A Waterbury woman, Marlenin Vito, 46, has pleaded guilty in New Haven federal court to charges related to multiple fraud schemes. David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, made the announcement.
Court documents reveal that Vito was employed as a Medicaid Coordinator at an assisted living facility in Stamford known as Company A. Her role involved assisting residents with Medicaid reimbursements and managing their trust accounts. Between December 2019 and May 2021, Vito defrauded Company A by generating checks from its system, forging signatures, and misappropriating funds meant for residents' use.
Vito manipulated accounting records to cover her actions and took advantage of residents who were unable to monitor their own finances. She also canceled some residents' health insurance while continuing to deduct funds from their accounts for personal gain. Additionally, she misappropriated Economic Impact Payments intended for the residents.
The fraudulent activities resulted in approximately $310,820 being stolen through about 500 checks. When confronted by family members of the affected residents, Vito provided false account statements.
After leaving Company A, Vito worked at an alarm company in White Plains (Company B), where she continued fraudulent activities involving overtime claims and unauthorized purchases totaling around $23,558. Subsequently employed at a Hartford law firm (Company C), she forged checks labeled as "Petty Cash," stealing approximately $27,179.
Vito pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud with a potential maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. Sentencing is set for September 10. She is currently released on a $25,000 bond pending sentencing.
The investigation is led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with support from local police departments and is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael S. McGarry and Nathan J. Guevremont.
