08/05/2019
Town Officials and Local Contractor Arrested for Polluting Public Property and Defrauding the Town of Fairfield
The Office of the Chief State’s Attorney announced the arrests of: Scott Bartlett, age 57, of Springer Road, Fairfield, CT, Superintendent of Fairfield Dept. of Public Works; Joseph Michelangelo, age 58, of Figlar Avenue, Fairfield, CT, Director of Fairfield Dept. of Public Works; and Jason Julian, age 49 of Turkey Roost Road, Monroe, CT, Vice President of Julian Enterprises/Julian Development. All three individuals are charged with Conspiring to Commit various Environmental Crimes, including Illegal Dumping and Discharging Materials into the Waters of CT, felonies carrying maximum prison sentences of up to 3 years. Scott Bartlett and Jason Julian also face charges of Larceny First Degree, Forgery Second Degree and Receiving/Paying Kickbacks, felonies carrying maximum prison sentences of up to 10 years for several of the charges. Joseph Michelangelo is also charged with Forgery Second Degree, carrying similar prison sentences.
These charges are the result of a lengthy and in-depth investigation by the Fairfield Police Department into the illegal dumping operations on town property located at the Town of Public Works property on Richard White Way, Fairfield, CT. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, both Bartlett and Michelangelo participated in an ongoing years-long pattern of criminal activity that included a conspiracy between themselves and a contractor, Julian, that they hired to operate part of the Town DPW property as a Materials Processing Facility. The property became a dumping ground for unauthorized, contaminated and/or hazardous materials, for the benefit of Julian and to the detriment of the Town and neighboring residents. According to the affidavit, the scheme to defraud also involved misappropriation of town funds and submitting false financial documents.
Both Bartlett and Michelangelo were processed at the Fairfield Police Department Monday. Julian was processed at the Fairfield Police Department today. They are scheduled for arraignment in Bridgeport Superior Court on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. The case will be prosecuted by the Statewide Prosecution Bureau of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney.
All charges against these individuals are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.