Rossi Commends FBI On 'Speedy' Investigation, Arrest

West Haven CT

21 October, 2021

12:26 AM

Description

WEST HAVEN, CT — West Haven Mayor Nancy R. Rossi issued a statement Wednesday night, commending the FBI on its "speedy investigation and arrest of Rep. Michael A. DiMassa." State Rep. Michael DiMassa, of West Haven, is accused of defrauding the city out of more than $630,000, according to authorities. DiMassa, 30, was arrested Wednesday morning on a federal complaint. He appeared in federal court in New Haven and was released after posting a $250,000 bond. DiMassa, a Democrat who represents the 116th District including parts of West Haven and New Haven, has also been employed by the city of West Haven for about 12 years and currently serves as the Administrative Assistant to the City Council. DiMassa and another person formed Compass Investment Group, LLC in January. "Beginning in February 2021, Compass Investment Group LLC fraudulently billed the City of West Haven and its 'COVID-19 Grant Department' for consulting services purportedly provided to the West Haven Health Department that were not performed," officials wrote in a news release from the U.S. State's Attorney's Office. "From February 2021 through September 2021, the City of West Haven paid Compass Investment Group a total of $636,783.70." DiMassa is also accused of making several large cash withdrawals from the Compass Investment Group LLC bank account, some of which were made "shortly before or after he was recorded as having made a large cash 'buy-in' of gaming chips at the Mohegan Sun Casino," the news release states. DiMassa has been charged with wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison. "If Representative DiMassa broke the public's trust and his oath to protect and serve his constituents and is found guilty of fraudulent activity, I am demanding that he and any other individual(s) involved be held accountable and prosecuted to the full extent of the law," Rossi said. "If convicted, all individuals involved should go to jail. "As I stated when I found and reported this probable fraudulent activity, I will update our residents when information becomes available and when its release will not compromise the ongoing investigation." See also: 'Suspicious' Grant Spending Prompts Investigation In West Haven