Latest news with #Hartford-based
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hartford woman sentenced in Vermont for drug trafficking
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WTNH) — A Hartford woman was sentenced to 126 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, last week for her role in drug trafficking in Battleboro, Vermont. Linoshka Barbosa, 25, also known as Lily and Lilz, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, crack cocaine and powder cocaine, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. She has been detained since her guilty plea on Oct. 15, 2024. Waterbury man sentenced to 5 years for role in drug trafficking ring According to evidence and testimony, Barbosa was a member of the Hartford-based gang, 'GMS' and one of the leaders of a drug distribution operation in the Battleboro area involving cocaine, cocaine base, fentanyl, and numerous firearms between March 2020-Oct. 2023. Barbosa often used a driver from a ride-hailing company to transport large quantities of narcotics to Battleboro. She hired several people in Vermont and enlisted several other gang members from Connecticut to assist her in Vermont and the group dealt drugs from various locations. Barbosa and her associates traded drugs for guns, and some of those guns were used in shootings in Hartford, including a double homicide in August 2023. On March 30, 2023, a man was shot during a drug dispute at 14 Birge Street in Brattleboro. An investigation later revealed that Elias Lopez, a member of the conspiracy along with Barbosa, was involved in the shooting. Lopez has since pleaded guilty in state court for his role in the shooting, and will be sentenced in federal court on June 2. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
CT man found guilty in connection with narcotics operation involving ‘large amount of fentanyl'
A federal grand jury has found a Torrington man guilty on charges tied to a drug-trafficking ring known to authorities to move large amounts of fentanyl and other narcotics. The guilty verdict against Mario Pascual-Aquino, 44, was handed down on Monday in federal court in Hartford following a trial that began last Wednesday, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut. He was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, officials said. Evidence presented at trial showed that the DEA Hartford Task Force investigated a Hartford-based drug trafficking organization involved in the distribution of a 'large amount' of fentanyl and other narcotics, according to authorities. The group was also reportedly involved in transporting and laundering cash made from the drug sales, officials said. During the investigation, authorities made a coordinated traffic stop in January 2022 involving a minivan and seized $92,000 from a hidden compartment, officials said. The investigation reportedly revealed that Harold Luis Del Orbe, also known as 'Jaro,' was directing others in the minivan to conduct narcotics-related transactions on his behalf, according to authorities. On Nov. 16, 2022, investigators carried out a search warrant at an apartment on Putnam Heights in Hartford and seized about 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl, a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun and unspecified items commonly associated with processing and packaging narcotics, according to federal officials. Pascual-Aquino, Del Orbe and others were in the apartment at the time, officials said. Pascual-Aquino is set to face sentencing on Aug. 13, when he faces a minimum mandatory 10-year prison term and a maximum of life in prison, according to federal authorities. He was remanded into custody when the guilty verdict was returned. Del Orbe pleaded guilty to related charges and was sentenced on May 6 to 10 years in prison, according to officials.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
A CT driver was known for his safety record. Now he's won a national award for it.
A Connecticut man is no stranger to safety awards. But for John Griffin, a driver for All Waste, Inc., who had company safety awards under his belt, there was something higher to reach for. So he did. Now, the Hartford-based driver was named the 2025 Driver of the Year by the National Waste & Recycling Association. He recently received his award at a NWRA awards gala ceremony in Las Vegas. Griffin received the national award for 'exceptional safety, service, and professionalism among more than 140,000 drivers nationwide.' Griffin, 51, is a Hartford native and now resides in Wethersfield with his wife, Victoria, and their two sons Nolan, 14, and Declan, 9. Griffin, a Prince Tech grad, has been a commercial driver for 30 years. He drives 500 to 1,600 miles a week over 60 hours with five 12-hour days, from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. 'I liked the idea of being out on my own listening to tunes all day, so I got my CDL, and I fell into the life of a commercial driver,' Griffin said, in a phone interview. Griffin said after some mistakes early in his career, he emphasized safety and not being in a hurry. 'That's when mistakes happen,' Griffin said. 'Over the years, I've won a ton of internal company safety awards, but we decided to take a shot nationwide.' 'My manager called me into his office in March with the owner and the GM and I thought to myself that was going to be really good or really bad,' he added. 'But everyone started clapping for me because I had won the driver of the year. It was pretty awesome.' Griffin gave a two-minute speech in Las Vegas in front of a crowd of 900. 'For what I do every day and to be recognized — it was nothing short of awesome,' Griffin said. According to the NWRA, the Driver of the Year awards 'honor divers who operate safely, responsibly and with distinction enhancing both the image and safety culture of the waste industry.' 'Driver safety and retention remain among the most critical indicators of success in our industry,' said Michael E. Hoffman, president and CEO of NWRA. 'This year's honorees demonstrate an exceptional record of professionalism and performance. Congratulations to all of our winners and honorable mention recipients.' A panel of judges selected the winners through a scoring process based on letters or recommendation, route, equipment difficulty and safety records. In all, there were 42 drivers recognized in Las Vegas last week. 'These individuals perform under some of the most demanding conditions while providing essential services across the country every single day,' said Don Ross, chairman of the NWRA Board of Trustees, in a statement. 'We are excited to recognize their contributions during our new annual awards gala, a celebration of safety and service.'
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nassau Financial Group Expands Insurtech Program with New Capital Commitment
HARTFORD, Conn., April 21, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nassau Financial Group ("Nassau"), a leader in Connecticut's Insurtech community, today announced it is expanding its Nassau Reimagine program to support early and mid-stage startups with a new $10 million capital commitment. The program will target companies in Insurtech, Fintech, Retiretech, and other related sectors in Nassau's primary business locations, including Connecticut and New York. "We are excited to expand our Nassau Reimagine program with additional capital and resource support. Our program has supported over 100 startups in our communities since its inception in 2019, as a first-of-its-kind among Hartford-based insurance companies. Through this added commitment, we look forward to enabling technological innovation for the insurance industry with new companies in our communities," said Phil Gass, Chairman and CEO of Nassau. Established in 2019, Nassau Reimagine has provided resources, support, and connections to more than 100 startups and scaleups who are actively transforming the Insurtech and Retiretech landscapes. It also has led a number of Retiretech conferences, Hartford Innovation Week, and the TalentBridge Program in partnership with University of Connecticut. The capital commitment is the latest expansion of Nassau's mission to advance innovation in the insurance industry. In addition to leveraging relationships within its existing Reimagine network, Nassau will work with key public and private constituents in identifying investment opportunities, including state economic development programs, academic institutions, industry organizations and other accelerators and incubators. Interested startups can learn more at Nassau Reimagine. About Nassau Financial GroupBased in Hartford, Connecticut, Nassau Financial Group is a growth focused and digitally enabled financial services company with a fully integrated platform across insurance and asset management. Nassau's fixed annuities provide comprehensive and customizable retirement solutions, delivered with advanced digital capabilities and a team dedicated to delivering industry-leading service. Nassau Asset Management LLC and its subsidiaries oversee the assets of Nassau's insurance companies and offer specialty investment strategies to third-party clients. These strategies include public and private debt, CLO debt and equity, real estate debt and equity, and alternatives. Nassau was founded in 2015 and has grown to $24.8 billion in assets under management, $1.7 billion in total adjusted capital, and about 370,000 policies and contracts as of December 31, 2024. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts Nassau Financial Nicholas Lence Communicationsjasmin@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
21-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Nassau Financial Group Expands Insurtech Program with New Capital Commitment
HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nassau Financial Group ('Nassau'), a leader in Connecticut's Insurtech community, today announced it is expanding its Nassau Reimagine program to support early and mid-stage startups with a new $10 million capital commitment. The program will target companies in Insurtech, Fintech, Retiretech, and other related sectors in Nassau's primary business locations, including Connecticut and New York. 'We are excited to expand our Nassau Reimagine program with additional capital and resource support. Our program has supported over 100 startups in our communities since its inception in 2019, as a first-of-its-kind among Hartford-based insurance companies. Through this added commitment, we look forward to enabling technological innovation for the insurance industry with new companies in our communities,' said Phil Gass, Chairman and CEO of Nassau. Established in 2019, Nassau Reimagine has provided resources, support, and connections to more than 100 startups and scaleups who are actively transforming the Insurtech and Retiretech landscapes. It also has led a number of Retiretech conferences, Hartford Innovation Week, and the TalentBridge Program in partnership with University of Connecticut. The capital commitment is the latest expansion of Nassau's mission to advance innovation in the insurance industry. In addition to leveraging relationships within its existing Reimagine network, Nassau will work with key public and private constituents in identifying investment opportunities, including state economic development programs, academic institutions, industry organizations and other accelerators and incubators. Interested startups can learn more at Nassau Reimagine. About Nassau Financial Group Based in Hartford, Connecticut, Nassau Financial Group is a growth focused and digitally enabled financial services company with a fully integrated platform across insurance and asset management. Nassau's fixed annuities provide comprehensive and customizable retirement solutions, delivered with advanced digital capabilities and a team dedicated to delivering industry-leading service. Nassau Asset Management LLC and its subsidiaries oversee the assets of Nassau's insurance companies and offer specialty investment strategies to third-party clients. These strategies include public and private debt, CLO debt and equity, real estate debt and equity, and alternatives. Nassau was founded in 2015 and has grown to $24.8 billion in assets under management, $1.7 billion in total adjusted capital, and about 370,000 policies and contracts as of December 31, 2024. For more information, visit
