Frederick Zachs, 79, Released From Federal Prison [The Hartford Courant, Conn.]

March 26--Frederick Zachs, the 79-year-old West Hartford businessman who helped his son remain a fugitive for 22 years, was released from prison Friday after serving most of his six-month sentence.

"He's obviously happy to be home," said Hubert Santos, Zachs' attorney, Monday. "He's looking forward to spending time with his grandkids."

Zachs was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Janet Bond Arterton in August. Zachs had been held since late September at Fort Dix Federal Corrections Institution in New Jersey.

Zachs "put his family above the law" when he helped his son, Adam, elude authorities, Arterton told a packed courtroom at the sentencing.

Adam Zachs was sentenced to 60 years in prison in 1988 for killing West Hartford resident Peter Carone during a petty disagreement that took place in 1987 at the Prospect Cafe.

At the time, state law allowed him to post bail while he waited for an appeal to be heard. Adam Zachs was released from jail after his aunt posted $250,000 bond. He then fled to Mexico with his girlfriend and was on the run until he was arrested in February 2011.

In Mexico, Adam Zachs lived a comfortable life. He was married, had children and owned a computer repair business. He was extradited to the U.S in June 2011 and sent to MacDougall-Walker Correctional Facility in Suffield, where he remains.

After years of denying that he had any knowledge of his son's whereabouts, Frederick Zachs admitted last summer that he helped Adam flee to Mexico and sent him money through his employees, Moses Alphonse of Hartford and Isador Bendrihem, now of Brooklyn, N.Y.

The Zachs family owns the C-Thru Ruler Co., a Bloomfield business, and Frederick Zachs was a company executive.

"Given the duration of time over which your conduct took place, the opportunity to turn back at any time, and the breach of the court's trust leads me to the conclusion that a sentence without incarceration would be inappropriate," Arterton told Frederick Zachs during his sentencing.

Frederick Zachs' release from prison does not end his legal troubles. Two civil lawsuits have been filed against him. Both are pending.

One lawsuit was filed in fall 2011 by Carone's mother, Addie Carone of West Hartford, who claims that Frederick Zachs' actions caused her mental anguish and emotional and psychological distress, for which she's seeking damages.

Frederick Zachs has maintained that his homeowners' insurance policy with The Travelers Cos. should provide him with liability coverage in the case. The company's home insurance division disagreed and filed a lawsuit against Zachs earlier this year saying that it should not have to cover his legal expenses or pay damages.

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