By Mike Donoghue, republished with permission from the Caledonian-Record
The former president of Jay Peak resort is asking the federal court to strike a $250,000 restitution order in his EB-5 fraud case because he says newly provided evidence shows Vermont officials failed to act when told about serious investment problems for a proposed bio-medical facility in Newport.
Defense lawyers for William Stenger of Newport say in court records that state documents finally made available last month clearly confirm earlier beliefs that Vermont authorities were alerted in early 2015 about financial concerns by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Department of Financial Regulation officials at the time, including then-Commissioner Susan Donegan and her deputy Michael Pieciak, should never had allowed for the resumption of the marketing for a biomedical research facility planned for Newport, according to defense lawyers Brooks McArthur and David Williams of Gravel & Shea law firm in Burlington. Read more in today’s Caledonian-Record.
Other crime-related news sourced from police and media around the state:
Police pursuit of 100-MPH motorcycle – Drew Dudas, a 21-year-old resident of Lyndon, was arrested today after leading police on a high-speed chase on his motorcycle.
According to Officer Jason Harris, Dudas was traveling south on Vermont Route 114 at 73 mph in a 50 mph zone when Harris attempted to stop him. Instead, Dudas fled at speeds exceeding 100 mph, leading the pursuit to a home on Finney Drive, where he was eventually taken into custody without incident.
Dudas was transported to the Lyndonville Police Department, where he was processed and released with a citation for eluding a police officer. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 22. – Newport Dispatch
Contractor cited for home improvement fraud – James A. Martin, 44, of Barre was cited April 17 for home improvement fraud after he allegedly signed contracts with a Randolph home owner, collected deposits, but never completed the work, police say.
Martin operates Northern Build Pros, located in Barre. Police say the initial complaint was on March 13. He has been cited to appear in court May 3. – Vermont State Police
Heroin laced with fentanyl seized in Rutland – A 41-year-old man from East Wallingford was arrested this week following an incident in Rutland.
Police say they initiated a traffic stop after observing a traffic violation on West Street at around 8:00 p.m. on March 28. Police made contact with the driver, identified as Benjamin Bruno, who was observed leaving the Highlander Motel. Police deployed K9 Nash for a sniff of the vehicle, which resulted in an alert.
The vehicle was then seized pending the application of a search warrant.The search resulted in a seizure of suspected heroin laced with fentanyl, and methamphetamine.
On Thursday, Bruno turned himself into the Rutland City Police Department where he was taken into custody. He was processed for the charges of possession and control of heroin, and possession and control of methamphetamine. – Newport Dispatch
Categories: Crime
So, Mr. Stenger, your logic is that you shouldn’t have to pay restitution because the other guilty parties LET you commit fraud? You were only guilty because you were not stopped by those who knew what was going on? Well, looks like that’s the price you pay for being one of the fall guys. Look, the powers that be already let you out of jail early and $250,000 is just a drop in your bucket…you were in it up to your ears, accept responsibility like a big boy and pay the (not nearly big enough) restitution.
If you want to dance…you got to pay the fiddler.
Maybe Putney Pete will pay it for you, he certainly owes you
As has been asked many times before about Peter: what did he know, and when did he know it? The answer seems as easy to grasp as a night or two spent in Quiros’ NYC condo. Why hasn’t there been accountability?
Mr. Stenger, drop those dimes! As Federal testimony will be under oath and public record, the State emperor’s cloths will drop to the floor. The faint smell of RICO is growing stronger in the Green Mountains.