Connecticut State Representative Raghib Allie-Brennan (D) was taken into custody on Monday, June 23, for allegedly shoplifting at a Target store located in Bethel, Connecticut.
The Bethel Police Department reported that this incident was not an isolated case. Officers informed NBC CT that store personnel had previously recognized Allie-Brennan in relation to “prior unreported larcenies.”
Following a review of security footage that purportedly depicted him attempting to exit the store without paying for $26.69 worth of goods, police arrested Allie-Brennan.
In a recent statement, Allie-Brennan asserted that the two items in question were not scanned during his use of the self-checkout, attributing the oversight to the large number of items he was purchasing.
“I was in a hurry to deliver items to my grandmother in the hospital, the store lacked bags, and I was managing multiple purchases,” he stated. “While I do not have a criminal record, I accept full responsibility for the mistake and am navigating the legal processes to resolve the issue promptly and respectfully.
“I respect the law and Target’s authority to implement their loss prevention policy, and I remain dedicated to serving my community with transparency and integrity,” Allie-Brennan further remarked.
According to law enforcement, Allie-Brennan received a misdemeanor summons for sixth-degree larceny and is scheduled to appear in court on July 1, as reported by Mediaite.
In a related incident, Christopher Flanagan, a Democratic state representative from Massachusetts, was arrested this week and accused of embezzling tens of thousands of dollars “to finance personal and political expenses,” which included “psychic services.”
Flanagan, 37, from Dennis, faced five counts of wire fraud and one count of falsifying records. He pleaded not guilty to all charges in federal court in Boston on Friday afternoon and was subsequently released, according to CBS News.
In addition to his role as a state legislator, Flanagan held the position of executive director of the Cape Cod Home Builders Association (HBA). The U.S. Attorney’s office indicated that this position compensated him with a salary that…
Despite holding two positions, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley remarked that Flanagan was experiencing significant financial hardship, characterized by substantial credit card debt, overdue mortgage payments, and considerable bank overdraft fees.
The allegations indicate that he misappropriated $36,000 from the HBA through five separate wire transfers conducted between November 2021 and January 2023.
“The charges brought today against Massachusetts State Representative Christopher Flanagan expose a shocking violation of public trust,” Foley stated in a release on the DOJ website. “As per the indictment, Mr. Flanagan deceived the very organization he was meant to support – purportedly diverting tens of thousands of dollars into his own accounts to settle personal debts, purchase luxury goods, and fund his political campaign.
“He is accused of embezzling funds and then taking extreme measures to conceal his actions, even going to the extent of creating false identities to mislead those who questioned his behavior. This alleged scheme was meticulously planned at every level. No individual should gain power through deceit, and the citizens of Massachusetts deserve more,” Foley further commented.
“The indictment of Christopher Flanagan underscores the IRS – Criminal Investigations’ dedication to eliminating public corruption at all governmental tiers,” stated Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office.
“Flanagan not only misappropriated funds from his employer for personal gain but also to finance his campaign in pursuit of elected office. He betrayed his constituents, who relied on him to uphold the law, by utilizing embezzled money to secure a position as a State Representative and subsequently obstructing the investigation into his fraudulent activities,” Larco-Ward concluded.
