrella Admits Role in $272K STOLI Scam · Connecticut
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
