Ex-East Haven Cop Guilty, Gets 2 Years On Felony Computer Crime: Court

NEW HAVEN, CT —Former East Haven police officer Jonathan Andino was found guilty of a felony computer crime and sentenced to two years in prison, though the sentence was suspended by a New Haven Superior Court judge Wednesday. He was given a conditional discharge, court records show.

In January 2022, Andino was arrested following a federal and state probe alleging that in 2017, Andino provided information to a person associated with a DEA drug trafficking “target," according to court documents. It was then alleged the used the Connecticut Law Enforcement Communications Teleprocessing System, known as COLLECT, to look up and provide information on two people and, looked up license plate numbers to determine who owned vehicles and even a boat hull registration number on behalf of the person tied to the DEA “target.”

East Haven Police Chief Edward Lennon told Patch in 2022 that as soon as Andino’s alleged “misconduct was brought to my attention in 2021, I took swift action and notified the New Haven States Attorney’s Office.”

Andino quit the police force before being fired, but not in relation to the felony computer criminal charges, rather after an internal affairs probe.

He was arrested by New Haven police in 2022 and charged with two counts of third-degree computer crimes. Wednesday, he was found guilty and sentenced on one count.

Here's the original story:

EAST HAVEN, CT —In November 2020, the FBI had begun a criminal investigation involving an East Haven police officer “relating to public corruption charges,” according to court documents obtained by Patch.

The investigation ended in May 2021 without the cop being charged.

Meanwhile, the New Haven DEA Field Office had an investigation into drug trafficking in East Haven that included a federal warrant-issued wiretap. During that probe, a phone conversation was intercepted that had a man associated with the DEA’s “target” ask if the man had anyone inside the East Haven Police Department to provide information about “police activity” near the target’s house. The man said he did: his “godson,” according to court documents.

It was the same uncharged police officer being investigated by the FBI, court documents state.

In December 2020, The Washington Post included a photograph of East Haven police officers as the feature image on a national security story about the Justice Department’s efforts to investigate unconstitutional police practices. The East Haven Police Department was used as an example of a success story.

The police officer identified in the photo is Jonathan Andino, hired in 2014.

Andino is the police officer identified by the DEA as the “godson;” the person inside the EHPD, according to court documents.

The "godson" Andino

What federal and state prosecutors allege Andino did in 2017, was to provide information to the person associated with the DEA’s drug trafficking “target," according to court documents.

Andino is alleged to have used the Connecticut Law Enforcement Communications Teleprocessing System, known as COLLECT, to look up and provide information at the behest of the person associated with the DEA "target," court documents state.

It's alleged in the warrant for his arrest, that Andino illegally accessed COLLECT to seek out information on two people. He's also alleged to have looked up license plate numbers to determine who owned vehicles and even a boat hull registration number on behalf of the person tied to the DEA “target.”

East Haven Police Chief Edward Lennon told Patch that as soon as Andino’s alleged “misconduct was brought to my attention in 2021, I took swift action and notified the New Haven States Attorney’s Office.”

Lennon said the States Attorney’s Office investigated “these disturbing allegations and ultimately submitted an arrest warrant for Mr. Andino’s arrest.”

At 7:30 a.m. Friday morning, Andino, who lives in Wallingford, turned himself into the New Haven Police Department on a warrant for his arrest issued by the States Attorney.

Andino was charged with two counts of felony third-degree computer crimes for the alleged illegal use of the COLLECT system while he was on duty as an East Haven police officer.

He was booked, posted $25,000 bail and was released.

Rather than being fired, Andino quit, but not because of the States Attorney's case

Andino quit the police force last June, four days before a termination hearing. But the reason had nothing to do with the FBI or DEA probes.

Andino, 30, and a fellow officer were involved in a March 2019 collision with their patrol cars. Both were treated at the hospital and cleared by doctors to return to work. The other officer returned to work.

Andino never did.

An Internal Affairs investigative report on Andino was obtained by Patch through the Freedom of Information Act. The report shows that over the course of nearly two years, while employed as an East Haven police officer, albeit on a paid injury leave, Andino maintained in sworn testimony taken in two depositions, that he was unable to return to work as a result of the accident.

He said he suffered from almost daily hours-long headaches, severe light, and sound sensitivity, experienced constant and consistent pain since the 2019 accident, and walked with a limp, among other medical symptoms that prevented him from working.

In October 2020, Andino was told he was the subject of an internal affairs investigation for his “conduct” while on injury leave, the report states. Andino was put under surveillance by a private investigator for almost a year to determine if, in fact, he was suffering from the conditions he described.

It was found his statements were “false,” according to the report.

Per the Internal Affairs report, a detective conducting surveillance documented Andino engaging in activity that was in contradiction to his injury claims.

While tailing him, he saw Andino working out in a gym doing bench-presses. Driving a modified Dodge Charger with a “very loud” exhaust despite “sound sensitivity." Walking and otherwise moving without a visible limp. He was often seen not wearing hats or sunglasses to protect him from light sensitivity, and other contradictions to his claims, the report shows.

The report also states that Andino provided false or misleading information to his medical providers, one of whom believed his complaints of pain and symptoms were not proportionate to his claimed injuries, per the report

By May 2021, with the internal affairs probe concluded, Andino was advised he’d have a pre-termination hearing in June 2021. He was being fired for multiple false statements while providing sworn testimony during March 9, 2020 and Dec. 3, 2020 depositions.

He resigned before that hearing.

'A high level of expectation for our officers:' Chief

Following his arrest Friday for computer crimes allegedly committed while he was a sworn police officer, Police Chief Lennon told Patch that Andino’s actions are not reflective of the police department.

“I have a high level of expectation for our officers. Our police officers come to work daily with the goal of honorably protecting our community and citizens," Lennon said. "The behavior exhibited by Mr. Andino does not reflect the values of the East Haven Police Department or the honorable men or women.”

Lennon said that the police department is committed to transparency and holding officers responsible for their behavior.

“The East Haven Police Department has always held our officers to a higher standard and will always hold the officers who serve this community accountable for their actions,” he said.