Former Haven Healthcare Director Enters Plea in Sprinkler Fraud

Federal prosecutors say the former director of Haven Healthcare waived indictment in federal court in Bridgeport today and pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the parent company which leased nursing homes in Connecticut, Vermont and New Hampshire to Haven to operate.
Court documents show that 45 year old Frederick Dalicandro of Glastonbury admitted that he and another member of Haven's senior management submitted invoices and checks to Omega Healthcare Investors, the owner of the homes for improvements to the sprinkler systems at the Jewett City and West Haven homes --- but that they did not spend the money on sprinklers.
A news release from the office of US Attorney for Connecticut Nora Dannehy says Dalicandro could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and fined a quarter million dollars at his sentencing in January.