HARTFORD, Conn — A former West Hartford attorney was sentenced Tuesday for forging various documents and stealing more than $250,000 from a political action committee he oversaw as its treasurer.
Michael J. Cronin, 60, of Avon, was sentenced to a total effective sentence of seven years to serve, suspended after six months, followed by three years of probation. In June, Cronin pleaded guilty to one count of Larceny in the First Degree and four counts of Forgery in the Second Degree.
Prosecutors said in court Cronin was treasurer of the Senate Republican Leadership Committee, a political action committee, from 2007 until 2018 when the problems were discovered. Investigators said that from 2012 to 2018 Cronin took approximately $267,800 from the committee for his personal use.
Cronin was fired 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.
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.
Doug Stewart is a Senior Digital Content Producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dstewart@fox61.com.
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