Former Hartford insurance broker Earl O'Garro pleaded not guilty Tuesday to three charges in a new federal indictment, and it appears both sides are preparing for an October trial.
O'Garro appeared in court with his federal public defender. In a brief hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Martinez, a prosecutor outlined the charges against O'Garro, which include two counts of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud. O'Garro pleaded not guilty to all three counts.
This was his second arraignment on charges that he defrauded the city of Hartford, the state and others. In their first indictment, prosecutors charged O'Garro with just one count and alleged he made off with more than $1 million in taxpayer money. They have since added two charges. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison on each count.
When it comes to the alleged scheme involving the city, O'Garro was given money to then take and pay the city's insurance premiums. But prosecutors say he never did. In the end, they say he kept nearly $870,000 in city funds.
O'Garro has rejected a plea deal that could have sent him to jail for anywhere between 33 and 51 months, according to federal sentencing rules. A judge would have had to approve that agreement. But now it looks as though all eyes are on October. That's when trial is scheduled to start. Jury selection is Oct. 2.
O'Garro declined to comment.
