Bridgeport, Connecticut – A former employee of a Massachusetts-based mechanical contractor has admitted to inflating change orders on construction projects, netting himself over $200,000 in illicit payments, according to a guilty plea entered in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport.
William Sacco, 49, of Pelham, New Hampshire, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge stemming from his involvement in a construction project fraud scheme. Between June 2014 and December 2017, Sacco conspired to defraud his employer and the owners of certain projects he managed by inflating change orders on the projects.
As part of the conspiracy, a co-conspirator subcontractor made more than $200,000 in payments to Sacco and also for Sacco’s benefit, including payments for Sacco’s children’s college tuition, a graduation party, a Mac laptop, airline tickets, hotels and Sacco’s rent.
Sacco and the co-conspirator submitted inflated change orders to Sacco’s employer to offset some of the costs of the payments the co-conspirator made to Sacco. Sacco pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
He has agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $41,195.85. Sacco was arrested on November 22, 2021, and is currently released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for May 9, 2024.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang, with assistance from the New York Office.
The defendant is a project manager for a mechanical contractor based in Massachusetts. He was involved in a construction project fraud scheme that lasted from June 2014 to December 2017.
This case highlights the need for vigilance in the construction industry to prevent such schemes. It also underscores the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies to bring perpetrators to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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