DiMassa’s Wife Pleads Guilty In West Haven COVID-19 Fraud Scheme: Feds

WEST HAVEN, CT — The wife of former State Rep. Michael DiMassa has pleaded guilty in connection with defrauding West Haven out of COVID-19 relief funds, according to officials.

Lauren DiMassa, formerly known as Lauren Knox, 38, of West Haven, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Hartford to a conspiracy charge stemming from her role in a scheme to steal COVID-19 relief funds from the city, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery announced.

Michael DiMassa, a Democrat who represented the 116th District including parts of West Haven and New Haven, was arrested Oct. 20, 2021 on a federal complaint. He then resigned from his seat in the state House of Representatives and as Administrative Assistant to the West Haven City Council.

Lauren DiMassa is accused of conspiring with her husband to “steal money that was provided to West Haven to alleviate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to a news release.

“Between approximately July 2020 and October 2021, DiMassa’s husband submitted fraudulent invoices to West Haven for services related to a Youth Violence Prevention Program and for Youth Violence COVID-19 Associated Expenses,” officials wrote in the news release. “These invoices listed charges for in-home counseling, cleaning supplies, special needs hourly service, wi-fi assistance for low/moderate income families, counseling services, license fees, a fall youth clinic, meals, support group supplies, equipment rental, and youth clinic support group. The payment vouchers requested that checks be made out to directly to DiMassa.

“West Haven made 16 payments totaling approximately $147,776.10 to DiMassa, who never provided any services to the City of West Haven. DiMassa and her husband used the proceeds for their own benefit.”

Lauren DiMassa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of 30 years in prison.

She was arrested Feb. 18 and is released on a $50,000 pending sentencing, which hasn’t been scheduled.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice's National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form here.