Newton Man Accused Of Wire Fraud

NEWTON, MA —A Newton man was charged Wednesday in connection with defrauding the General Services Administration, according to Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell.

Benedetto Valente, 60, was charged and has agreed to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud.

According to the charging court documents, Valente arranged to award contracts for scaffolding and masonry repair to a family member, and submitted fake bids, so his family member could get the contracts, and diverted a subcontract awarded to another contractor to his family member at an inflated price.

Mendell's office said Valente schemed to defraud the U.S. General Services Administration, as well as the company he worked for, by causing expenses to be billed that neither General Services Administration, nor the company actually incurred.

Prosecutors said Valenta inflated payroll expenses and charging items he used in his personal business and then creating fake documents to make it appear that those items were intended for General Services Administration.

If convicted he could face up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.