United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

ANSONIA MAN SENTENCED TO 70 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR PARTICIPATING IN TWO JEWELRY STORE ARMED ROBBERIES

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANTHONY CURRAL, 31, of Ansonia, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Ellen Bree Burns in New Haven to 70 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his involvement in two jewelry store armed robberies.  On February 5, 2008, CURRAL pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, CURRAL, along with Charles Kertesz, participated in the armed robberies of Hannoush Jewelry in Natick, Massachusetts, on July 20, 2005, and Lux Bond and Green in South Windsor, Connecticut, on February 1, 2006.  On each occasion, Charles Kertesz entered the store dressed in women’s clothing and wearing a wig.  He then brandished a firearm and forcibly stole diamond rings and other jewelry.  CURRAL served as a getaway driver for both robberies.

On February 19, Kertesz pleaded guilty to federal charges related to these and two other jewelry store robberies.  He awaits sentencing.

Today, Judge Burns ordered CURRAL, jointly and severally with Kertesz, to pay restitution in the amount of $345,777.88 to the victim jewelry stores and their insurance company.

CURRAL has been detained since his arrest on September 25, 2007.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – New Haven Violent Crimes Safe Streets Task Force, and the members of local law enforcement agencies including the Greenwich, South Windsor, Glastonbury, Bridgeport, Ansonia, Shelton and Natick (MA) Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Kaplan and Assistant United States Attorney Paul Murphy.

CONTACT:

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