A federal grand jury in New Haven has indicted Peterson Bernadel, 39, of Meriden, on charges related to the theft of government property, according to an April 2 announcement by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Noah Fallon, Acting Investigations Branch Chief for the Federal Protective Service.
The case is significant because it involves allegations that a former employee with privileged access at a federal office abused his position to steal valuable equipment. The indictment alleges that Bernadel was employed as a Computer Systems Administrator at the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Connecticut. In this role, he had physical access to various digital and electronic devices—including computers, tablets, cell phones—and could alter inventory records.
According to prosecutors, Bernadel stole items such as iPads, Apple and Dell computers, a Mavic drone, and a Canon digital camera from his workplace. He allegedly exchanged these items for cash at pawn shops and falsified an inventory record concerning an Apple laptop computer he had stolen and pawned.
The indictment was returned on March 24 and charges Bernadel with eight counts of theft of government property—each carrying up to ten years in prison—and one count of falsifying records or information—which carries up to five years in prison. He was arrested on April 1 and released on $50,000 bond pending trial.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan said: "An indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service is investigating the matter; Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel George is prosecuting the case.
