Federal Grand Jury Probe Deepens as State Confirms Cooperation
HARTFORD, CT — A new Hartford Courant report confirms that the State of Connecticut is officially cooperating with a federal grand jury investigating the misuse of tens of millions in nonprofit grant funding — and cannabis licensing corruption is now on the radar.
Part of Cannabis Licensing and Social Equity · Who Owns Connecticut Cannabis, and Who Pays
NEW KEY DEVELOPMENTS:
Up to $800,000 in public funds disappeared, including $300,000 in state money, through suspicious wire transfers by Hartford-area nonprofits in 2023 and 2024. Federal authorities believe intercepted transfers or internal theft may be responsible.
The probe now includes scrutiny of how nonprofits were awarded funds, and whether political pressure influenced hiring or spending decisions.
Connecticut’s cannabis licensing process is officially under FBI review. Agents are asking how millions in application fees and license approvals were handled in the state’s highly competitive marijuana cultivation and retail market.
Subpoenas have been served to multiple parties, including:
- State Senator Douglas McCrory (D-Bloomfield), whose district includes North Hartford
- His political ally, consultant Sonserae “Cicero” Hamlin, who reportedly advised both cannabis license applicants and local nonprofits.
Nonprofits under scrutiny include:
- Blue Hills Civic Association, which attempted a flagged transfer to another nonprofit, My People.
- These transactions triggered the state to freeze payments to multiple nonprofits in April 2025.
The probe traces back to ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) pandemic recovery money — part of the $350 billion sent to states and local governments since 2021. Lawmakers are accused of loosening financial oversight, allowing political figures to influence grant distribution.
Republican leaders now call for transparency, saying the state cannot rely on the FBI to clean up mismanagement after the fact.
CT CannaTimes previously reported that federal interest in Connecticut’s cannabis program and grant funding structure has been growing — today’s developments confirm that cannabis licensing is officially part of the federal corruption probe.
We’ll continue to report on every development as this investigation unfolds.
If you have information, photos, or documents related to Connecticut cannabis licensing corruption or ARPA fund misuse, message us confidentially.
No whistleblower names will ever be published. We’re here to protect your voice.
This story was originally published by Connecticut CannaTimes on Facebook on August 1, 2025 and was migrated to this website on October 16, 2026. The publication date above is the original date.
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