Ex-West Haven City Hall Worker Pleads Guilty In Fraud Scheme: Feds

WEST HAVEN, CT — Former West Haven City Hall employee John Bernardo has pleaded guilty in connection with defrauding the city out of COVID-19 relief funds, according to officials.

Bernardo, 66, of West Haven, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Hartford to a conspiracy charge stemming from his role in a scheme to steal COVID-19 relief funds from the city, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery announced.

Bernardo was a housing specialist in the West Haven's Community Development Administration. He was listed as a principal in the Compass Investment Group, LLC, that was formed with former state Rep. Michael DiMassa in January.

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.

"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 February 2021 through September 2021, the City of West Haven paid Compass Investment Group a total of $636,783.70. Bernardo received a portion of these funds."

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

Bernardo was arrested on Nov. 4, 2021. He is released on a $250,000 pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled, officials said.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General for Investigations.

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.