The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut has indicted Robert Cappelletti, the former executive director of the Meriden Housing Authority (MHA), on nine counts of fraud and money laundering. The charges stem from allegations that Cappelletti misappropriated funds while overseeing the authority, which serves the communities of Meriden and Groton, as reported by Realtor.com.
Cappelletti, who held the position from 2009 until 2025, pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been released on bail. He also served on the board of the Maynard Road Corp., a nonprofit involved in redevelopment projects for the MHA.
According to prosecutors, in 2022, Cappelletti secured a $16.2 million loan purportedly on behalf of the Maynard Road Corp. However, he allegedly did so without the necessary authorization from either the MHA or the nonprofit’s board. The indictment claims he issued a promissory note and guaranteed it without proper consent.
It is alleged that Cappelletti diverted a portion of the loan funds to his personal accounts and shell companies. Specifically, he reportedly transferred $450,000 to a personal brokerage account, used over $374,000 for mortgage payments on his home, and incurred additional expenses on personal travel via credit cards.
To repay the loan, Cappelletti allegedly executed a series of wire transfers totaling around $1 million from the Groton Housing Authority and its subsidiaries. He misled the Groton Housing Authority by claiming these payments were related to an upcoming bond for a development project and would be reimbursed. To support his claims, he is accused of creating forged invoices.
Groton Town Manager John Burt expressed relief that the legal process is moving forward, allowing the facts to be revealed. Meanwhile, Michael J. Rose, an attorney for the Groton Housing Authority, stated that Cappelletti’s actions violated the trust placed in him and emphasized the importance of accountability.
The indictment follows a joint investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. If convicted, Cappelletti faces significant prison time, with up to 20 years for each count of wire fraud and up to 10 years for each count of illegal monetary transactions.
In addition to the criminal charges, Cappelletti is also named in a civil suit filed by the Groton Housing Authority, which accuses him and property manager Jamie Lee of fraud and conspiracy, as well as violations of Connecticut’s Unfair Trade Act. The suit alleges unauthorized property purchases made under the authority’s name and claims that Lee obstructed access to her computer files.
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