Man Pleads Guilty To Stealing $240K From Non-Profit For Disabled

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Michael Verzella of Branford pleaded guilty to federal charges that he ripped off the non-profit he was working for, and some of the clients it served, to the tune of "at least" a quarter of a million dollars, federal prosecutors said.

The 41-year-old faces up to 20 years in prison and has to pay $450,000 in restitution.

Verzella, out on a $100,000 bond until sentencing in May, worked for Chapel Haven. The agency provides services and residential housing to people with developmental and social disabilities. In his role overseeing activities and events, federal investigators found that over the course of six years, he used the Chapel Haven credit card charging $176,000 for sports events, concerts and the like where he brought family and friends along.

And, the FBI also learned that he defrauded clients out of $68,000 in cash.

According to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut and court documents, Verzella was employed as the Supervisor of Recreation and Operations at Chapel Haven Schleifer Center. He had an agency credit card that was supposed to be used to pay for client expenses related to Chapel Haven like tickets to off-site events including trips to dances, bingo nights, plays, shopping malls, and sporting events.

But Verzella admitted in court by pleading guilty, that between January 2012 and February 2018 he used the Chapel Haven credit card to buy tickets for him and his family and friends to go to games and shows and then submitted fraudulent purchase orders for these expenses to the Chapel Haven business office, representing them to be for recreational events for the students and community members of Chapel Haven. He also used the credit card to purchase gift cards for his personal use. Through this scheme, Verzella defrauded Chapel Haven of approximately $175,872.

And, Verzella had Chapel Haven employees he supervised collect cash from Chapel Haven students and community members to attend in-house events at Chapel Haven, even though the fees for attending such events were already included in the tuition for students and billed by invoice to community members. He kept at least $68,000 in collected cash for himself.

Verzella has agreed to pay total restitution of $450,062.08, which includes expenses Chapel Haven incurred while investigating his criminal conduct.

He pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for May 22, 2020.

Verzella was originally arrested on a criminal complaint in December of 2018. He is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.