United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

CARTING COMPANY OWNER PLEADS GUILTY TO DESTRUCTION OF EVIDENCE CHARGE

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JASON MANAFORT, age 37, of Doral Lane, Southington, Connecticut, pleaded guilty today before Senior United States District Judge Ellen Bree Burns in New Haven to one count of an Indictment charging him with destruction of property to prevent its seizure. MANAFORT is an owner and operator of CWPM, a carting company located in Plainville, Connecticut.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, on July 20, 2005, federal law enforcement agents searched the offices of CWPM pursuant to a search and seizure warrant. The search occurred on the second day of searches being executed in connection with the Government’s investigation into the waste-hauling industry in Connecticut and eastern New York. In pleading guilty, MANAFORT admitted that, prior to the search, he removed a computer from his office and discarded it. MANAFORT did so to prevent federal authorities from seizing the computer.

On June 8, 2006, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an Indictment charging MANAFORT and several other individuals and businesses on various charges stemming from this investigation. Today, MANAFORT pleaded guilty to Count 51 of the Indictment.

Judge Burns has scheduled sentencing for August 30, 2007, at which time MANAFORT faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. The United States Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Connecticut Department of Correction have provided critical assistance in the Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Gustafson, Raymond F. Miller, Henry K. Kopel and Anthony E. Kaplan are prosecuting this case.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov