'Officer of Court' Admits to Bribery

Local Attorney Bribed Government Official
The Connecticut Law Tribune by Douglas S. Malan - March 11, 2009

Meriden attorney Sebastian S. Ciarcia has pleaded guilty to one count of bribing a government employee to obtain contracts for construction companies he managed. Ciarcia, 56, also pleaded guilty before Judge Donna F. Martinez in federal court in Hartford of one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return for the construction companies’ principal owner. Ciarcia, who had no prior disciplinary record, is a solo practitioner who has handled personal injury, real estate and family law cases. For a time, he also managed Escarnio Construction LLC of Meriden and Fischer Supply LLC of Wallingford. Both companies are now dissolved, according to state records.

From 2002 to 2005, Ciarcia bribed Kevin Malarney, a West Haven-based supervisor for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, to steer VA contracts for services and supplies for the two businesses, according to the U.S. Attorney's office in Connecticut. Malarney, 56, was a construction and maintenance supervisor at the VA facility in West Haven. He pleaded guilty in June 2007 to one count each of bribery and filing a false income tax return. He awaits sentencing. Ciarcia's companies agreed to pay Malarney's mortgage, automobile loan, student loans, insurance policy premiums and credit card bills. They also paid for Malarney’s trips to St. Maarten and New York. The estimated value of the bribes: $45,600. In return, Malarney assisted in awarding 27 VA contracts worth approximately $303,000 to Ciarcia’s companies. Malarney also helped direct 48 payments totaling about $81,000 to Fischer Supply for services and supplies. When he is sentenced in May, Ciarcia, an Avon resident, faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the bribery charge. The false tax return charge carries maximum penalties of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine.