West Haven City Employee Charged in COVID Relief Funds Fraud Scheme
Summary
A press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut dated Thursday, November 4, 2021, announcing that John Bernardo, 65, of West Haven, a Housing Specialist employed by the City of West Haven, was arrested on a federal criminal complaint charging conspiracy to defraud the city. It states that he appeared before U.S. District Judge Robert M. Spector and was released on a $250,000 bond. As alleged in the complaint, in January 2021 Bernardo and Michael DiMassa, an aide to the City Council and a Connecticut State Representative, formed a company called Compass Investment Group. The complaint alleges that beginning in February 2021 the company billed the city and its COVID-19 Grant Department for consulting services to the Health Department that were not performed.
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Full text
You are here Justice News Department of Justice U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Connecticut FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, November 4, 2021 West Haven City Employee Charged in COVID Relief Funds Fraud Scheme Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Christina D. Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, announced that JOHN BERNARDO, 65, of West Haven, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him for his role in conspiracy to defraud the City of West Haven. Bernardo surrendered to law enforcement this morning. He appeared before U.S. District Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and was released on a $250,000 bond. As alleged in the complaint, Bernardo has been employed by the City of West Haven as a Housing Specialist in the office of Community Development Administration. Michael DiMassa was employed as an Administrative Assistant to the City Council and was a Connecticut State Representative elected to represent West Haven and New Haven. In January 2021, DiMassa and Bernardo formed Compass Investment Group, LLC. Beginning in February 2021, Compass Investment Group LLC fraudulently billed the City of West Haven and its “COVID-19 Grant Department” for consulting services purportedly provided to the West Haven Health Department that were not performed. From February 2021 through September 2021, the City of West Haven paid Compass Investment Group a total of $636,783.70. It is alleged that Bernardo received at least $45,000 of these funds. The complaint charges Bernardo with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Both offenses carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. DiMassa was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on October 20, 2021. He is released on a $250,000 bond. Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that a criminal complaint is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General for Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller. Topic(s): Coronavirus Financial Fraud Public Corruption Component(s): USAO - Connecticut Updated November 4, 2021
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