Former Connecticut Agency Owner Sentenced to Prison

A Connecticut insurance agent authorities say defrauded a specialty lender, insurance carriers, the city of Hartford and the state of Connecticut out of more than $2 million to fund a lavish lifestyle has been sentenced to more than six years in prison.

Earl O’Garro, an owner of Hartford-based Hybrid Insurance Agency LLC, was sentenced on April 13 in federal court to six years and four months behind bars, followed by three years of probation.

The 33-year-old O’Garro was convicted in December of two counts of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud.

Prosecutors say among his offenses, O’Garro secured a $500,000 loan from the state, which he then used to pay for a condominium in the Dominican Republic and private school tuition for his children. His prison term starts May 13.