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January 22, 2008

Update: Westerly school official pleads not guilty to fraud

A Westerly School Committee member today pleaded not guilty to two felony fraud counts that resulted from allegations his contracting company received payment for work that was not done.

An elderly couple told police they wrote Dominic DiFazio's company -- Dom DiFazio Contracting -- two checks totaling more than $2,700 to replace the windows in their house.

According to a police report, both checks were cashed the days they were written -- Sept. 4 and Sept. 7 -- but the work was never done.

In Superior Court in South Kingstown, Judge Stephen Nugent today set bail for Dominic DiFazio at $20,000 with surety, which means someone must post 10 percent of the dollar amount or the full amount in property. Difazio is out on bail.

Police Chief Edward A. Mello described the couple, Harold and Florence Plympton, as "more than patient" and DiFazio as "less than patient," refusing to turn himself in when he was arrested during a budget retreat on Nov. 17.

The Connecticut Attorney General's Office and its Department of Consumer Protection are continuing separate investigations of complaints against the building contractor.

DiFazio is also due in court next month to face a misdemeanor fraud charge for allegedly writing a bad check to A-1 Rolloff Disposal.

-- projo.com staff writers Michael P. McKinney and Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 12:54 PM | Permalink

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Concerned Person | January 22, 2008 2:41 PM link

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