A former manager at the Ambridge Water Authority stands convicted of a scheme that drained the utility of over $1 million. In a hearing on October 8, Michael Dominick, 44, of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, as announced by the United States Attorney's Office.
Entrusted with oversight of the AWA's financial operations, Dominick abused his position to clandestinely transfer funds to his accounts. The court heard how, from January 2020 through August 2022, he went on to make unauthorized personal purchases and manipulated financial statements to hide the embezzlement. "Michael Dominick's theft of more than a million dollars from the Ambridge Water Authority is an alarming violation of the public trust," U.S. Attorney Olshan stated, as the U.S. Attorney's Office reported.
This fraud affects critical public resources and represents a betrayal of public trust. Rojek added that the repercussions of such actions could significantly impact the well-being of tens of thousands of people who rely on the AWA for essential resources.
Judge Cathy Bissoon has scheduled sentencing for February 20, 2025, where Dominick could receive up to a 20-year prison sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. The severity of the actual sentence to then be imposed will reflect the serious nature of the offense and Dominick's criminal history, if any. The case against Dominick was a collaborative effort, as detailed by Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch, who is also prosecuting the case on the government's behalf, with the investigation carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Beaver County District Attorney’s Office.
