SHARE

Seven Charged With Selling Alcohol To Minors After Fatal Crash

STAMFORD, Conn. -- Stamford Police charged seven people with selling alcohol to minors in connection with a fatal crash in February that killed two 20-year-old men.

Two men were killed after the truck they were in slammed into this tree on Hope Street in February, Stamford Police said. A third man was treated and released from hospital.

Two men were killed after the truck they were in slammed into this tree on Hope Street in February, Stamford Police said. A third man was treated and released from hospital.

Photo Credit: Frank MacEachern
Flowers mark the site where a truck slammed into a tree on Hope Street in February, claiming the lives of two young men, Stamford Police said. A third man was treated and released from hospital.

Flowers mark the site where a truck slammed into a tree on Hope Street in February, claiming the lives of two young men, Stamford Police said. A third man was treated and released from hospital.

Photo Credit: Frank MacEachern

At around 1:13 a.m. on February 4, a truck driven by 20-year-old Thomas Molgano was traveling north on Hope Street at a high rate of speed when Molgano lost control and skidded into a tree. Molgano was killed in the crash, and a report by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that he was intoxicated, according to police.

A passenger in Molgano's truck, 20-year-old Lucas Salem, was taken to Stamford Hospital where he died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the crash. Another 20-year-old passenger was treated for his injuries and released. 

Related story: Stamford Police identify 20-year-old men killed in crash

Police launched an investigation to follow the movements of the three men in the hours prior to the crash. They executed nine search and seizure warrants and interview more than 30 people, and identified six underage people who had been served alcohol at businesses that evening, according to police. All of the establishments had Connecticut Liquor Permits, police said.

Police then obtained seven arrest warrants for liquor permittees and four bartenders who served the underage persons, police said. All of them surrendered on Friday and were processed and released on court set bonds, and will be arraigned on June 22.

Ernst Buggisch, 59, of Stamford was charged with three counts of sale of alcohol to a minor and four counts of allow minors to loiter on permit premises. He was released on a $50,000 bond. Buggisch is the permittee of Vinny's Backyard Restaurant on Hope Street.

Cynthia Torres, 28, of Darien was charged with three counts of sale of alcohol to minors, and released on a $10,000 bond.

Melissa Santoro, 24, of Stamford was charged with three counts of sale of alcohol to minors and released on a $10,000 bond. 

Kaley Walsh, 24, of Stamford was charged with three counts of sale of alcohol to minors and released on a $10,000 bond.

James Duggan, 65, of Stamford was charged with four counts of sale of alcohol to minors and four counts of allowing minors to loiter on permit premises. He was released on a $25,000 bond. Duggan is the permittee of Track's Restaurant on Hope Street.

Linda McQuillan, 50, of Stamford was charged with four counts of sale of alcohol to minors and released on a $10,000 bond.

Alex Rosado, 32, of Bridgeport was charged with six counts of sale of alcohol to minors and six counts of allowing minors to loiter on permit premises. He was released on a $25,000 bond. Rosado is permittee of Mystique Gentleman's Club on Poplar Street.

Police said that all three establishments will be referred to the Department of Consumer Protection's Liquor Control Commission.

For real-time Fairfield County news updates in your Facebook feed, be sure to "Like" the Daily Voice page. Click here for DV Gold Coast.

to follow Daily Voice Bridgeport and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE