Danbury businessman James Galante and several employees of his trash hauling company were arrested Friday morning as part of the federal investigation into organized crime and the region's trash hauling industry.
Galante was to be brought to U.S. District Court for arraignment.
A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office, Tom Carson, confirmed Galante's arrest.
Galante was arrested at his Danbury trash hauling company, Automated Waste Disposal, according to his attorney, Hugh Keefe.
"It was fully expected. This particular date was not, but the next issue now is his release. I expect they will seek detention," Keefe said.
H. James Pickerstein, the attorney for Galante's businesses, confirmed that several employees were also arrested with Galante.
"I'm told it's a 111 page indictment that is under seal and I have not seen it," Pickerstein said.
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On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
The amended complaint states that plaintiffs sought to remedy the continued discriminatory and unauthorized enforcement of federal immigration laws against the Latino residents of the City of Danbury by Danbury's mayor and its police department.
Plaintiffs allege that the arrests violated their Fourth Amendment rights and the Connecticut Constitution because defendants conducted the arrests without valid warrants, in the absence of exigent circumstances, and without probable cause to believe that plaintiffs were engaged in unlawful activity. In addition, plaintiffs allege that defendants improperly stopped, detained, investigated, searched and arrested plaintiffs. Plaintiffs also allege that defendants violated their Fourteenth Amendment rights when they intentionally targeted plaintiffs, and arrested and detained them on the basis of their race, ethnicity and perceived national origin. Plaintiffs raise First Amendment, Due Process and tort claims.
Plaintiffs request declaratory relief, damages and attorneys fees.
On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
