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 concerns Bernadel’s alleged actions while working as a Computer Systems Administrator at the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Connecticut. Authorities say he had access to digital and electronic devices belonging to the office and could alter information in their inventory record-keeping system.
According to the indictment returned on March 24, Bernadel is accused of stealing items such as iPads, Apple and Dell computers, a Mavic drone, and a Canon digital camera from his workplace. The indictment alleges that he exchanged these items for cash at pawn shops. It also claims that he falsified an inventory record regarding an Apple laptop computer that was stolen and pawned.
Bernadel faces eight counts of theft of government property—each carrying up to ten years in prison—and one count of falsifying records or information with a maximum sentence of five years if convicted. He was arrested on April 1 and released on a $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 investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel George.