United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

INVESTIGATION INTO BAIL BOND INDUSTRY RESULTS IN TWO MORE ARRESTS

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JILL D’ANTONA, 36, of Seymour, and CYNTHIA NIXON, also known as Cynthia Hayward-McClendon, 50, of New Haven, were arrested today on federal gratuity/bribery charges.  The arrests stem from an ongoing federal corruption probe into the Connecticut bail bond industry.  D’ANTONA is employed as a State of Connecticut judicial marshal working at the Courthouse at 121 Elm Street in New Haven.  NIXON is also employed at the Elm Street Courthouse as a clerk at the State of Connecticut Public Defender’s Office.

D’ANTONA and NIXON appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Joan G. Margolis in New Haven and were released on $25,000 non-surety bonds.  The Court scheduled a probable cause hearing for December 21, 2007.

D’ANTONA and NIXON are charged with theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.  The charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney O’Connor stressed that a Complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Each defendant is entitled to have this matter presented to a grand jury and, in the event an indictment is returned, she is entitled to a trial at which it will be the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nora R. Dannehy.

CONTACT:

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