Greenwich Detective Receives Top Honor for His Investigative Work

Veteran Greenwich Police Det. Mark Solomon was awarded the Greenwich Lions Club 2015 Dr. John A. Clarke Award in at a luncheon ceremony Thursday afternoon.

Solomon, a 21-year veteran who has been assigned to the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force (CFCTF) since its inception in January 2009, was recognized for his work in solving several high-profile financial crime cases around the state, including an ATM card skimming scheme that had international implications.

Dr. John A. Clarke served as medical advisor to the Greenwich Police Department from 1923 until his death in 1944. To honor his memory, for the past 70 years the Lions have hosted an annual award luncheon to present the John A. Clarke Award to an outstanding member of the Greenwich Police Department who is nominated by the Police Chief, for his or her exemplary performance in the line of duty. The ceremony was held at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich.

Solomon is president of the Connecticut Chapter of the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI) and continues to help promote the sharing of information within law enforcement and between law enforcement and the financial industry. Solomon also is certified as an instructor by the State of Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T.) and provides instruction in financial crimes investigations to not only to Police Officers and Police Recruits in the State of Connecticut but nationally as well. He regularly conducts seminars and webinars to educate both the public and private industry in the prevention and investigation of financial crimes.

The Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force, coordinated by the U.S. Secret Service, the multi-agency entity is comprised of numerous federal, state and local investigators who investigate financial crimes occurring in Connecticut. Solomon has played a key role in the success of the CFCTF and is an important liaison partner for State and Federal Law Enforcement in Connecticut due to his proficiency in financial crimes investigations, Greenwich police officials said.

Police Chief James Heavey said, “Detective Mark Solomon continually distinguishes himself by exhibiting superior knowledge in the investigation of financial crimes. He has an extraordinary work ethic and dedication to the task force’s mission.”

Heavey added, ”Detective Solomon’s passion for the investigation of financial crimes cases is unparalleled and is reflected in the nature, scope and number of cases he has successfully investigated. I can think of no other investigator whose performance, dedication to mission, tenacity, investigative skills, and liaison efforts surpass Detective Mark Solomon’s. Detective Solomon in an invaluable asset and exhibits daily the finest traditions of the Greenwich Police Department.”

Here’s a summary of the high-profile cases Solomon investigated:

• February 2015: The former treasurer of a Connecticut non-profit organization surrendered and pled guilty to embezzling more than $140,000 following a year-long investigation by Solomon, working with members of the Internal Revenue Service and the Stratford Police Department. The suspect is scheduled to be sentence this month.
• June 2014: Solomon investigated the embezzlement of more than $170,000 from a Greenwich oil company. The guilty employee was identified, interviewed and confessed to the embezzlement. Negotiations between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the employee’s attorney, seeking a plea agreement, are ongoing.
• June 2014: “United States Attorney’s Award for Outstanding Partnership” – “Mark Solomon has distinguished himself as a nationally renowned expert in the area of ATM skimming, identity theft, bank and wire fraud. He has successfully investigated several highly organized skimming groups from Bulgaria, Turkey and Romania. Mark has developed tremendous relationships with the banking industry and other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies that target organized groups of criminals that focus on financial crimes.”
• June 2014: The Chief Financial Officer of a stone company in Milford was arrested for embezzling more than $1.3 million from the company following an investigation conducted by Detective Solomon and his Secret Service partner. The CFO pled guilty and is due to be sentenced in April 2015.
• May 2014: A New Milford liquor store owner was sentenced in Federal Court to 21 months incarceration and ordered to pay $322,500 in restitution after he pleaded guilty to one count of Wire Fraud. This sentence was the result of an investigation conducted by Detective Solomon, which spanned more than one year and involved undercover operations and the examination of a high volume of financial documents.
• February 2014: A Florida woman was sentenced to 46 months incarceration and ordered to pay $464,511.70 in restitution after she pled guilty to bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for her involvement in a “Felony Lane” fraud scheme that spanned 16 states. The defendant in this case was apprehended as a direct result of Solomon sharing information with law enforcement and with the banking industry through mediums like CrimeDex alerts and CTIC bulletins. Solomon also played a key role in identifying co-conspirators in the fraud scheme and the gathering of information regarding the nationwide fraud in this case.

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Photos courtesy of Greenwich Police. Det. Mark Solomon; Det. Mark Solomon with Paul Settelmeyer of the Lions Club.