Waterbury State's Attorney Connelly in Federal Probe
Things are on the boil in Waterbury, where longtime symbol of probity State's Attorney John A. Connelly is said to be the subject of a federal grand jury investigation into his relationship with a prominent local defense attorney.
According to several sources who asked not to be identified, the feds are looking into whether Connelly's ties with Atty. Martin Minnella have grown improperly close, and whether prosecutorial behavior in certain court cases can be connected - directly or indirectly - to gifts, vacations and other emoluments. The sources say federal investigators have seized records from both Minnella and Connelly, and that the list of potential witnesses is growing. Tom Carson, a spokesman at the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Haven, said only, "We can neither confirm nor deny the existence of a grand jury investigation."
Connelly has been on the job in Waterbury since the 1980s. Over 25 years, he has developed a reputation as a take-no-prisoners prosecutor who has, among other things, sought, and won, the death penalty in several big cases. For his part, Minnella has never been one to shy away from the limelight or to take on difficult, often unsavory cases.
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Reader Comments:
Last year the owners of the largest driving school in the state had their case that involved over 100 felony counts pleaded out in Waterbury Superior Court---- See Hartford Courant Editorial ---SCANDAL NETS TIMID JUSTICE-- The whole case was an embarrassment to State officials up to and including at least two Governors (Rowland and Rell) and who knows how many DMV commissioners who for years allowed thousands of under trained teens on our roads and failed to act. I sure wish someone would review that case. Attoney Generals office has been investigating for way to long with no outcome in site.
Jim Ricci
ABUSE OF JUDICIAL POSITIONS and lawyers who use clients for illegal purposes are a sad sight in the outlook of CT courts. Waterbury has made its mark on the map with the history of politics. So now we are back to that again. State Atty P.Griffin and his prominent lawyer buddy Atty Martin Minnella have got their hands dirty and have played a role in the recent alleged home invasion case in Naugatuck. This case has sent 3 men to prison for 10 plus yrs. The newspapers had all info relating to the actual events and the involvement of these 2 men but have refused to print any of it. There is a recorded conversation between Atty Minnella and the parent of Marc that reveals the facts that this man was sent to secure shell casings from guns that were being sold on the street .He was sent by Griffin and Minnella and the ATF He was to bring the casings to them and they were going to give him $3000.00 to make an under cover purchase .For this Marc was going to have previous charges in his police record cleared and he had planned to relocate. Marc trusted them and was willing to help them and in turn they left him out to dry. They both have denied their part and have lied to save their own butts. Prosecutor Connelly was working to force Marc into taking an offer by threatening him with 15 yrs for an alleged drug charge that was never tried in a court.