Crime & Safety
Ex-Pitt Employee Charged With Stealing, Selling COVID-19 Masks
The University of Pittsburgh's former emergency management director has been indicted for selling the masks on eBay.
PITTSBURGH, PA – The University of Pittsburgh's former emergency management director has been indicted for allegedly stealing personal protection equipment from the university and selling it on eBay.
Christopher Casamento, 42, of Ross, is charged with interstate transportation of stolen property, acting U.S. Attorney Stephen Kaufman's office announced Wednesday.
According to the Indictment, Casamento allegedly stole more than 13,615 respirator masks and surgical face masks meant for Pitt employees and students and sold them on his "steel-city-motor-toys" eBay vendor page.
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According to the indictment, Casamento earned approximately $18,783 from the eBay sales of the stolen masks.
"At the start of the pandemic, when supplies of PPE were low and nationwide demand was intense, Mr. Casamento used his position of trust and access to critical PPE to enrich himself at the expense of Pitt students and faculty," Kaufman said in a news release. "We will continue to investigate and prosecute individuals who illegally profit from COVID-related fraud."Find out what's happening in North Hillsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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