Former Stoneham auxiliary police officer Christopher Ponzo, 50, from North Reading, found himself in a federal courtroom facing the consequences of a bribery scheme that involved millions in Mass Save funds. This scheme, as revealed by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley, saw Ponzo sentenced to 27 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release and a hefty $300,000 fine. The case unfolded when Ponzo submitted a guilty plea to various charges, including conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, honest services wire fraud, and making false statements to government officials. His brother, Joseph Ponzo, was also implicated in the indictment, marking a family affair that ultimately led to legal repercussions.
Unraveling the Bribery Scheme
The Ponzo brothers’ deceitful tactics involved paying substantial sums of cash bribes, kickbacks, and other incentives to employees at an undisclosed company. In exchange for these illicit payments, the associates of the Ponzo brothers facilitated the awarding of lucrative Mass Save contracts, totaling millions of dollars. The Mass Save program, designed to promote energy efficiency, relies on utility companies to collect surcharges from customers, which are then distributed to fund various programs in Massachusetts. Vendors selected by these utility companies oversee the approval and selection of contractors to carry out energy improvement projects for customers, with the costs covered by Mass Save funds.
Christopher Ponzo’s direct involvement in the scheme included weekly payments of $1,000 in cash to an associate at the unnamed company between 2013 and 2017. On occasions, he even dispensed larger sums ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, attributing the additional money to his brother, Joseph Ponzo. In return for these bribes, the associate assisted Joseph Ponzo in establishing a shell company named Air Tight, which was fraudulently approved as a contractor for the Mass Save program. To further conceal their actions, Joseph Ponzo listed his spouse’s name on the documentation for Air Tight, despite having no legitimate experience in residential insulation work. This deceptive maneuver allowed the Ponzo brothers to amass over $7 million from the Mass Save program, all under false pretenses.
Denial and Legal Consequences
As the Ponzo brothers continued their deceitful operation, employing a second associate after the departure of the initial collaborator, they further entangled themselves in a web of lies and corruption. Even going as far as hiring a relative of the second associate to perpetuate their fraudulent activities. However, their misdeeds eventually caught up with them in 2022 when federal agents questioned them about their involvement in bribery payments. Despite their denials during the interview, the evidence presented in court led to the indictment and subsequent guilty pleas from both Christopher and Joseph Ponzo.
As the legal proceedings unfolded, Christopher Ponzo faced the consequences of his actions in the form of a prison sentence, supervised release, and a substantial fine. While his brother Joseph Ponzo awaits his own sentencing, the case serves as a stark reminder of the repercussions of engaging in corrupt practices. The Ponzo brothers’ scheme not only defrauded a company of millions in funds but also shed light on the pervasive nature of corruption and the importance of upholding integrity and honesty in all dealings.
