Former Democratic state lawmaker sentenced to over 2 years for stealing COVID funds

Michael DiMassa, a former Connecticut Democratic state lawmaker, was sentenced Wednesday to more than two years in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiring with his wife to steal over $1.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds and other money from the city of West Haven.

DiMassa will serve 27 months behind bars and pay $865,844.45 in restitution, according to The New Haven Register.

He has been free on $250,000 bond since pleading guilty in November to three wire fraud conspiracy charges.

DiMassa could have faced up to 51 months in prison, per federal sentencing guidelines. His attorney, John Gulash, argued that his client should receive a lighter sentence in part due to his challenging upbringing, gambling addiction and lack of previous criminal offenses. 

DiMassa's wife, Lauren DiMassa, reported to prison earlier this month. She is currently pregnant and was sentenced to six months behind bars and six months of home detention.

Authorities said that the former state lawmaker was involved in three schemes, two involving COVID-19 funding, which ultimately cost the city more than $1.2 million.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.