Embezzling treasurer sentenced

MICHAEL P. MAYKO mmayko@ctpost.com

Article Last Updated: 04/02/2007 11:48:50 PM EDT

BRIDGEPORT — A Branford firefighter who embezzled at least $91,000 while serving as treasurer of a union representing the Greater New Haven Transit Authority and American Medical Response was sentenced to five months in prison, followed by five months of home confinement.

U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall told Andrew Konspore, 34, of Summer Lane, North Haven, that the home confinement would count as the first five months of his three years of supervision by the U.S. Probation Department. She also ordered him to repay the stolen money to the union.

Konspore, who is also a paramedic, pleaded guilty Sept. 28 to an embezzlement charge.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kaplan said Konspore took the money by writing checks to cash and to third parties, as well as making cash withdrawals from union checking and savings accounts. The money was used to pay bills, furnish his home and buy gifts.

Konspore served as treasurer of the Northeast Emergency Services Union for three years. The union represents about 400 members of AMR and the Transit Authority, which serves Milford and the Valley. "Union officials who betray the trust of their constituents by embezzling union funds should expect to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law," U.S. Attorney Kevin J. O'Connor said after the sentencing.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Labor Management Standards.

Michael P. Mayko, who covers legal issues, can be reached at 330-6286.