Former Fairfield DPW Director Pleads Guilty In Fill Pile Case

FAIRFIELD, CT — Joe Michelangelo, the former Fairfield Public Works director charged in the fill pile case, has pleaded guilty to a host of violations in connection with the ongoing illegal dumping and corruption case, and agreed to testify in court at the pending trials of the other defendants.

Michelangelo appeared in a near-empty Bridgeport Superior Courtroom Monday afternoon as part of a plea deal reached between his attorney, Bridgeport-based Eugene Riccio, and state prosecutor Tamberlyn Chapman.

The charges Michelangelo pleaded guilty to were:

• Receiving Solid Waste at an Unpermitted Facility
• Illegal Disposal of Asbestos
• Illegal Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
• Conspiracy to Commit the crimes of First-Degree Larceny, Second-Degree Forgery and various environmental offenses

While he has pleaded guilty to these offenses, Michelangelo still faces charges of first-degree larceny and second-degree forgery.

Following the hearing, Riccio declined to comment.

"Unfortunately, I can not comment on any aspect of the case," Riccio told Patch.

In the audience to witness Michelangelo's plea were First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, Chief of Staff Jackie Bertolone and Town Attorney James Baldwin.

Michelangelo agreed to plead guilty to knowingly participating in the massive illegal dumping scheme, which saw thousands of cubic yards of contaminated waste and other materials dumped at sites in Fairfield over a period of years, dating back to 2013.

Chapman is recommending Michelangelo receive a sentence of eight years in prison, suspended after serving two years and a day, followed by seven years of probation. He also would have to pay restitution to the town of $500,000.

Michelangelo is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 3, 2023, by Judge Kevin Russo, who told Michelangelo that between now and the sentencing date, the plea deal could collapse if new information or other factors are brought to light.

The town is facing millions of dollars in costs to remediate the toxic fill piles, including the possible razing and rebuilding of the Penfield Pavilion, which was constructed on contaminated fill.

Other Fairfield officials and others who remain defendants in the case are:

• Former Fairfield conservation director and interim head of public works Brian Carey
• Former Fairfield human resources director Emmet Hibson
• Robert J. Grabarek, an environmental contractor hired by the town
• Former Fairfield public works superintendent Scott Bartlett
• Former Fairfield chief financial officer Robert Mayer
• Jason Julian, co-owner of Julian Enterprises

All are facing conspiracy, corruption, illegal dumping or related charges, and Michelangelo has agreed to testify at their trials, as part of the plea deal. All have pleaded not guilty, and they are seeking accelerated rehabilitation in connection with the case.

Michelangelo is the first defendant in the case to plead guilty. The six other defendants are due in court on Nov. 14 in connection with their accelerated rehabilitation applications.

Additionally, Michelangelo has essentially implicated former First Selectman Mike Tetreau in the scheme, though Tetreau has not been charged. During her summation of the case, Chapman said the "decision-making went all the way to the top of the former administration."

Tetreau has been referred to in legal documents as an "uncharged co-conspirator."

After the hearing, Kupchick said she was "heartbroken for the community" in having to deal with the ongoing mess of the fill pile case, but added that Monday was an important step forward.

"I feel relieved that finally someone in this entire conspiracy case has pleaded guilty to defrauding the people of Fairfield," Kupchick told Patch. "It's the first time anyone has admitted guilt. Hopefully, justice will finally be done."