United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

WEST HARTFORD DENTIST SENTENCED TO 18 MONTHS

The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced that U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton today sentenced DR. JAY L. MESTEL, age 43, of Weatogue, Connecticut, to 18 months' imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, and a $25,000 fine. MESTEL pleaded guilty on September 29, 2003, to a one-count information charging him with mail fraud.

When he pleaded guilty to the charge, MESTEL, vice-president and fifty percent shareholder of West Hartford Family Dentistry, admitted that between October 2000 and January 2003, he fraudulently diverted $340,012 in fees belonging to the dental practice. Thereafter, he used the diverted funds for his own benefit.

Judge Arterton ordered MESTEL to make full restitution to West Hartford Family Dentistry, and noted that he had already done so. MESTEL has also filed amended federal income tax returns reflecting his receipt of the embezzled funds.

After sentencing, MESTEL was released and ordered to surrender to the U.S. Marshal on June 11, 2004 at noon.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Ronald S. Apter.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov