A New Jersey man who had practiced law in Bridgeport was sentenced to prison for stealing more than $15,000 from a client and then failed to appear for his sentencing.
According to the original arrest warrant affidavit, ALFRED J. CALI, age 62, with a last known address of 114 Eagle Street, 2nd Floor, North Arlington, New Jersey, while an attorney practicing law in Bridgeport, deposited into his personal bank account checks totaling $15,614.55 that he received from a client to be forwarded to a lender in a Federal bankruptcy proceeding.
On May 29, 2019, Cali pled guilty under the Alford Doctrine to one count of Larceny in the Second Degree before the Honorable Frank A. Iannotti in Bridgeport Superior Court, G.A. No. 2. The case was continued for a presentence investigation to July 11, 2019. Cali failed to appear for his sentencing on that date and a rearrest was ordered.
Inspectors from the Statewide Prosecution Bureau in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney were notified in mid-September that Cali had been taken into custody in New Jersey. He was extradited back to Connecticut and subsequently pled guilty to a Felony Failure to Appear.
Judge Iannotti sentenced Cali to 8 years in prison, execution suspended after 2 years and 9 months served, followed by 5 years of probation on the Larceny charge, and 9 months to serve concurrently on the charge of Failure to Appear.
The case was investigated and prosecuted by the Statewide Prosecution Bureau.