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NESN Commentator Jerry Remy Diagnosed With Cancer Again

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NESN announced Tuesday that long-time color commentator Jerry Remy has been diagnosed with cancer again.

"The thoughts and prayers of all of us at NESN and the Red Sox are with Jerry and his family during this difficult time," the television network said in a statement.

NESN said Remy's focus right now is on his medical treatment.

The 65-year-old returned to the broadcast booth during spring training of this year after undergoing surgery for lung cancer last summer. This is his sixth relapse.

Remy has been with the Red Sox since 1988, providing color commentary. He played second base for the team from 1978 through 1984.


Hurricane Maria Victims Still Without Permanent Home

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After five moves in 12 months, a US senator is bringing attention to the plight of a Puerto Rican couple trying to resettle in Connecticut, but living a rather unsettled life.

Bouncing from couch to couch and home to home, Ana Garcia said she, her husband, and children have literally been “floating for the past few months.” During a visit with U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the family said they’re tired of living in limbo.

“This is our last option that we have for now. We don’t have another option after here,” said Garcia.

Garcia, her husband Kermy Otero, and their teenage son and daughter are thankful for the generosity of the Ibarra family, who they met through church.

“They’re family already to us,” said Garcia.

Newlyweds Brian and Jennifer Ibarra opened up their tiny two-bedroom home to the Garcia family five months ago.

“We were able to bless another family. So, that’s the way I see it,” Jennifer said.

Tripling the number of people under one roof meant creating a makeshift bedroom for the teens in the basement and six people sharing one bathroom.

“It’s a little tight however we made it work,” added Brian.

However, Blumenthal said they shouldn’t have to.

“American should be angry that their fellow Americans are treated as second class citizens,” Blumenthal said.

He said families like Garcias aren’t being offered the same level of help as stateside disaster victims. Blumenthal pointed to a FEMA program created after Hurricane Katrina that provides funds for housing assistance, including security deposits and a month of utilities to help disaster victims get back on their feet.

“We don’t have that money,” said Garcia.

Hurricane Maria victims who’ve moved from Puerto Rico have only been made eligible for temporary assistance. That program is set to end on August 31.

“We are United States citizens,” Garcia pointed out.

She added that their move to Connecticut was for their children.

“Finding that stability for their education and for them to strive here,” she said.

She said her family now deserves the most is a permanent place to call home. The Ibarras agree.

“I know what it is to call your own place home and I know that’s what they’re looking for and waiting for as well,” said Jennifer.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Woman Dies After Being Found Unresponsive in Vernon Park

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A woman has died after being found unresponsive on the Rails to Trails in Vernon on Tuesday morning.

Officials said LifeStar responded to 59 Birch Street, which is the address of a firehouse belonging to the Vernon Fire Department.

According to Vernon police, officers found an unresponsive woman in cardiac arrest on the Rails to Trails. The woman was found near Valley Falls Park near steep cliffs, Vernon police said.

Fire officials said she was transported by Vernon EMS and the LifeStar crew in an ambulance to Rockville Hospital where she later died. Police are investigating.

Officials have not released the woman's identity.

NBC Connecticut has crew at the scene. We will provide updates on this story as they come into the newsroom.





Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Reward Offered for Info on Abandoned Waterbury Factory Fire

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A reward is being offered for information on a fire at the old Ansonia Copper and Brass Building in Waterbury.

Fire broke out at the old factory at 725 Bank St. on July 30. The fire was so large it took firefighters hours to put it out and at one point the smoke plume was so large it appeared on Live First Alert Doppler Radar.

Waterbury Mayor Neil O'Leary said at the time that several other similar fires were the result of arson, and that he suspected that was the cause.


The Connecticut Arson Tip Award Program is offering a $2,500 reward for information that leads to an arrest or conviction in the case.

The building where the fire started was vacant for years. There were previous fires at the property, including a machine fire when the building housed a manufacturing company.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Connecticut Arson Hotline at 1-800-84ARSON or the Waterbury Police Detective Bureau at 203-574-6941.



Photo Credit: Anthony Covino
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Crews Repairing Water Main Leak in Hartford

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Crews are repairing a main pipe leak on Woodland Street in Hartford Tuesday.

Metropolitan District Commission spokesperson Kerry Martin confirmed a leak in the area of 377 Woodland Street. The MDC water wagon will be on site at Harrison Place and Woodland Street for customers affected by the repair work.

No other details were immediately available.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Markley Files Injunction Against $10 Million Toll Study

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Republican State Sen. Joe Markley has filed an injunction aiming to block a $10 million study on tolls in Connecticut.

The study was approved by the State Bond Commission following an executive order from Gov. Dannel Malloy. 

Tolls have long been a controversial topic in Connecticut and previous studies have been conducted. Markley, who is running for lieutenant governor, has been a vocal critic of the governor’s plan for a new study, calling the order a “vindictive stunt," and saying it should be up to the next administration to decide if they even want it.

The $10 million study orders the Department of Transportation to assess tolls and their environmental impact on several highways including Interstate 95, Interstate 91 and Interstate 84.

It also requires the state D.O.T. to look at reducing or eliminating the gas tax and possibly giving state residents a discount or tax credit.

“Left to proceed, we would be paying 15 years and close to $14 million (including debt service) for a study which is likely to be worthless the moment a new governor takes office. I want to stop that expenditure right now, and give a new administration and a new legislature a chance to set their own course -- with any luck, in the opposite direction from the way Malloy has led us,” Markley wrote in a statement.

Markley’s court filing request a temporary and permanent injunction prohibiting and restraining the enactment of the order,

Kelly Donnelly, a spokesperson for Malloy, responded to news of the injunction with the following statement:

“As Attorney General Jepsen made clear during the bond commission meeting, Governor Malloy is well within his right to allow this study to proceed. Senator Markley is just plain wrong. And quite frankly, when it comes to modernizing an aging infrastructure and building the kind of transportation system Connecticut deserves, he has subscribed to the modern day 'know-nothing' philosophy—proactively choosing to know less, rejecting options before even fully understanding them, and doing nothing.”

DC Couple on Cycling Trip Killed by ISIS in Tajikistan

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A couple from Washington, D.C. on a yearlong cycling trip together were killed in Tajikistan during an attack the State Department calls "senseless," friends and family say.

Georgetown University graduate Lauren Anne Geoghegan, 29, was killed, the family said in a statement. Her partner, Jay Austin, who helped create Boneyard Studios and previously worked for the Federal Housing Administration, was also killed.

Two other tourists from Switzerland and the Netherlands were also killed, NBC News reported.

The tourists were killed in a car-and-knife attack on a group of cyclists, according to the NBC News report. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, but U.S. officials have not confirmed the attackers were aligned with the terror group.

Geoghegan and Austin were on an extended bicycle trip through Europe, Africa and Central Asia. They left for their trip in July 2017, Geoghehan's family said.

They were in the area of Khatlon Oblast on Sunday when a car slammed into a group of seven cyclists. The attackers then exited the car and began stabbing the victims, NBC News reported.

Geoghegan majored in Government and minored in Spanish at Georgetown University and worked in the school's Office of Undergraduate Admissions, her family said in a statement.

"The yearlong bicycle adventure Lauren and her partner, Jay Austin, were enjoying was typical of her enthusiastic embrace of life’s opportunities, her openness to new people and places, and her quest for a better understanding of the world," her family said in a statement. They said she started the trip in July 2017.

Her younger sisters are deeply saddened by the loss, the family's statement said.

Georgetown's Dean of Admissions Charles Deacon expressed sadness for the loss in a statement.

“We are heartbroken to hear of Lauren’s passing in this devastating tragedy and have expressed our deepest condolences to her family. Lauren was a valued colleague and dear friend to many at Georgetown and an overall treasured member of our community," Deacon said.

Boneyard Studios, which is now closed, posted a message about Austin's death on their Facebook page.

"Jay Austin, of the former Boneyard Studios, left this world doing what he loved (connecting with people and cycling the world) with the person he loved (Lauren Geoghegan)," the company said.

The State Department is working with officials from Tajikistan who are leading the investigation into the attack, said Heather Nauert, a spokeswoman for the department.

"We would like to express our deepest condolences to the families of the Americans and others who were senselessly killed in Tajikistan," Nauert said. "We cannot confirm who is responsible for the attack at this time."

Officials in Tajikistan said that the attack was carried out by the Islamic Renaissance Party, a political group that was banned three years ago as the country aimed to attract bicyclists and adventure tourists.

The State Department has not issued any additional security alerts for travelers in the country at this time, but Nauert encouraged travelers to sign up for the department's registry of citizens abroad, the STEP program



Photo Credit: simplycycling.org

Torrington Police Investigate Break-Ins at 2 Nail Salons

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Torrington police are investigating reported break-ins at two nail salons.

The owner of Serenity Nail Spa tells NBC Connecticut he got a call around 2:45 a.m. on Tuesday that something was wrong.

He believes someone took an object, like a flash light, broke the front door and then quickly went to work.

“I was here early this morning until 6:00 a.m. cleaning the front door and calling the insurance company, call the glass company,” said Bobby Sikhounmeuang.

Sikhounmeuang raced to make sure his Torrington business, Serenity Nail Spa, was ready to open after an overnight burglary.

“It’s unfortunate for anybody but especially for small businesses. They put a lot into it,” said Megan Ross of Torrington.

Sikhounmeuang said a security camera at the store in the Torrington Commons Shopping Center off of High Street captured what unfolded just before 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

In the span of 20 seconds, the video shows someone enter the spa, head right to the cash register and then eventually take off.

“I feel like violated. We have a camera. We have everything. No one is going to leave a lot of money in the cash register at night,” Sikhounmeuang said.

About $100 in cash was allegedly swiped, but repairing the shattered door cost almost another $400.

On Tuesday, customers showed up in solidarity.

“A few people have come in since I’ve been here just to, you know, support,” said Ross.

Pictures posted on Facebook captured the aftermath of a similar break-in that went down back on Friday at Gloss Nail Spa on Winsted Road in Torrington.

Police tell us they are investigating both of the salon burglaries.

Now Sikhounmeuang believes it may be time to invest in more security and a safe in case a burglar strikes again.

“It happens everywhere nowadays. So just be more cautious,” Sikhounmeuang said.

Anyone with information should contact Torrington police.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

West Nile Found in Mosquitoes in 3 More Connecticut Towns

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Mosquitoes trapped in North Branford, Wethersfield and Wallingford have tested positive for West Nile virus.

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station confirms mosquitoes collected from Cedar Lake in North Branford, South Elm Street in Wallingford and Goff Road in Wethersfield have tested positive for the virus.

State health officials have warned about a rapid increase in West Nile virus activity in Connecticut.

Recent tests show that infected mosquitoes are rising at levels that are higher than normal for this time of year, according to a release from Gov. Malloy's office.

Mosquitoes infected with West Nile have been found in 22 cities and towns across the state.

Experts urge people to wear long clothes, use mosquito repellent and avoid being outside at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most prevalent. They are also asking people to eliminate areas of standing water where mosquitoes breed.

Mosquitoes infected with West Nile have been found in Bethany, Bridgeport, Darien, East Haven, Easton, Franklin, Greenwich, Hartford, Madison, Manchester, Meriden, New Canaan, New Haven, Stamford, Stratford, Waterbury, Waterford, West Haven, Weston, and now North Branford, Wallingford and Wethersfield.

There have been no human cases of West Nile virus this season.

11-Year-Old Hurt When Tree Falls in Goodwin Park in Hartford

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An 11-year-old boy was hurt when a tree fell in Goodwin Park in Hartford Tuesday.

Hartford police said a group of children was playing basketball when the tree, which was marked for removal, snapped and fell. 

The boy was taken to Connecticut Children's Medical Center and is listed in stable condition.

Police and the Department of Public Works responded to investigate.

Michael Looney, the interim deputy director of public works, said after trees are marked for removal there is a 10-day waiting period for public comment before the trees can come down.

"We've marked a number of trees for removal that was a short time ago so we were still within the period where the public got to comment on whether they should come down or not," Looney said.

Looney said there are a total of six trees in the area slated for removal.

"If we believed a tree was in imminent danger to the public we would obviously take safety measures," Looney added. "That was not the case here. these trees were simply marked as not as healthy as we would like to see that's why it was marked for removal."

More information was not immediately available. NBC Connecticut has a crew on scene and will provide updates as they come into the newsroom.




Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Firefighters Investigate Cause of Vernon Elementary School Fire

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Firefighters are trying to figure out what sparked a fire at an elementary school in Vernon early Wednesday morning.

Firefighters were called to fight a fire inside of Maple Street School around midnight.

Firefighters from other towns including Ellington and Manchester were also called in to provide extra help.

Nobody was inside of the school at the time and nobody was hurt.

There's no visible damage from the outside, but our crew reported seeing pieces of burnt wood on the sidewalk.

The fire marshal has not released the cause of the fire.





Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Firefighter Injured Battling Fire in Vacant Building in Willimantic

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A firefighter is recovering after getting injured while battling a fire at a vacant building in Willimantic early Wednesday morning.

Officials said the firefighter suffered a minor back injury while fighting the fire that broke out at a vacant building on Chapman Street shortly before 4 a.m.

When firefighters arrived to the building, they said there was heavy fire showing in the front on the right side of the building. The strength of the fire forced firefighters to fight the flames from outside of the building. The fire partially collapsed the roof in the back of the building.

"There's going to be a lot of hot spots. It's an older building so it's got a lot of voids in it," said Willimantic Fire Department Captain Ron Palmer.

Fire officials said the building has been vacant for a number of years and in that time, firefighters have responded to several fires there.

"I've been in this department for 22 years. This is my third fire at the building so I believe it's been vacant for several years," Palmer said.

Nobody was inside of the building at the time of the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Chapman Street is closed from Ives Street to Elm Street. There is no word on how long the road will be closed for.



Photo Credit: See It Share It / Matthew Vertefeuille

698 Bags of Heroin Found During Traffic Stop in Hartford: Police

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Police have seized nearly 700 bags of heroin after a traffic stop in Hartford on Tuesday night.

Members of the Community Response Unit were conducting pro-active enforcement in the city's Central district around 11:10 p.m. when they noticed a Honda Civic traveling north on South Marshall Street. Officers determined that the vehicle's license plate did not correspond to the vehicle.

When officers conducted a motor vehicle stop, the passenger, later identified as 19-year-old Francisco Gonzalez, of Hartford, was seen trying to hide an item. Police later checked the item and determined it was 698 bags of packaged heroin. Gonzalez was arrested and charged with possession of narcotics and possession of narcotics with intent to sell.

The driver of the vehicle, later identified as 20-year-old Alberto Rodriguez-Garcia, of Hartford, was charged with improper use of a marker plate, operating an unregistered vehicle, insufficient insurance and operating under suspension.



Photo Credit: Hartford Police

Analysis Finds Big Spending at Trump's DC Hotel

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The Trump International Hotel is an ongoing legal headache for President Donald Trump but a welcoming place for members of his administration and their supporters, NBC News reported.

Foreign governments, federal government agencies and Republican party organizations all spent significant sums at the hotel five blocks from the White House since Trump's inauguration, according to an analysis of public filings and social media. Trump himself took in over $40 million in revenue from the hotel last year, while Ivanka Trump took in nearly $4 million.

Almost $56,000 in taxpayer money has been spent at the hotel as well, the analysis found.

While the president faces lawsuits over whether his hotel is violating a part of the Constitution designed to prevent officials from profiting from their positions or being influenced by gifts from foreign governments, the hotel continues to serve as a clubhouse for his fans.



Photo Credit: Evelyn Hockstein/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Holy Cow! Herd of Bovine Helps Corral Suspect Fleeing From Police

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A suspected car thief trying to evade authorities in central Florida was captured after some heroic bystanders — a herd of cows — helped corral the woman and lead her to officers, according to the Seminole County Sheriff's Department.

Police said Jennifer Anne Kaufman crashed a stolen Subaru Sunday night after a brief chase and hoofed it into a nearby pasture in Sanford. A passenger inside the SUV also attempted to flee but was captured by police K9, the Orlando Sentinel reported. A third woman stayed inside the vehicle and was taken into custody.

Video captured by an SCSD helicopter shows Kaufman stumbling upon a herd of about 20 cows who promptly start galloping after her.

Someone inside the helicopter can be heard in the video advising Sanford police officers on the ground "for good visual" to look for the "large group of cows" chasing Kaufman. 

"Looks like they may attack her," the person adds as the cows move in closer to Kaufman.

The cows eventually cornered the suspect at a fence along a nearby dirt road, where waiting deputies took her into custody.

Kaufman, 46, is being held on a $4,500 bond. Charges against her include resisting an officer and drug possession. An arrest report did not have an attorney listed for Kaufman who could comment on the charges. 



Photo Credit: Seminole County Sheriff's Office

Route 20 Closed in Granby

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Route 20 in Granby is closed at the Hartland line because trees and power lines are down. 

Police said Route 20 is closed in both directions and no vehicles are involved. 

Eversource is responding.

There is a detour from Route 219 to Route 179. 

There is no estimate on when the road will reopen. 




Photo Credit: Granby Police

Remy Shares Inspirational Message After Cancer Diagnosis

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Boston Red Sox television commentator Jerry Remy shared an inspirational message on Twitter on Wednesday morning following his recent cancer diagnosis.

"Thank you all for all of your support," he said. "This has hit me hard but I have never quit and will not now. I have complete trust in my team at Mass General. Bring it home Sox !!!"


NESN announced Tuesday that the long-time color commentator has been diagnosed with cancer again.

"The thoughts and prayers of all of us at NESN and the Red Sox are with Jerry and his family during this difficult time," the television network said in a statement.

Remy was not part of NESN's broadcast team for Tuesday night's game against the Blue Jays. The network did not disclose details of Remy's diagnosis or provide a timeline for how long he might be away, but said Steve Lyons will fill in for him while he's out.

The 65-year-old former Red Sox second baseman was first diagnosed with lung cancer in 2008, relapsed in 2013 and again twice in 2017. He returned this season for his 31st year broadcasting the team's games.

Remy was a longtime smoker and has spoken publicly in favor of regular medical checkups.


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Man Charged in Hamden Crash That Injured Two Children

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Hamden police have arrested a man accused of causing a crash in March that injured two children. 

The crash happened near 1400 Whitney Ave. on Saint Patrick’s Day and the car rolled over, according to police. 

Police said Quinne Davis, 34, of Waterbury, was driving at a high rate of speed, hit the pole and rolled over. 

An 8-year-old suffered serious injuries and an 11-month-old was injured in the crash, according to police. They said the children were not properly restrained in their car seats. 

Davis was charged with assault in the second degree with a motor vehicle, reckless endangerment in the first degree, two counts of risk of injury to a child, reckless driving and transporting a child under 6 years old without a restraint. 

Davis was held on $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on Aug. 16. 



Photo Credit: Hamden Police

'Links at the Yard': Yard Goats to Host Golf Event at DDP

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The Hartford Yard Goats announced a four-day golf event to be held at Dunkin' Donuts Park in September.  

Golfers of all ability levels will be able to play nine Par 3 target-style holes throughout the ballpark September 27-30.  Golfers can select to play in twosomes or foursomes.

“We are excited to bring another creative and fun event to Dunkin’ Donuts Park that accentuates the flexibility of this beautiful venue, and continues to deliver on the promise of the park being about more than baseball,” Yard Goats President Tim Restall said. “We are also working with our friends at the Travelers Championship and the First Tee of Connecticut to enhance the golf experience.”

The event will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day with tee times every nine to 10 minutes.

The course layout of “Links At The Yard” was coordinated in partnership with local PGA Professional Pete Seaman and award winning golf course development firm Dusenberry Design.

The longest hole will be about 135 yards.  The tees will be throughout elevated areas of the ballpark.

While a selection of Callaway golf clubs will be provided at each hole, golfers are invited to bring their own.  No drivers or woods will be permitted, only irons and wedges.

“We are excited to partner with the Yard Goats on the Links at the Yard this year,” Callaway Golf Senior Marketing Manager Nathan Adelman said. “They have so much energy and passion for creating an authentic and unique golf experience in their new stadium, and Callaway is happy to be a part of that. After bringing stadium golf close to our headquarters in San Diego, we’re thrilled to have stadium golf near our golf ball manufacturing plant in Chicopee, MA."

Local golf courses Keney Park and Goodwin Park partnered with the team to help organize the event.

The Yard Goats continue to look for ways to have the ballpark be close to a year-round facility with added events beyond baseball, including holiday parties at the G.O.A.T. Brew Fest.

The price for the event is $52 per golfer. A limited number of spots are available. 

Tickets to Links at the Yard are availabe through the Yard Goats website, by calling 860-246-GOAT (4628) or in person at the Click It or Ticket Box Office at Dunkin’ Donuts Park.

The Hartford Yard Goats are back at home Friday, Aug. 10 against the Bowie Baysox.

NBC Connecticut is the proud media partner of the Hartford Yard Goats.



Photo Credit: Hartford Yard Goats
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NY Congressman Arrested on Securities Fraud-Related Charges

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The FBI has arrested New York Rep. Chris Collins on securities fraud-related charges, law enforcement officials said.

The congressman, a Republican who hails from western New York, surrendered to the FBI at 26 Federal Plaza Wednesday morning, officials said.

He’s expected to appear in Manhattan federal court later today.

Collins was one of the first members of Congress to endorse President Donald Trump during his presidential campaign.

Last fall, the Office of Congressional Ethics released a report that said the congressman may have violated House rules when he bought discounted stock that wasn’t available to the public and was offered to him based on his status as a politician.

The report also found that Collins, a board member of Australia-based Innate Immunotherapeutics, may have shared nonpublic information about the company, another possible violation.

Innate had been in the process of developing a drug to treat Multiple Sclerosis in 2017, according to the indictment. When the product failed drug trials in June 2017, however, the public results sent Innate stock prices plummeting by 92 percent.

Collins — one of Innate's largest stockholders — had access to information about the company and its research that wasn't available to the public, the indictment alleges.

When Collins found out about the trial results, he allegedly told his son Cameron Collins, also an Innate stockholder, who told his then-girlfriend’s father Stephen Zarsky, as well as several other stockholders.

Cameron Collins, Zarsky, and the stockholders Collins told subsequently sold their Innate stock before prices plunged, narrowly avoiding hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses, the indictment says.

Chris Collins faces charges including conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, though the indictment doesn't claim that he sold his own Innate stock. Cameron Collins and Zarsky are both charged in the indictment as well. 

In a statement, the congressman's attorneys Jonathan Barr and Jonathan New, of BakerHostetler, said they would "answer the charges filed against [Collins] in court and... mount a vigorous defense to clear his good name." 

"It is notable that even the government does not allege that Congressman Collins traded a single share of Innate Therapeutics stock," they said, noting that Collins would speak about the indictment later in the day on Wednesday. "We are confident he will be completely vindicated and exonerated."



Photo Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, File
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