Connecticut Attorney Serving Prison Time Wins Compassionate Release Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
The federal Bureau of Prisons has furloughed for at least 30 days a former Connecticut bankruptcy attorney.
May 15, 2020 at 01:57 PM
3 minute read
Photo: Castleski/Shutterstock.com
A former Connecticut bankruptcy attorney sentenced to 63 months in prison for embezzling millions of dollars from clients has been furloughed for at least 30 days from the Otisville Correctional Facility in New York.
Peter Ressler, 72, was one of several inmates at the facility that the federal Bureau of Prisons released on furlough amid concerns about COVID-19.
Ressler was released to home confinement in Woodbridge on May 4. The BOP could decide not to bring Ressler back to prison and have him complete his sentence in home confinement. He has served about 24 months. If he goes back to prison, he would report back on June 4.
Ressler's New Haven-based attorney, Robert Frost Jr., filed a motion for compassionate release on March 24. In that motion, Frost cited several factors, including Ressler's advanced age, underlying cardiovascular issues, and the imprisoned attorney's ailing wife.
Frost, of Frost Bussert, declined to comment for this report.
U.S. District Judge Alfred Covello had not ruled on the motion, but the ex-attorney got released via the BOP because of COVID-19-related concerns. After the furlough release, both sides agreed to ask Covello not to issue an opinion in the case until it was clear whether Ressler would be returning to prison on June 4.
On April 13, in addition to his initial compassionate-release request, Frost wrote, "Given Mr. Ressler's age and his underlying cardiovascular issues, he is exceptionally vulnerable to contracting the deadly disease, which, in combination with the issues confronting his ailing wife, constitute extraordinary and compelling reasons to grant his motion for compassionate release."
But prosecutors asked the judge not to grant the release. They noted that many of Ressler's victims asked that he not be released.
"The defendant's crimes were plainly not victimless, as reflected in the substantial restitution order and the many victims," Christoper Schmeisser, assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Connecticut, said.
Spokesman Tom Carson said the office would have no comment on the matter.
Ressler was not disbarred. In April 2016, he resigned voluntarily and waived his right to reapply. Prosecutors said he defrauded numerous clients seeking Chapter 11 or 13 bankruptcy protection.
Ressler was ordered to pay more than $4 million in restitution. He pleaded guilty in 2017 to one count of wire fraud, two counts of embezzlement and one count of bankruptcy fraud. He is a former partner with Groob, Ressler & Mulqueen in New Haven.
According to the BOP website, the Otisville facility has had 13 inmates and 14 staff test positive for COVID-19. Ressler has not tested positive for the virus.
In a statement Friday, Scott Taylor of the Office of Public Affairs for the BOP, said, "For privacy, safety and security reasons, we do not discuss information about an individual inmate's condition of confinement or release plans."
Related stories:
Former Bankruptcy Attorney Gets Prison for Embezzling Millions From Clients
Attorney Faces Prison for Ponzi Scheme That Used Client Funds
Feds Charge Former Conn. Bankruptcy Attorney With Embezzlement
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