Killingly Man Admits Stealing $775K from Nonprofits in Windham and Middlefield

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, and Connecticut State Police Colonel Daniel Loughman announced that RYAN FITZGIBBONS, 44, of Killingly, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a fraud offense stemming from his theft of more than $775,000 from nonprofit organizations in Windham and Middlefield.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Fitzgibbons was employed as the executive director of the Holy Family Home & Shelter ("HFHS"), a charitable non-profit group in Windham serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness by providing emergency and temporary housing. Between approximately November 2021 and June 2023, Fitzgibbons stole approximately $734,683 from HFHS by making unauthorized wire transfers from the HFHS bank account to his personal accounts, unauthorized purchases and ATM withdrawals using the HFHS debit card, and writing checks from the HFHS account to himself and to "cash." Fitzgibbons attempted to cover up his criminal behavior by providing false transactions and donation accounting reports to HFHS board members. As part of his scheme, in September 2022, Fitzgibbons failed to report to the HFHS board a $392,000 donation HFHS received from the estate of an individual. Fitzgibbons was terminated from HFHS in September 2023.

In approximately April 2024, Fitzgibbons was hired as the executive director of the Durham Middlefield Youth & Family Services ("DMYFS"), a charitable nonprofit based in Middlefield serving children and families by fostering a healthy community through prevention, intervention, treatment and community-building. Fitzgibbons used the DMYFS bank account to make approximately $40,769 in unauthorized purchases that he falsely justified as "marketing," "wages," and "software." He was terminated from the position in August 2024.

Fitzgibbons pleaded guilty to wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He also has agreed to pay $775,452.21 in restitution.

Fitzgibbons is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for December 2.

This investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Middlefield Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie T. Levick.

U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the State's Attorney's Office for the Judicial District of Middlesex for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.