Ex-Pitt emergency management director gets probation for stealing/reselling PPE

Christopher Casamento earned $95,000 as the director of emergency management at the University of Pittsburgh.

It was a job he went to school for and loved.

But he lost it and more when he stole more than 13,000 pieces of personal protective equipment from the stockpile that he oversaw to sell online at inflated prices at the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic.

Casamento, of Ross, was fired, indicted by a federal grand jury for interstate transportation of stolen property and is separated from his wife.

On Thursday, he was sentenced in federal court to serve four years probation, including six months of home detention and 200 hours of community service. He also must pay $18,783.50 in restitution, which his attorney said he would do following the hearing.

“It’s always stunning to me how smart, accomplished professionals make incomprehensibly stupid decisions,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Melucci. “In the course of 30 days, he blew it all.”

Casamento pleaded guilty in February to the single count against him before Senior U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab. He appeared for sentencing via videoconference.

Defense attorney Justin Ginter said that the decision his client made to make a quick buck was short-sighted.

“He let the attraction of what seemed like easy money get the best of him,” Ginter said.

Casaemento is determined not to let his conviction define the rest of his life, his lawyer said.

“He’s used the past 29 months to show … his poor choice here was not in line with his true character,” Ginter said. “He deeply regrets those actions and the embarrassment he’s caused his family and friends.”

Casamento told the court that his actions also embarrassed Pitt, both on the national and international stage.

“I’ve had two years to reflect on this,” he said. “It has allowed me to become a better person to my family and friends and future employers.”

Related:

• Former Pitt emergency management director pleads guilty to stealing PPE, selling it online
• Former Pitt employee charged with stealing over 13,000 masks at start of pandemic

In his sentencing memorandum, the prosecution wrote that Casamento was in a position of trust at Pitt and violated it during a turbulent time when medical professionals and the public were desperate for PPE to help protect them from covid-19.

Casamento used his university office and computer and secretly advertised the materials on his eBay vendor site called “Steel-City-Motor Toys.” For example, he sold surgical masks for $11 each, even though they typically cost $1.50 each.

“Casamento preyed upon the vulnerability and desperation of buyers who purchased in bulk orders,” Melucci wrote.

At the same time, the prosecutor continued, Casamento lied to Pitt officials about their PPE supplies, writing in emails that “‘some supplies’” had found “‘new homes’” over the years. And in another message, he wrote that “‘over the last 10 years or so, it appears a big chunk of our supplies ‘walked off,’” Melucci wrote.

“Casamento was well educated, well paid, and held a distinguished university position with attending benefits,” Melucci wrote. “Now, he needs to face the consequence of his greed.”

The government asked for a guideline range sentence, of six to 12 months incarceration.

However, Schwab said that he believed that was more than is necessary for Casamento, who shows remorse and is working two jobs.