Stamford Stalker Gets 10 Years in Prison

The man who pleaded guilty to for stalking a Stamford woman and planting hydrochloric acid-filled bottle bombs in her car two years ago will spend the next decade in prison, according to federal authorities.

Frank Mendoza, 53, formerly of Jacksonville, FL., was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, according to U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly. Mendoza has been detained since his arrest in Jacksonville on Aug. 17, 2012. On June 5, 2014, he pleaded guilty to one count of interstate stalking.

According to court documents and statements made in court, this is how the case developed:

Back in 2008 Mendoza began a romantic relationship with a woman in Jacksonville. Mendoza then became emotionally and psychologically abusive toward the victim. The victim also learned that Mendoza had a serious prior criminal history and claimed to be affiliated with a gang. She also observed Mendoza carrying a firearm. Mendoza’s abusive and threatening behavior caused the victim to attempt to end the relationship.

Sometime around September 2010, as part of a ruse, the victim told Mendoza that she was moving to Rhode Island for a work-related training program. The victim instead moved to Stamford. In October 2010, Mendoza learned that the victim had moved to Connecticut and began to place numerous harassing and threatening phone calls to her, her friends and her work colleagues.

In early November 2010, Mendoza traveled from Florida to Connecticut, visited the victim’s residence and place of work, and then returned to Florida. On Dec. 8, 2010, Mendoza flew from Florida to New York City, rented a car, drove to the victim’s Connecticut residence, and placed two, two-liter bottles in the victim’s car. The bottles contained hydrochloric acid and an aluminum foil wick.

At approximately 11 p.m. on Dec. 8, 2010, the victim approached her car and observed that the car’s interior had been dampened by a liquid. She also observed a bottle on the driver’s side floor. When she picked the bottle up, it began to smoke and fizz. She then gently placed the bottle down and ran from the car. The bottle then exploded.
The investigation revealed that the first bottle had exploded before the victim had reached the car.

In a statement, Daly said, “This lengthy prison term will help to protect a woman who was abused, threatened and stalked by this defendant, and who nearly suffered a horrible, disfiguring injury at his hands.” Daly added, “It also sends a message that domestic violence is intolerable and offenders will be appropriately punished and removed from society. Under the federal Violence Against Women Act, the Department of Justice is empowered with tools to prosecute domestic violence and stalking crimes. We commend the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces in Connecticut and Florida, and all of our partner investigative agencies who investigated this heinous crime in an effort to secure justice and provide safety for the victim.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Patricia M. Ferrick said in a statement, “Mr. Mendoza terrorized his victim and endangered both his victim and the community.” Ferrick added, “As a result of a thorough investigation conducted by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Connecticut State Police, the New Haven Police Department, the Stamford Police Department, the Stamford Fire Department and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Mr. Mendoza has been brought to justice. Civilized societies must have zero tolerance for criminals like Mendoza who terrorize not only their victims but the communities in which they reside.”

The case was investigated by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces in New Haven and Jacksonville, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Connecticut State Police, the New Haven Police Department, the Stamford Police Department, the Stamford Bomb Squad, the Stamford Fire Department and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Krishna Patel and Vanessa Richards.

Have a news tip? Email barbara.heins@patch.com. You can also post your own news, events and announcements on Patch by following these directions. Curious about how our new commenting platform, Disqus, works? Learn more about it here and start interacting with your neighbors on Patch.