The federal criminal trial of a former insurance executive who brought unwanted attention to Hartford City Hall begins this week.
Earl O'Garro once ran Hybrid Insurance, which did work for the city. But federal prosecutors got involved after news broke that he hadn't paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in insurance premiums on the city's behalf.
They eventually charged O'Garro and said he defrauded the city of Hartford, the state, and others. Concerns about O'Garro were first raised by city and school officials in Hartford. One of their issues was this: O'Garro was doing business with the city at the same time that he had private financial dealings with the family of Hartford Treasurer Adam Cloud.
Cloud has not been charged and his attorney has called him a "victim." But Cloud could appear during trial. He is on the government's witness list to testify. So is former state economic development official Ron Angelo. Jury selection begins Monday. Trial begins Tuesday.