An Avon attorney, already facing charges of stealing thousands from a political action committee, was arrested today on two warrants charging him with multiple counts of forgery, identity theft and committing an offense while on release from custody.
MICHAEL J. CRONIN, age 57, of 24 Kingsbridge, Avon, was arrested by Inspectors from the Division of Criminal Justice and charged with 26 counts of Forgery in the Second Degree, and 12 counts of Identity Theft in the Third Degree involving various real estate and refinancing documents pertaining to the divorce from his first wife, according to one arrest warrant affidavit.
A second arrest warrant affidavit alleges that Cronin forged the name of an attorney on a financial affidavit related to Cronin’s divorce from his second wife, and that he did so while on release from an earlier criminal case that is pending in Hartford Superior Court.
Cronin was the former treasurer of the state Senate Republican Leadership Committee, a political action committee (PAC), and previously had been arrested and charged with allegedly stealing approximately $267,800.00 from the committee for his personal use.
Cronin appeared today in Hartford Superior Court where a judge set bond at $200,000. All three cases are being prosecuted by the Statewide Prosecution Bureau of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney.
Forgery in the Second Degree is a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine up to $5,000.00. Identity Theft in the Second Degree is also a Class D felony. Committing an Offense while on Release authorizes the court to impose an additional term of imprisonment of up to 10 years for a felony.
These are allegations only, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.