Former Sandy Hook Man Charged With Wire Fraud

Federal officials arrested a former Sandy Hook man on September 19, charging him with wire fraud in connection with schemes that he allegedly used to defraud two Sandy Hook couples and a Sherman resident out of more than $900,000.

According to a statement from the US Attorney for Connecticut and the FBI, federal officials arrested Garrett L. “Denny” Denniston, 62, of Boothbay Harbor, Maine, at his home on a criminal complaint that alleges he operated a scheme to defraud multiple investors.

According to court documents on the case, Denniston moved from Sandy Hook to Maine “recently,” but it is unclear when he left the area.

Newtown real estate records indicate that on December 6, 2011, a house and property at 20 Russett Road in Sandy Hook, which was owned by Garrett L. and Donna L. Denniston, was transferred to Nationstar Mortgage of Dallas, Texas.

According to the criminal complaint against Garrett Denniston, he defrauded one unidentified Sandy Hook couple out of $300,000, another Sandy Hook couple out of $400,000, and a Sherman resident out of $207,000.

Denniston, who had known the victims for decades, allegedly told them that their money would be placed into high-yield investments, but he actually diverted their money for his own use and use by his family members, according to the statement.

“Denniston spent a substantial portion of the money that he was given on his personal expenses rather than investing it in accordance with his representations to investors,” according to the statement.

A wire fraud conviction carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.

Denniston is being detained for a for a September 24 court hearing.