David X. Sullivan, the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Marlenin Vito, a 46-year-old resident of Waterbury, has pleaded guilty in New Haven federal court to charges related to multiple fraud schemes.
Court documents and statements reveal that Vito was employed as a Medicaid Coordinator at an assisted living facility in Stamford, referred to 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 with forged signatures and misappropriating funds intended for residents’ expenses. She manipulated accounting records to conceal her actions.
Vito also canceled residents’ supplemental health insurance while continuing to deduct funds from their accounts for personal use. Additionally, she misappropriated COVID-19 stimulus payments credited to residents’ accounts by gradually debiting them until depleted.
During this period, Vito negotiated approximately 500 fraudulent checks, amounting to about $310,820. When confronted by family members of affected residents, she provided false account statements.
After leaving Company A, Vito worked at an alarm company in White Plains (“Company B”), where she engaged in further fraudulent activities involving overtime claims and unauthorized product orders totaling around $23,558.
Subsequently employed at a law firm in Hartford (“Company C”), Vito continued her fraudulent practices by issuing checks labeled as “Petty Cash,” forging signatures, and recording them falsely in company records. She stole approximately $27,179 from Company C.
Vito has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for September 10. She remains 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 the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. The case is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael S. McGarry and Nathan J. Guevremont.
