VERNON, Conn. (AP) - The former superintendent of schools in Mansfield has been sentenced to six months in prison for bilking at least $89,000 from taxpayers by submitting bogus mileage reimbursements.
The Hartford Courant reports (https://cour.at/2ng7JKG ) Frederick Baruzzi pleaded guilty to first-degree larceny as part of a plea agreement.
He was sentenced Tuesday.
Police say the 67-year-old claimed he drove nearly 96,000 miles over a two-year period while on the job.
Police say he later acknowledged falsifying his mileage reimbursement requests and repaid roughly $71,000.
Baruzzi resigned in January 2015.
Kathy Ward, chairwoman of Mansfield’s board of education, told the judge she suspects the thefts date back at least a decade. She says Baruzzi recommended budgets that cut programs including field trips.
Baruzzi apologized and says he doesn’t know why he did it.
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