Mitch T. Kloter faces criminal charges across four Connecticut jurisdictions after operating an unlicensed airport transportation service that left customers stranded at Logan and JFK airports, court documents reveal. At least 17 people filed formal complaints with state agencies, reporting losses exceeding $4,800.
The 25-year-old Coventry resident was arrested four times between October 7 and October 30, 2025, on charges including larceny, telephone fraud, and illegal operation of a livery service without proper permits.
Table of Contents
Families Stranded, Forced to Pay Twice
Janet Greer paid $575 in January for May transportation from East Windsor to JFK. When pickup day arrived, Kloter showed up two hours late. On her return flight, he called from Rhode Island to say he couldn’t make it. Greer paid Bill’s Limo an additional $375 to get home.
“He offered a full refund and a courtesy transport on my next trip,” Greer told East Windsor police in September. She never received either.
Nicholas Ares and Angie Quintero-Ares booked a June trip to Colombia months in advance, paying $575. The substitute driver Kloter sent for their outbound flight worked fine. But when they landed back at JFK with their 4-year-old, the return driver demanded another $200.
“The driver said Mitch hadn’t paid him,” Nicholas told WFSB. “We had a 4-year-old. We needed to get home. We were hours from home.”
They waited at the airport for nearly four hours before Venmo-ing the driver directly. Kloter promised reimbursement.
“It was a weeklong battle trying to even get him to respond,” Angie said.
How the Fraud Worked
Police investigations found Kloter operated Eastern Transportation and Rentals as a broker, not a licensed carrier. He advertised on Connecticut and Massachusetts Facebook community forums, where customer recommendations drew new business. After collecting advance payments through Venmo, Cash App, and Square, he subcontracted actual transportation to other drivers.
The fraud occurred in multiple forms, according to arrest warrants from four police departments:
Complete no-shows on scheduled pickup dates, forcing families to scramble for last-minute alternatives
Substitute drivers arriving unpaid, demanding additional fees from customers who already paid Kloter
Last-minute cancellations hours before departure, leaving travelers with no transportation
Stranded customers at airports after return flights, with Kloter unreachable by phone or text
When confronted, Kloter repeatedly blamed Venmo processing issues and promised refunds. Police reports show he stopped responding to most customers within weeks.
One Niantic woman lost $825. An Enfield mother paid an extra $149 for an Uber to Logan after Kloter canceled hours before her family of six needed to leave, then paid another driver $224 on the return trip when Kloter again failed to arrange transportation.
No License, No Registration, No Insurance Verification
Connecticut Department of Transportation confirmed Kloter never held a livery permit. Neither his name nor any variation of his business appeared in state records. Connecticut law requires multiple licenses, permits, and insurance documentation to operate commercial passenger transportation.
“There are only about a dozen properly licensed transportation services in Connecticut,” said Michael Lindsey, owner of Lindsey Limo. “These unlicensed operators think they can just go off-app and do it themselves. But the regulations exist for safety reasons.”
The state Department of Transportation told victims to verify permits before booking. Licensed carriers must provide documentation on request.
Eastern Transportation and Rentals was never registered with the Connecticut Secretary of State. Better Business Bureau Serving Connecticut gave the operation an F rating after documenting the complaint pattern.
Four Towns, Multiple Charges
East Lyme Police arrested Kloter on October 7 on fifth-degree telephone fraud and operating a livery service without a permit. A New London resident paid for July transportation that never materialized. When she demanded a refund, Kloter refused.
Connecticut State Police charged him October 14 with fifth-degree larceny after Jayson York, owner of Jay’s Limousine, reported Kloter owed him $600 for a May prom pickup. York completed the job expecting payment. Kloter made excuses for weeks, then stopped responding entirely.
Portland Police filed fifth-degree larceny charges October 14. A woman paid $625 in April for June transportation, then canceled according to the refund policy printed on Kloter’s own invoice. By August, she still hadn’t received her money back.
East Windsor Police arrested Kloter October 30 for Janet Greer’s case, charging him with fifth-degree larceny and illegal operation of a motor vehicle livery without a permit.
Kloter appeared in New London Superior Court on October 22. He requested time to find an attorney. The court scheduled his next appearance for December 5, 2025.
State Agencies Open Investigations
After WFSB Channel 3’s I-Team published its initial investigation in September, Connecticut Republicans sent a letter to the Department of Consumer Protection and Department of Transportation demanding answers.
The Department of Consumer Protection confirmed investigations by multiple agencies, stating they identified “an unusual pattern of complaints concerning this individual and potentially fraudulent business practices.”
Current investigations involve Connecticut State Police, Department of Consumer Protection, Department of Transportation, Better Business Bureau Serving Connecticut, and police departments in East Lyme, Portland, East Windsor, and Coventry.
Better Business Bureau communications director Kristen Johnson said 17 formal complaints came in within weeks. Only three victims received partial refunds, all promised full reimbursement that never came.
“Most paid through peer-to-peer apps like Venmo and Cash App,” Johnson said. “Those platforms offer almost no consumer protection.”
What Connecticut Travelers Should Know
Transportation fraud cases like this highlight verification gaps in social media marketing. Victims consistently said they found Kloter through recommendations in Facebook community forums, which created false confidence.
Connecticut DOT advises travelers to request livery permits and insurance documentation before paying. Legitimate carriers provide this information immediately. The state maintains a verification portal at portal.ct.gov/livery showing licensed operators.
Paying with credit cards offers better protection than peer-to-peer payment apps. Several victims who used credit cards successfully disputed charges. Those who paid through Venmo or Cash App had no recourse.
When reporters contacted Kloter in September, he said he was “trying to make things right.” Police reports show he continued avoiding calls and texts from both customers and law enforcement.
A Pattern Still Under Investigation
Court records show Kloter owes thousands to customers and drivers across Connecticut. His December court date will determine whether additional charges follow. The investigation remains open, with police encouraging anyone who used Eastern Transportation and Rentals to file reports with local departments or the Better Business Bureau.
The case puts Connecticut’s enforcement of transportation regulations under scrutiny. While only a dozen licensed operators serve the state legally, unlicensed services advertise openly on social media with minimal oversight until fraud complaints accumulate.
For the 17 documented victims and dozens more who contacted police but haven’t filed formal reports, the question isn’t whether Kloter’s unlicensed transport business broke the law. The question is how long it took anyone to stop him.
Anyone with information about Eastern Transportation and Rentals can contact their local police department or file a report with Better Business Bureau Serving Connecticut.
