Property owner sentenced for lying about lead hazards
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Angel Elliot Dalfin, 58, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of making a false document, was sentenced to serve five years’ probation, to include eight months of home confinement with electronic monitoring, by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Dalfin was also ordered to perform 600 hours of community service at Habitat for Humanity within the first three years of probation.…
Press release
November 13, 2023
Movement Mortgage to Pay $23.7 Million to Resolve Allegations it Caused the Submission of False Claims to Government Mortgage Programs
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Movement Mortgage, LLC, has agreed to pay the United States $23.75 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by failing to comply with material program requirements when it originated and underwrote mortgages insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), United States Attorney…
Press release
June 29, 2023
Former West Haven Employee and State Representative Sentenced to Prison for Stealing COVID Relief and Other City Funds
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL DiMASSA, 32, of West Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 27 months of imprisonment, followed five years of supervised release, for his involvement in schemes that resulted in the theft of more than $1.2 million dollars in COVID relief funds and other funds from the City of West Haven. Judge…
Press release
May 31, 2023
Justice Department Secures $400,000 in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Connecticut Landlord
More than $10 Million Secured for Victims of Sexual Harassment Through Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative
The Justice Department announced today that it has secured an agreement to resolve a lawsuit alleging that New London, Connecticut, landlord Richard Bruno violated the Fair Housing Act by sexually harassing female tenants and applicants. The settlement also resolves claims against Domco LLC and Domco II LLC, which…
Press release
April 20, 2023
Canton Woman Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding HUD Section 8 Housing Program
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DONNA CARNEY, 67, of Canton, was sentenced today by U.S. Circuit Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in Bridgeport to one month of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for defrauding a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) program.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in approximately 1995, Carney…
Press release
April 19, 2023
West Haven Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Scheme to Steal City's COVID Relief Funds
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHN TRASACCO, 50, of West Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 96 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy and fraud offenses related to a scheme to steal COVID-19 relief funds from the City of West Haven.
According to the evidence presented during a trial in…
Press release
April 03, 2023
Former West Haven City Employee Sentenced to 13 Months in Federal Prison for Stealing COVID-19 Relief Funds
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHN BERNARDO, 66, of West Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 13 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for participating in a scheme to steal COVID-19 relief funds from the City of West Haven.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Bernardo was employed…
Press release
March 22, 2023
NYCHA Superintendents Sentenced To Prison For Accepting Bribes
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that LEROY GIBBS was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon to 33 months in prison, and JULIO FIGUEROA was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote to 15 months in prison, for accepting bribes in exchange for awarding no-bid contracts at the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) facilities where they worked. …
Press release
February 09, 2023
Former Prattsville Town Supervisor Sentenced for Grant Fraud
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kory O’Hara, age 45, the former Town Supervisor of Prattsville, New York, was sentenced today to 1 year of probation, and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and $24,915 in restitution to the State of New York, for committing wire fraud in connection with a grant extended to Prattsville in the wake of Hurricane Irene.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; New York State Comptroller Thomas P.…
Press release
December 08, 2022
Former Rochester Housing Authority Chair Going To Prison For Fraud, Money Laundering And Lying To The FBI
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that George H. Moses, 53, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted by a federal jury for his role in defrauding three nonprofit organizations; Rochester Housing Charities (RHC), which provides housing to the elderly and disabled; the North East Area Development (NEAD), which assists low-income residents in the northeast quadrant of Rochester; and Quad A for Kids, which provided after-school…
Press release
November 29, 2022
NYCHA Superintendents Plead Guilty To Accepting Bribes
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that LEROY GIBBS and JULIO FIGUEROA each pled guilty to accepting bribes for awarding no-bid contracts at the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) facilities at which they served as superintendents. GIBBS pled guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein on October 7, 2022, and will be sentenced by United States District…
Press release
November 03, 2022
Former West Haven Employee and State Representative Admits Stealing COVID Relief and Other City Funds
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Christina D. Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, announced that MICHAEL DiMASSA, 31, of West Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in…
Press release
November 01, 2022
Former West Haven Employee and State Representative Admits Stealing COVID Relief and Other City Funds
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, David Sundberg, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Christina D. Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, announced that MICHAEL DiMASSA, 31, of West Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in…
Press release
November 01, 2022
Canton Woman Admits Defrauding HUD Section 8 Housing Program
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DONNA CARNEY, 67, of Canton, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Circuit Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in Bridgeport to one count of theft of government property.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in approximately 1995, Carney began receiving Section 8 tenant-based rental assistance under the housing choice voucher program of…
Press release
October 12, 2022
Former Prattsville Town Supervisor Pleads Guilty to Fraud
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kory O’Hara, age 45, formerly the Town Supervisor of Prattsville, pled guilty today to wire fraud in connection with a grant extended to Prattsville in the wake of Hurricane Irene.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli; Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); John…
Press release
July 18, 2022
Wife of Former West Haven City Employee Admits Role in Scheme to Steal COVID Relief Funds
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LAUREN DiMASSA, formerly known as LAUREN KNOX, 38, of West Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to a conspiracy charge stemming from her role in a scheme to steal COVID relief funds from the City of West Haven.
According to court documents and statements made in court, DiMassa conspired with her husband,…
Press release
July 12, 2022
West Haven City Employee Admits Role in Scheme to Steal Covid Relief Funds
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHN BERNARDO, 66, of West Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to a conspiracy charge stemming from his role in a scheme to steal COVID relief funds from the City of West Haven.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Bernardo was employed by the City of West Haven as a Housing…
Press release
June 14, 2022
Property Manager Pleads Guilty For His Role In The Failure To Properly Notify Tenants About Lead Hazards
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Paul Richard Heil, 52, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of aiding and abetting the failure to provide lead paint hazard warning notice before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy. The charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that Heil was a…
Press release
March 09, 2022
Property Manager Pleads Guilty For His Role In The Failure To Properly Notify Tenants About Lead Hazards
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Paul Richard Heil, 52, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of aiding and abetting the failure to provide lead paint hazard warning notice before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy. The charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that Heil was a…
Press release
March 09, 2022
Former City Councilman Adam McFadden Going To Prison For Wire Fraud Conviction And Filing A False Tax Return
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Adam C. McFadden, 50, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of wire fraud and filing a false tax return, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. McFadden was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $265,528.00 to Quad A For Kids, the Internal Revenue Service and Rochester Housing Charities.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard A.…
Press release
February 11, 2022