The City of West Haven is on track to recover over $1 million in COVID-19 relief funds that were stolen by former lawmakers. Former state Rep. Michael DiMassa and John Bernardo were accused of taking part in a scheme that involved defrauding the city and taxpayers. The stolen funds, totaling $1.2 million, are being returned to cover the cost of the federal pandemic relief funds that were misused. Mayor Dorinda Borer has been working to recover the stolen funds and is pleased with the progress made in getting back the money.
DiMassa submitted fraudulent invoices between July 2020 and October 2021 for services related to a youth violence prevention program and youth violence COVID-19-related expenses. The return of the stolen funds, totaling $1.037,363.82, is a positive outcome for the city and will help ensure that the money is used for its intended purpose of assisting the community during the pandemic. The recovery of the funds demonstrates the city’s commitment to holding those responsible for fraud and corruption accountable.
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