Former Connecticut lawmaker sentenced to 27 months for stealing $1.2 million in COVID-19 aid to fuel gambling addiction

Michael DiMassa, a former Connecticut state representative, pleaded guilty to stealing over $1.2 million from the city of West Haven, mostly in federal coronavirus-related aid, to fuel his gambling addiction.
DiMassa was sentenced to 27 months in prison and ordered to pay West Haven nearly $866,000 in restitution for billing the city for services never rendered.
DiMassa's co-defendants were also convicted and ordered to pay varying amounts of restitution.
DiMassa's lawyer compared him to a compulsive gambler portrayed by Adam Sandler in the movie "Uncut Gems."
Prosecutors sought a prison sentence in the federal guidelines range for DiMassa and over $1 million in restitution to West Haven.