West Hartford Lawyer Charged With Stealing $260K From Committee

WEST HARTFORD, CT — A West Hartford attorney was arrested Wednesday and charged with stealing more than $260,000 from the Senate Republican political action committee he oversaw as treasurer, authorities announced. Michael J. Cronin, 56, of Memorial Road in West Hartford, was arrested by inspectors from the Division of Criminal Justice on a warrant and charged with first-degree larceny.

Cronin was treasurer of the Senate Republican Leadership Committee, a political action committee (PAC), from 2007 until 2018 when irregularities were detected, according to the arrest warrant affidavit. Cronin is accused of taking approximately $267,800 from the committee for his personal use from 2012 to 2018, according to the chief state’s attorney’s office.

Cronin was terminated from his position as counsel for the Senate Republican Office at the Connecticut General Assembly following the discovery of the irregularities with the PAC funds, authorities said.

Cronin was released on a $50,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court on Feb. 22.

Larceny in the First Degree is a class B felony punishable by not less than one year nor more than 20 years in prison, and a fine up to $15,000, according to the chief state’s attorney’s office.

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