William A. Tomasso
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William A. Tomasso, also known as Billy[1] or Bill,[2] is a construction executive and white collar criminal from New Britain, Connecticut.
Early life and family
William A. Tomasso was born in New Britain, Connecticut to Angelo Tomasso Jr. and Joy Tomasso. He is member of the third generation of the Tomasso family construction dynasty.[3]
Career
In 1968 Angelo Tomasso Jr.’s four sons formed Tomasso Brothers Inc. under the umbrella of the family Tomasso Group with William as the President.[4]
The fortunes of the Tomasso group improved when William struck up a close connection to Governor Rowland and got interested in politics.[2] According to the Journal Inquirer William had been a "frequent and respected presence at the state Capitol."[5] Tomasso was able to accompany top Rowland administration aides and officials on trips, sometimes in secret, which gave him an advantage in the subsequent bidding processes.[2]
In 2003 William allegedly stalked and harassed a former Tomasso Group contractor and his wife.[1]
In 2004 the Tomasso Group, Group president William Tomasso, subsidiary TBI Construction, subsidiary Tunxis Management, and Governor Rowland's Chief of Staff Peter N. Ellef where indicted on numerous charges including fraud, racketeering, bribery, and extortion.[6] Ellef had instructed Connecticut Department of Public Works Commissioner Theodore R. Anson to fast track major public works contracts with the explicit purpose of awarding them to the Tomasso Group.[7]
In 2006 Tomasso and Ellef were each sentenced to 30 months in prison.[3] They both pleaded guilty and Tomasso’s plea deal required him to admit that he bribed his way into the Long Lane School management contract and the $57 million Connecticut Juvenile Training School contract.[8]
As of 2018 William was the President of TBI Construction.[9] As of 2019 William was a board member of the Greater New Britain Chamber of Commerce[10] and a board member of the Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) of New Britain.[11]
References
- ^ a b Filo, Maryellen. "MEMBER OF TOMASSO FAMILY FACES CIVIL LAWSUIT". courant.com. The Hartford Courant. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ a b c CHRISTOFFERSEN, JOHN. "Bill Tomasso's fortunes soared with Rowland's". www.registercitizen.com. The Register Citizen. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- ^ a b Leigh Cowan, Alison. "Connecticut Official and State Contractor Are Each Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison". nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ Whipple, Scott. "Construction icon leaving world of concrete". middletownpress.com. Middletown Press. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ Green, Paul. "Republicans stunned by investigation of Ellef, Tomasso". www.journalinquirer.com. Journal Inquirer. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- ^ "A look at key players in indictment". newstimes.com. The Associated Press. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ Michak, Don (May 15, 2003). "Commissioner: Politics played no role in contracts". The Day. Connecticut News Alliance. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ Apuzzo, Matt. "Two plead guilty to corruption in Conn. Ex-aide admits to rigging vote". boston.com. Globe Newspaper Company. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^ Mitchel, Susan. "Tomasso Group A Top Sponsor of Acts 4 Ministry "Inspiration"". patch.com. Patch.
- ^ "GREATER NEW BRITAIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD MEMBERS". greaternewbritainchamber.com. greater new britain chamber of commerce. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
- ^ "BOARD OF DIRECTORS". www.newbritainoic.org. OIC of New Britain. Retrieved 7 October 2019.