Federal Lawsuit Against Stamford Attorney Dropped: Report

Federal prosecutors reportedly have dropped a lawsuit against a Stamford attorney who was convicted of a mortgage fraud scheme and accused of fraudulently transferring real estate to his girlfriend instead of selling it to help pay nearly $4 million in restitution.

In addition to the restitution, attorney Christopher Brecciano, 37, is scheduled to begin a 14-month prison sentence this month for his conviction on charges of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud. Brecciano sold his interest in a condominium for $1 that his lawyer claimed was done with the approval of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

But on Nov. 5, an assistant U.S. Attorney filed a federal complaint in U.S. District Court against Brecciano and his girlfriend to whom he transferred ownership of a Seaton Road condo, according to the Connecticut Law Tribune. Prosecutors were planning to use the real estate to help satisfy the order of restitution. Brecciano and his co-defendants have been ordered to pay a total of $9.4 million in restitution with Brecciano liable for $3.9 million, according to the Law Tribune.

After the Nov. 5 complaint was filed, Brecciano and his attorney, claimed they had discussed plans for the condominium property transfer with a different prosecutor than the one who filed this civil action. “Brecciano and Felsen indicated they planned to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office to clear up what they described as a “misunderstanding,”” according to the Law Tribune.

On Nov. 24, the U.S. Attorney’s office filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of the civil action.

The complete Connecticut Law Tribune story can be found here.