A former auxiliary police officer from Stoneham has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for his involvement in a bribery and kickback scheme related to Mass Save contracts. Christopher Ponzo, aged 50, received the sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton in Boston. In addition to the prison term, Ponzo will face two years of supervised release and must pay a $300,000 fine.
In November 2024, Ponzo admitted guilt to charges including conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, multiple counts of honest services wire fraud, and making false statements to government officials. The indictment against him was issued by a federal grand jury in January 2023 alongside his brother Joseph Ponzo.
The scheme involved both brothers paying substantial bribes and offering various benefits such as cash payments, goods like a John Deere tractor and home fixtures, as well as free electrical work to employees of Company A. These actions were intended to secure millions of dollars in contracts under the Mass Save program.
Massachusetts law mandates that utility companies impose an energy efficiency surcharge on consumers' bills. The funds collected are meant for energy efficiency programs across the state through initiatives like Mass Save. Under this program, utility companies appoint lead vendors who then select contractors for energy improvement projects at residential properties.
Between 2013 and 2017, Christopher Ponzo paid Associate 1 weekly sums of $1,000 or more. This included larger amounts purportedly from Joseph Ponzo's share of the scheme. Associate 1 assisted Joseph Ponzo with setting up Air Tight as a shell company for insulation work approved under Mass Save despite lacking relevant experience—ultimately leading to over $7 million being collected.
Following Associate 1's departure from Company A in 2017, the Ponzos recruited Associate 2 into their operation until approximately 2022. They provided cash payments and hired a relative of Associate 2 during this period.
Both brothers denied making any bribe payments when questioned by federal agents in April 2022. While Christopher has now been sentenced following his guilty plea last year, Joseph is set for sentencing on February 28th after also pleading guilty last November.
The announcement regarding these proceedings came from United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jodi Cohen of the FBI’s Boston office; Thomas Demeo acting as Special Agent-in-Charge with IRS Criminal Investigations locally; with prosecution led by Assistant U.S Attorneys Lauren Maynard along with Dustin Chao within their Criminal Division team.