A former manager of the Ambridge Water Authority has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for defrauding the utility. Michael Dominick, a resident of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $1,073,185. This sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release.
Dominick, 44, pleaded guilty to mail fraud on October 8, 2024. United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon handed down the sentence on February 20, 2025. The charges stem from Dominick's actions between January 2020 and August 2022 when he was employed as a manager at the Ambridge Water Authority (AWA).
During his tenure at AWA, Dominick misappropriated funds by diverting money into his personal accounts. He accomplished this by writing checks to himself and depositing cash and checks meant for AWA into his own accounts. Additionally, he used an AWA debit card for personal purchases and manipulated financial records to conceal his activities.
Judge Bissoon remarked that the sentence reflects Dominick’s significant breach of public trust in committing the fraud.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch. Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation and investigators from the Beaver County District Attorney’s Office for their work leading to Dominick's prosecution.