Former Southbury Resident Sentenced In Boat Sinking Scheme: Feds

SOUTHBURY, CT — A 72-year-old former Southbury resident was sentenced to two years probation and fined $45,000 in connection with a scheme to illegally scuttle several boats in Long Sound, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Leonard C. Boyle.

John Magness, who now lives in Bristol, Maine, also must perform 50 hours of community service during his probation, U.S. District Court Judge Stefan R. Underhill ruled.

Magness and two accomplices were accused of plotting to sink several abandoned sailboats and motorboats in the Sound between Black Rock Harbor and the Pennfield Reef Lighthouse without a permit.

According to court documents and statements, Magness formerly owned the Bluefish Cove Marina in Bridgeport, and he was accused of hatching the scheme while preparing to sell the property in 2018.

Magness and Peter Albrecht, a Norwalk resident who worked at the marina, and Carlos Santos, a Westbrook resident, came up with the scheme; Magness agreed to forgive Santos' unpaid dockage fees in exchange for his help sinking the vessels, according to prosecutors.

Investigators identified as least five vessels as having been scuttled at Magness's request between October 2018 and April 2019.

Magness pleaded guilty in November 2020 to one count of obstruction of navigable waters by sinking a vessel.

Albrecht and Santos each previously pleaded guilty to the same charge and were sentenced to one year of probation; Albrecht also was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and Santos was ordered to pay a $500 fine.

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Clark.