Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut
A Waterford woman, Michele Devine, 51, has been sentenced to two years in prison for embezzling funds from the Southeastern Regional Action Council on Substance Abuse, Inc. (SERAC), where she served as executive director. The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport. In addition to her prison term, Devine will face three years of supervised release and is required to pay a $2,000 fine and complete 300 hours of community service.
SERAC is a nonprofit organization based in Norwich that provides services related to substance abuse, problem gambling, and mental health across 41 towns in Connecticut. It receives substantial funding from state and federal grants.
Devine's fraudulent activities began around 2008 when she used SERAC funds for personal expenses unrelated to the organization's mission. These expenses included home appliances, travel costs, timeshare fees at a Connecticut resort, stays at Canyon Ranch in Massachusetts, and private school donations.
Judge Underhill has also ordered Devine to pay restitution amounting to $397,064.93. Following her arrest on August 3, 2023, Devine pleaded guilty to wire fraud on October 21, 2024. She is currently released on a $25,000 bond and must report to prison by March 12.
The investigation into this matter was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General. They were assisted by the New London State’s Attorney’s Office and the State of Connecticut Office of the Attorney General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.
