Jeffrey Epstein's mentor — who once ran a Ponzi scheme — was found dead. He was 77

Steven Hoffenberg, pictured in 1993, was found dead in a Connecticut apartment earlier this week. The 77-year-old Hoffenberg is believed to have died at least seven days before his body was found. (Alex Brandon/AP)

HARTFORD, Conn. — Medical examiners confirmed Friday that convicted Ponzi schemer and Jeffrey Epstein mentor Steven Hoffenberg was the person found dead in a Connecticut apartment earlier this week.

Hoffenberg, 77, is believed to have died at least seven days before his body was found Tuesday in Derby by police, who responded to a request to check on his welfare, authorities said. He had to be identified through dental records because of the decomposition of his body, police said.