BRIDGEPORT, CT – Mitchell Anderson, 52, of Avon, is facing a potential 30-year stretch in federal prison after admitting today to a brazen scheme to defraud the City of Hartford out of over a million dollars connected to the redevelopment of Dillon Stadium. The guilty plea, entered before U.S. District Court Judge Stefan R. Underhill, brings a grim end – at least for now – to a scandal that exposed deep rot in the city’s attempt to lure a professional soccer team.
According to federal prosecutors, the scheme began in September 2014 when Hartford inked a $775,000 professional services agreement with Anderson’s company, Premier Sports Management Group (PSMG). The deal tasked PSMG with securing a pro soccer team and overseeing the $12 million Dillon Stadium overhaul. Anderson later partnered with an unnamed business associate, falsely claiming their firms had merged to streamline the project. It was all a house of cards built on lies and pilfered funds.
The con unfolded as Anderson submitted invoices to the city for legitimate PSMG subcontractors. But instead of ensuring those subcontractors were *actually* paid, Anderson and his partner allegedly diverted over $1 million in city funds into their own pockets and shell companies. They also submitted bogus invoices for work that was never performed, padding the bill with phantom expenses. The stolen funds weren’t used to build a stadium; they were funneled into personal expenses, a clear betrayal of public trust.
Anderson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud – carrying a maximum 20-year sentence – and one count of conducting illegal monetary transactions, a 10-year offense. Judge Underhill has set sentencing for May 1, 2017. Anderson has already agreed to make restitution totaling $1,134,595.37 to the City of Hartford and the subcontractors he stiffed. A slap on the wrist? We’ll see if the judge feels that’s enough.
The investigation, spearheaded by the Connecticut Public Corruption Task Force, involved a multi-agency effort including the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General. The Hartford Police Department also lent a hand, highlighting the local impact of this federal crime. Anderson was originally arrested on June 23, 2016, and remains free on a $100,000 bond – for now.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Karwan and Douglas Morabito are prosecuting the case. The Connecticut Public Corruption Task Force is urging citizens with information about public corruption to come forward, with a dedicated hotline at 203-238-0505. This case serves as a stark reminder: in Hartford, and everywhere else, those who exploit public funds for personal gain will face the consequences. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and bring you updates as they develop.
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Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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