Press Releases
07/11/2024
Division of Criminal Justice Statement on North Haven Democratic Town Committee Complaint Regarding State Senator Paul Cicarella
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Rocky Hill, CT) - The Division of Criminal Justice today announced that the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney has concluded its review of a complaint filed by the North Haven Democratic Town Committee relating to State Senator Paul Cicarella.
The DCJ Workers’ Compensation Fraud Control Unit has reviewed the factual allegations that underlie the complaint relating to Senator Cicarella’s application for, and subsequent granting of, workers’ compensation benefits for an injury suffered while Senator Cicarella was employed by the Connecticut Department of Correction in 2008.
The Workers' Compensation Fraud Control Unit has spoken to the original complainant to this Office, Steve Gifford, Vice Chair of the North Haven Democratic Town Committee. They have reviewed the Workers’ Compensation Commission databases and determined that the case had been settled with a stipulated agreement in a Workers’ Compensation Commission hearing on August 14, 2014. According to the Workers’ Compensation Commission, the stipulated agreement resulted in a 2014 lump sum payout of $25,000 to Mr. Cicarella. Robert Giuditta, Director of Connecticut Workers’ Compensation at the Department of Administrative Services, indicated Mr. Cicarella did not receive any further benefits after 2014.
The statute of limitations for potential criminal conduct arising out of these allegations expired in 2019. Therefore, since prosecution of any conduct related to this matter would be barred by the relevant statute of limitations, the DCJ will not be continuing any investigation and considers the matter closed.
The Division of Criminal Justice has not received any referrals from the Office of the State Comptroller, the Connecticut Medical Examining Board or the Office of Policy and Management regarding any potential illegal conduct surrounding Mr. Cicarella’s current disability pension. The Office of the State Comptroller’s review of Mr. Cicarella’s pension is ongoing. Absent a referral from the agencies responsible for determining the validity of pension qualifications, the DCJ has no basis to conduct a criminal investigation.
The Division of Criminal Justice will have no further comment on this matter.