Staten Island Tech CEO Admits Stealing From Catholic Schools

BROOKLYN – John Comito, the chief executive officer of Staten Island-based AutoExec Computer Systems, Inc., pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, admitting to pilfering hundreds of thousands of dollars intended to upgrade internet access at 26 Catholic schools across New York City. The brazen scheme left vulnerable students shortchanged and a trail of broken promises in its wake.

Comito, appearing before United States Magistrate Judge Roanne L. Mann in federal court, faces up to 20 years behind bars when sentenced. The case was jointly announced by Acting United States Attorney Seth D. DuCharme, Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector-in-Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service, and David L. Hunt, Inspector General of the Federal Communications Commission.

According to court documents, the fraud revolved around the E-rate program, a federal initiative designed to provide funding for telecommunications services and internet access at schools and libraries, particularly those serving economically disadvantaged communities. AutoExec contracted with schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn starting in 2013, promising crucial upgrades. But Comito didn’t deliver. At least eight schools received absolutely nothing. The rest got shoddy, outdated, or substandard equipment – if anything at all.

Despite the failures, Comito brazenly submitted false certifications to the FCC, claiming the work was completed as promised, enabling AutoExec to pocket approximately $426,000 in E-rate funds, alongside additional payments directly from the schools. The money, investigators say, wasn’t reinvested – it went to personal expenses, lining Comito’s pockets while students suffered. “This was no Robin Hood story,” stated Inspector-in-Charge Bartlett, “but a story of greed and total disregard for those in need of a quality and accessible education.”

“With today’s guilty plea, Comito will now be held to account for defrauding the E-rate federal program and schools in order to enrich himself at the expense of the deserving children the program was designed to serve,” DuCharme stated. The FCC-OIG echoed that sentiment, emphasizing their commitment to protecting the E-Rate program from those who seek to exploit it for personal gain. This case highlights the crucial collaboration between federal agencies to root out corruption and ensure taxpayer dollars are used as intended.

The investigation, a joint effort between the USPIS and FCC-OIG, underscores the vulnerability of vital programs like E-rate to unscrupulous actors. While Comito awaits sentencing, the schools he defrauded are left to grapple with the consequences of his greed, and the children he cheated are the ultimate victims. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it moves towards resolution.