There was new intrigue involving the state’s biggest COVID-19 scandal when a politician who stole $1.2 million in coronavirus relief money testified in court Monday that he gave about a third of it to a man now on trial for his alleged part in the scheme.
Michael DiMassa, a state representative and a political figure in West Haven — until his arrest a year ago — said in federal court that he arranged, over cocktails and dinners at an Italian restaurant in Branford, to have the city pay between $300,000 and $400,000 to John Trasacco.
At one of the meetings between the two, DiMassa said that, as he stood at the bar while Trasacco passed by, he “felt movement near his left side pocket.”
“I proceeded to go to the restroom and checked in my pocket and pulled out a wad of $100 bills,” DiMassa testified.
Under instructions from U.S. District Judge Omar Williams, DiMassa could not be questioned about “organized crime” when testifying about his relationship with Trasacco or answer questions about what he knows, if anything, of Trasacco’s history of criminal convictions. He was allowed to say that Trasacco told him, during their first meeting in a cigar bar, that he had served time in prison.
During discussion in court over limitations on what the government could ask DiMassa, federal prosecutor Ray Miller said his actions can be explained, at least in part, by fear. At one point, over objections by the U.S. Attorney’s office and the Courant, Williams closed the courtroom and ejected the public from what he said would be “a matter that is under seal.”
DiMassa, who faces a prison sentence after pleading guilty to three separate conspiracies to steal COVID relief money from West Haven, is one of the government’s chief witnesses against Trasacco, who is on trial for charges accusing him of scheming with DiMassa in one of the conspiracies.
Miller’s first question to DiMassa, after calling him to the witness stand, was “Did you steal $1.2 million from the city of West Haven?”
“Regrettably, yes” DiMassa, 32, answered, “I did steal $1.2 million from the city of West Haven.”
DiMassa’s testimony sounded like someone delivering an accounting report at a business meeting — only he was describing how he concocted a succession of phony invoices, slipped them past West Haven’s unwitting finance director and blew much of the money gambling. He is slightly built and wears a wispy goatee.
He said he stole about $145,000 in money earmarked for youth violence prevention with his wife and another $350,000 or so for coronavirus mediation programs with his friend John Bernardo. Both DiMassa’s wife and Bernardo have pleaded guilty. DiMassa said he kept most of the money from both thefts.
It was Bernardo, DiMassa said, who introduced him to Trasacco at what apparently was a chance encounter at a cigar bar.
“We talked,” DiMassa testified. “We got to know each other. We smoked. I believe we had a beer.”
Sporting events were being broadcast on multiple television sets and DiMassa said conversation turned to gambling, a subject about which he and Trasacco know something.
Federal prosecutors have said DiMassa’s theft of coronavirus money corresponds with his purchases of tens of thousands of dollars of chips at the Mohegan Sun casino. Before DiMassa took the witness stand Monday, an executive of the Foxwoods Resort Casino identified casino records and surveillance photos that show Trasacco was betting tens of thousands of dollars a week there during the period funds were being stolen from West Haven.
“I told him I bet offshore, through online sources,” DiMassa testified about the conversation over cigars. “He told me someone that I could gamble through that would be safer than online or overseas.”
Not long after, DiMassa testified that he received instructions on how to place bets through what he acknowledged was an illegal, on-line gambling portal. DiMassa said he had an account with a $1,200 weekly limit and he usually lost it all.
DiMassa said that his conversations with Trasacco turned to distribution of West Haven’s coronavirus relief money. During one dinner, he said Trasacco handed him a bill for $63,359 of COVID supplies, such as masks and easels to hold placards.
“I went to (a restaurant) one night with Mr. Bernardo and Mr. Trasacco produced these invoices over drinks and dinner,” DiMassa said. “He said, ‘Here is the invoice we discussed about COVID.’ “
DiMassa, who was authorized to approve West Haven’s COVID spending, said he arranged to personally collect the check from the city finance department and delivered it to Trasacco.
“I brought that check to DOMA and gave it to Mr. Trasacco,” DiMassa testified. “I know he said ‘Thank you.’ I don’t recall if there was any other specific conversation about the check. I believe he said ‘Thank you’ and put the check in his jacket pocket.”
DiMassa said Trasacco referred to the COVID supplies as “product.”
“I believe he said the product was in production and he said he would give it to me when it was ready,” DiMassa testified.
Eventually, DiMassa said he received 280 masks, 10 easels and even backdrops for use in online education in return for more than $63,000.
In future transactions, DiMassa said Trasacco produced nothing in exchange for receiving city payments.
