Month: January 2014

(Bridgeport, CT – Jan. 17, 2014) – A 19-year-old faces first-degree robbery charges after an armed robbery on Maplewood Avenue Thursday evening.

Officer Anthony Gianpoalo responded to an armed robbery in the 900 block at 7:30 p.m. The victim, a 21-year-old male, stated that he and a female friend walked to a corner store for some food and other items and then walked back to the female friend’s apartment building. They were accosted by two armed people on the second –floor landing. The man had his wallet and phone stolen. The female also apparently had her phone taken.

Gianpoalo and Officers Adam Roscoe and Douglas Bepko interviewed the two victims and other people who might have information about the crime. With help from the community, police later determined a possible identity of one of the suspects.

After a radio broadcast, Officer Jeremy Kelly observed the suspect, Torey Lewis, of Bridgeport, walking with a female. Lewis was identified as one of the robbers and charged with first-degree larceny. His bond is set at $75,000.

The investigation remains ongoing.

(Bridgeport, CT – Jan. 17, 2014) – Police arrested three women Wednesday night in a sting operation at an illegal massage parlor.

Members of the police Tactical Narcotics Team conducted an undercover operation at the American Asian Modeling Studio at 3853 Main St.

The officers, dressed in civilian clothes, entered the location at about 10 p.m. and spoke to a woman through a barred door. They received a quoted price for both massage and sexual services, but were told to come back because the woman working that night was busy with another client.

The officers returned some time later and gained entry. Back up officers arrived and arrested three women.

Jo Hall Kum, 53, and Yongyul Kim, 75, were charged with promoting prostitution and for failing to have a state massage establishment license.

Chuyoung Jang, 46, was charged with prostitution and with state licensing violations.

Their bonds were set at $2,500 each.

Left to right: Kim, Kum, and Jang

On 1/16/2014, Anand Amin, age 24, of Catherine Street, Rocky Hill, CT. was arrested by Fairfield Police Detectives for Larceny in the First Degree by Extortion and Criminal Attempt to Commit Larceny in the First Degree. The arrest was the culmination of a 5 month investigation by Detectives Rilling and Caruso into a fake modeling agency scheme devised by Amin.

As part of the scheme, Amin would pose online as a female talent scout for the fictitious “Gucci Top Modeling” company. Applicants were promised large sums of money for modeling work, however, as part of the application process, they were required to submit their biographical information, pay a fee and submit nude and/or semi nude photos of themselves. Numerous applicants who did so were then coerced into paying additional sums of money, and/or perform sexual acts with Amin to prevent the public release of the photos. His taunts included threats to forward the photos/videos to friends, parents, university officials and law enforcement.

There was no legitimate modeling aspect to this scheme. Victims never received modeling work, nor was the money they deposited with Amin ever refunded.    

Detective Rilling first learned of the scheme when he was contacted by a victim, a former Sacred Heart University student. The initial information ultimately lead to the execution of search warrants at Amin’s Rocky Hill home which not only corroborated the victim’s account, but lead to the identification of additional victims.  

Amin was held in lieu of $100,000 bond and is due to appear in court on 1/30/14.

Victims of the scheme who have not already been contacted by detectives are encouraged to contact the Detective Bureau at 203-254-4840.