Lauren DiMassa, a 38-year-old woman from West Haven, has been sentenced to six months in prison for her role in a scheme to steal COVID-19 relief funds from the City of West Haven. DiMassa’s scheme, which involved the theft of $147,776.10 in funds, was uncovered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General for Investigations.
According to court documents, DiMassa conspired with her husband, Michael DiMassa, and two others to steal funds from the City of West Haven. Michael DiMassa, who was employed by the city and served as a Connecticut State Representative, was authorized to approve the designated relief funds for COVID-related expenditures. However, instead of using the funds for their intended purpose, Michael DiMassa and his co-conspirators submitted fraudulent invoices for services that were never provided.
Between July 2020 and October 2021, Michael DiMassa submitted invoices for services related to a Youth Violence Prevention Program and for Youth Violence COVID-19 Associated Expenses. The payment vouchers requested that checks be made out to Lauren DiMassa, who never provided any services to the City of West Haven. West Haven made 16 payments totaling approximately $147,776.10 to Lauren DiMassa, which she used for her own benefit.
Lauren DiMassa was arrested on February 18, 2022, and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on July 14, 2022. She was released on a $50,000 bond and is required to report to prison on May 23. Her husband, Michael DiMassa, pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on November 1, 2022, and is awaiting sentencing.
On June 14, 2022, John Bernardo, a West Haven city employee who formed a company with Michael DiMassa to bill the city for fraudulent COVID-related consulting services, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Bernardo was sentenced to 13 months in prison and ordered to pay $58,927.25 in restitution on March 22, 2023.
John Trasacco, whose companies received approximately $431,982 through the scheme, was found guilty by a jury on December 2, 2022, of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. He is awaiting sentencing.
The case has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General for Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ray Miller and David Sheldon. Individuals with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-57.
Related Federal Cases
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- Deirdre M. Daly, Election Fraud, Connecticut 2016 · Washington
- Stephen S. Eubanks, Wire Fraud, Massachusetts 2024 · Florida
- Jason J Parmeley, Wire Fraud, IL 2024 · Washington
- Kevin Lee, Wire Fraud and Money Laundering, CA 2024 · New Mexico
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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