New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Embattled state rep resigns from city job
WEST HAVEN — Michael DiMassa, the Democratic state representative charged Wednesday with one count of wire fraud, submitted his resignation from his administrative assistant job in West Haven City Hall Thursday, effective Oct. 25.
He submitted his resignation in a letter obtained by the Register.
DiMassa was arrested Wednesday on a federal criminal complaint charging him with one count of wire fraud in connection with what authorities say was a scheme to steal federal funds intended for COVID-related expenses.
DiMassa, who is free on bond, said it was with “deep regret” that he submitted his resignation.
Speaker of the House Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, said he expects DiMassa to resign his elected seat as early as Friday.
“I believe we will be getting a resignation letter tomorrow,” Ritter said. He said he got that information from his chief of staff, who in turn got it from a staff member in Secretary of the State Denise Merrill’s office.
DiMassa, 30, also is an employee for the city of West Haven and a resident of the city. He was among the city employees assigned to oversee pandemic relief spending, authorities said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller said the government believes in excess of $636,000 is missing.
In December 2020, the West Haven City Council named DiMassa as one of
two people to serve as a designee for the mayor to handle Coronavirus Relief Funds. Investigators allege he abused the role, submitting invoices to the city’s health department for work performed by Compass Investment Group LLC. Federal authorities allege the work for which the invoices were submitted was not done by Compass. DiMassa formed the business in January with another City Hall employee.
According to court documents, city Corporation Counsel Lee Tiernan told investigators that the city’s health department never selected Compass Investment Group to do any business.
Investigators further allege that, after depositing checks made out to Compass Investment Group by the city, DiMassa made several withdrawals from the business bank account that were shortly followed by thousands of dollars in gambling transactions at Mohegan Sun.
DiMassa did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. Mayor Nancy Rossi declined to comment before press time Thursday evening.