A former state representative has begun serving a federal prison sentence after stealing more than $1.2 million from the city of West Haven — most of it in federal coronavirus-related aid.
Former State Representative and West Haven city employee Michael DiMassa pleaded guilty on Nov. 1, 2022, to three counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
He was supposed to start his prison sentence on July 31, but a judge postponed the sentence to allow him to travel to Texas if he needed to be with his pregnant wife and bring the baby back to Connecticut.
After the baby was born, he was serving as the caretaker.
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His wife, Lauren DiMassa, Lauren DiMassa was arrested on Feb. 18, 2022, and pleaded guilty on July 14, 2022. to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
She received a six-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to conspiring with her husband to steal COVID-19 relief funds from the City of West Haven, according to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
She began her sentence on May 23 and she was scheduled to be released on Nov. 11, but was released on Oct. 20, according to the Bureau of Prisons website.
Local
Michael DiMassa is at the United States Penitentiary, Lompoc in California.
He will spend more than two years in prison and then will have five years of supervised release.
The case
Between July 2020 and October 2021, Michael DiMassa submitted fraudulent invoices to West Haven for services related to a youth violence prevention program and for youth violence COVID-19-related expenses, according to the U.S. Attorney.
The city made 16 payments to DiMassa, totaling $147,776.10. The invoices listed charges for in-home counseling, cleaning supplies, special needs hourly service, wi-fi assistance for low- and moderate-income families, licensing fees, equipment rentals, meals, and a fall youth clinic.
The DiMassas never provided any services to West Haven, according to prosecutors.
Lauren DiMassa was also ordered to pay $147,776.10 in restitution.
The U.S. Attorney’s office said Michael DiMassa agreed to pay restitution of $1.2 million.
Federal prosecutors said Michael DiMassa and John Bernardo, who was a housing specialist in West Haven's Office of Community Development Administration, formed Compass Investment Group, LLC in January 2021 and in February 2021 and the company fraudulently billed the City of West Haven and its “COVID-19 Grant Department” for services that were not performed.
Between February 2021 and September 2021, the City of West Haven paid Compass Investment Group more than $636,000 and federal officials said Bernardo received a portion of the funds.
Bernardo was sentenced to 13 months in prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy charge, according to the United States Attorney. He is due to be released from prison in 2024.
The judge ordered him to pay $58,927.25 in restitution.
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