Former Director of Waterbury Boys and Girls Club Indicted on Embezzlement and Fraud Charges
| U.S. Attorney’s Office September 20, 2011 |
David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment today charging ROBERT GENERALI, 52, of Skyline Drive, Waterbury, with four counts of theft from a program receiving federal funds and 16 counts of wire fraud.
The indictment alleges that GENERALI, as the executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Waterbury, had primary, day-to-day responsibilities for managing the club’s finances. It is alleged that, from January 2007 through May 2011, GENERALI embezzled from the club by using the club’s funds to pay for unauthorized, personal expenses. As part of the scheme, it is alleged that GENERALI used the club’s funds to pay for personal expenses he charged to a credit card that he established in the club’s name. It is further alleged that, in 2007, GENERALI established an “off-the-books” bank account, funded with approximately $30,000 in Club funds, that he drew upon to pay for personal expenses. It is also alleged that GENERALI authorized the issuance of checks to “phantom” employees, which checks were drawn from the Club’s funds and that GENERALI then negotiated for his own unauthorized use.
The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Waterbury has received federal grant monies under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and a grant awarded by the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs.
If convicted of the charge of theft concerning a program receiving federal funds, GENERALI faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count. If convicted of wire fraud, GENERALI faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count.
On September 13, 2011, GENERALI was arrested by federal authorities on a criminal complaint. He is released on a $100,000 bond. U.S. Attorney Fein stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Eric J. Glover and Christopher M. Mattei.