Retired Troopers Karol & Michael Siedel Arrested for Embezzlement

Two retired state troopers are facing first-degree larceny charges after allegedly embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from an electrical contracting company in which one of the men was a partner.

Karol Siedel, 63, and Michael T. Siedel, 39, both of 41 Kingswood Drive., turned themselves in to Southington police this morning and are to be arraigned this afternoon in Superior Court in Bristol. Both men face two counts of first-degree larceny and a single count of conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny.

The father and son were charged after an investigation that began in August 2007, when a business partner of Michael Siedel in J&M Electric LLC told police money had been improperly transferred to K&J Construction Group, a firm owned by Karol and Michael Siedel. The money was allegedly used to build a house in Wolcott and to purchase a home in Marco Island, Fla., police said.

Karol Siedel retired from the state police in February 1994 after nearly 21 years on the job. He then worked as a sheriff and then a judicial marshal at the New Britain courthouse. He left that position in March 2005.

Michael Siedel was a trooper about 10 years and served for a time on former Gov. John G. Rowland's 12-person security detail when he retired in about 2004. Siedel remained on the job long enough to vest his state benefits, then left to work as an electrician with his father, sources said.

Bail for Karol Siedel was set at $25,000, and bail for Michael Siedel was set at $50,000.

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http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/crime/news_wtnh_southington_father_son_embezzlement_troopers_200906251505