United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

FORMER DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TO CONNECTICUT GOVERNOR IS SENTENCED

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut announced that LAWRENCE E. ALIBOZEK, age 61, of New Hartford, Connecticut, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Peter C. Dorsey in New Haven to five years of probation. Judge Dorsey also ordered ALIBOZEK to serve the first 12 months of his probation confined to his home, and to perform 300 hours of community service. On March 10, 2003, ALIBOZEK waived indictment and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to accept corrupt payments and impede the Internal Revenue Service by failing to report the corrupt payments.

ALIBOZEK was Deputy Chief of Staff to former Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland from October 1997 to July 1999. According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, during and after the time he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, ALIBOZEK and former Chief of Staff Peter Ellef accepted cash, gold, lavish meals and other things of value from William Tomasso and Tomasso-related entities, who were doing business with the State of Connecticut. In turn, Ellef and ALIBOZEK gave preferential treatment to Tomasso-related entities in the awarding of state contracts. Specifically, Ellef and ALIBOZEK helped to steer state contracts, such as the selection of a construction manager to build the Connecticut Juvenile Training School (CJTS) in Middletown, Connecticut, to a Tomasso-related company.

ALIBOZEK did not report the cash, gold and other items of value on his tax returns.

Today, Judge Dorsey also ordered ALIBOZEK to pay restitution in the amount of $100,000 to the State of Connecticut.

During today’s sentencing proceeding, Judge Dorsey noted several reasons for departing from the federal sentencing guidelines range of 24 to 30 months of imprisonment, including ALIBOZEK’s assistance to the Government in prosecuting this matter.

On April 25, 2006, Judge Dorsey sentenced both Ellef and Tomasso to 30 months of imprisonment for their roles in this corrupt scheme.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nora R. Dannehy and Eric J. Glover.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov