A Bridgeport man will face up to 10 years behind bars when sentenced in June after pleading guilty in federal court Wednesday to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment from PerkinElmer in Shelton, where he worked as a security guard.
Gabrielle Quinones, 28, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to one count of interstate transportation of stolen merchandise.
Federal prosecutors said the plea stems from Quinones’ theft of more than $370,000 in computer equipment and software from PerkinElmer in Shelton.
Quinones was employed by Securitas Security Services as a private security guard, according to federal prosecutors.
In 2009, while he was stationed at PerkinElmer’s office complex in Shelton, he stole $379,065 in proprietary software, laptop and desktop computers, and related computer equipment from the company’s warehouse.
He then listed the stolen merchandise for sale on eBay and sold the items to purchasers in the United States, Canada and Europe, prosecutors said.
Judge Arterton has scheduled sentencing for June 14, 2012, at which time Quinones faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a fine of up to $250,000 and an order of full restitution — in the amount of $373,776 — to PerkinElmer.
According to a plea agreement in the case he will likely serve between 30 and 37 months behind bars.
The plea agreement also says Quinones must forfeit several items seized from his Broad Street residence in 2009 — including eight laptops, six computers, four waterproof surveillance cameras, other various computer equipment and software, and six copies of the Guitar Hero video game.
The investigation has been conducted by the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force, which includes members of the United States Secret Service; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the United States Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security; the Connecticut State Police; and the Glastonbury, Greenwich, Hartford, New Haven and Shelton Police Departments.
PerkinElmer also assisted the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hal Chen.
