Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Lawyer for the District of Connecticut, right this moment introduced {that a} jury in Hartford federal courtroom has discovered JOHN TRASACCO, 50, of West Haven, responsible of conspiracy and fraud offenses. The trial earlier than U.S. District Choose Omar A. Williams started on November 21 and the jury returned the responsible verdicts this afternoon.
In line with the proof introduced through the trial, Michael DiMassa was a Connecticut State Consultant who was additionally employed by the Metropolis of West Haven, most lately serving because the Administrative Assistant to the Metropolis Council. In April 2020, the State of Connecticut was allotted cash by the U.S. Division of the Treasury by means of the Coronavirus Aid Fund (“CRF”), which was established by the Coronavirus Assist, Aid, and Financial Safety Act (“CARES Act”) for the aim of serving to native governments pay prices incurred in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. From July 2020 by means of September 2021, the Metropolis of West Haven obtained roughly $1,150,257 in monetary help from this fund. DiMassa, who was approved to approve the designated aid funds for the reimbursement of COVID-related expenditures incurred by West Haven, conspired with others to steal these funds and different West Haven funds by means of the submission of fraudulent invoices, and subsequent cost, for COVID aid items and providers that have been by no means supplied.
The investigation revealed that DiMassa conspired with Trasacco by means of the submission of fraudulent invoices from L & H Firm and JIL Sanitation Providers, two corporations managed by Trasacco, to West Haven for items and providers, together with 1000’s of models of Private Protecting Gear (PPE), HVAC upkeep at a number of municipal places, COVID provides for the Board of Training, and cleansing providers for numerous municipal and college buildings, together with one college constructing that had been vacant and deserted for a number of years. Trasacco’s corporations obtained roughly $431,982 by means of this scheme.
The jury discovered Trasacco responsible of 1 depend of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one depend of wire fraud. Every cost carries a most time period of imprisonment of 20 years. A sentencing date shouldn’t be scheduled.
Trasacco, who had been launched on a $100,000 bond, was remanded to custody on the conclusion of right this moment’s courtroom proceedings pending his capacity to fulfill his elevated bond necessities.
On November 1, 2022, DiMassa pleaded responsible to a few counts of wire fraud, admitting that he defrauded the Metropolis of West Haven of greater than $1.2 million by means of this scheme and two different schemes. He awaits sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Division of Housing and City Growth – Workplace of Inspector Common for Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ray Miller and David Sheldon.
People with details about allegations of tried fraud involving COVID-19 are inspired to report it by calling the Division of Justice’s Nationwide Heart for Catastrophe Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or by way of the NCDF Net Criticism Type at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.