Stephen Dinapoli, Bribery Conspiracy, Massachusetts 2022

A Connecticut contractor was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay forfeiture of $66,718 for his role in a bribery conspiracy to procure consulting contracts at colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New York.

Stephen Dinapoli, 42, of Wilton, Conn., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni on March 1, 2022, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Dinapoli pleaded guilty on December 21, 2021, to one count of conspiracy and two counts of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.

Dinapoli is the principal of Big East Environmental, an environmental project management and consulting firm based in Connecticut. Between 2015 and 2019, Dinapoli paid cash bribes to co-conspirator Floyd Young, who held positions involving facility maintenance at three collegiate institutions, including American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts, Cornell Tech, and Cooper Union.

The bribes, typically 15% of the value of each contract, totaled $66,718 and were paid to Young in cash during face-to-face meetings. In total, Dinapoli paid Young to procure contracts with a total value of approximately $444,786.

Young was charged in a separate case and pleaded guilty to steering contracts for construction, repair, maintenance, and other work for the collegiate institutions to favored contractors, including Dinapoli, in exchange for bribe payments.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Breslow of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.

The case is a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in the contracting process. We will continue to work tirelessly to root out corruption and ensure that those who engage in such activities are held accountable.

Dinapoli’s sentence is a significant step in that effort. We hope that it will serve as a deterrent to others who would seek to engage in similar activities.

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