Accountant's embezzlement case moved to Stamford court
stamfordadvocate.com | 5/15/08 | John Nickerson
NORWALK - A Westport accountant accused of stealing $500,000 from his asset management firm was given a bond hearing yesterday at state Superior Court in Norwalk. Westport police Friday charged Noel Lara, 40, of 25 Saugatuck Ave., with first-degree larceny.
Judge Burton Kaplan left Lara's bond at $1 million and transferred the case to the Part A docket at state Superior Court in Stamford, where more serious cases are heard.
For the bond hearing, Lara was represented by public defender Christine Schwartzstein. According to his court file, Lara, a native of the Philippines, was working for MUUS Asset Management at 228 Saugatuck Ave. in Westport. He has no criminal record and has lived in Connecticut for 18 years, Bond Commissioner Daniel Melendez said.
Westport police Lt. David Kassay said Lara's arrest stems from an embezzlement investigation of more than $500,000 at MUUS.
According to a Internet biography of founder Michael Sonnenfeldt, MUUS & Co. was established in 1998 and is based in Westport. It is a privately owned investment fund that focuses on private investment, real estate and private equity investments. MUUS & Co. yesterday said it had no comment.
Lara's arrest warrant has been sealed because the investigation is ongoing, Kassay said. Because of that, few details were available yesterday.
A resident of the nine-unit apartment building where Lara lived said the accountant moved in two or three years ago. He did not appear to be living lavishly, the resident said.
Lara is due to appear in court for his arraignment on the larceny charge May 27.