A CEO of a Staten Island-based company whose job was to help bring internet access to underfunded schools through a program known as E-rate decided to enrich himself instead, authorities charged Monday.
AutoExec Computer Systems CEO John Comito stole more than $400,000 set aside for an internet program servicing Brooklyn Catholic schools, according to officials.
The 68-year-old overcharged the program by nearly half-a-million dollars between 2013 and 2017 — a four-year period where AutoExec was supposed to provide 26 schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn with telecommunications equipment and services, officials said.
At least eight of those schools never received any equipment or services, officials said. The others received partial, substandard or non-approved equipment and services, authorities said.
“Comito allegedly over billed the E-rate program and schools for equipment and services in order to enrich himself at the expense of the children the program was designed to serve,” said United States Attorney Richard Donoghue. “This office will vigorously prosecute those who defraud taxpayer-supported programs for personal gain.”
Comito was arraigned in Brooklyn Federal court and released on $500,000 bond. He faces up to 20 years behind bars if convicted of mail and wire fraud charges.
He could not be reached for comment.
“Instead of completing the work he was trusted and contracted to perform, the defendant allegedly chose to bilk the government and steal from those less fortunate," said United States Postal Inspection Service Inspector-in-Charge Philip Bartlett. “Society will swiftly denounce this type of criminal behavior, and Comito will now he held accountable.”
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