Press Releases
10/24/2023
Former West Hartford Attorney Sentenced on Forgery and Larceny Charges
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Rocky Hill, CT) – A former West Hartford attorney was sentenced today for forging various documents and stealing more than $250,000 from a political action committee he oversaw as its treasurer.
Michael J. Cronin, age 60, who now resides in Avon, was sentenced in Hartford Superior Court by the Honorable David P. Gold to a total effective sentence of seven years to serve, execution suspended after six months, followed by three years of probation. In June, Cronin pleaded guilty to one count of Larceny in the First Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-122(a)(2), and four counts of Forgery in the Second Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-139.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Cronin was treasurer of the Senate Republican Leadership Committee, a political action committee, from 2007 until 2018 when irregularities were detected. Subsequent investigation determined that from 2012 to 2018 Cronin took approximately $267,800 from the committee for his personal use. Cronin was terminated from his position as counsel for the Senate Republican Office at the Connecticut General Assembly following the discovery of the irregularities with the committee funds.
During the investigation of that case, Inspectors from the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney learned that Cronin had forged the signature of his ex-wife on various refinancing documents and a deed relating to the marital home. They also learned that Cronin forged the signature of a colleague on a financial affidavit that Cronin filed with the Superior Court in connection with his divorce.
Larceny in the First Degree is a class B felony punishable by not less than one year nor more than 20 years in prison, and a fine up to $15,000. Forgery in the Second Degree is a Class D felony punishable by up to five years imprisonment and a fine up to $5,000.
The case was prosecuted by the Statewide Prosecution Bureau of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney.