Ex-director of Clinton Chamber of Commerce accused of embezzling more than $100K
The former executive director of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce was arrested and is accused of misappropriating more than $100,000 in chamber funds, police said.
Paul Orsini, 65, of Old Saybrook, is charged with one count of larceny in the first degree, 52 counts of filing a false sales and use tax return, four counts of filing a false income tax return, and one count of failure to file a sales and use tax return, according to police.
The Clinton Police Department began an investigation into Orsini in June 2025, after being alerted to potential financial irregularities at the chamber.
Orsini collected the funds over a three-year period by issuing unauthorized payments to himself and his business, according to police.
He used the money for personal expenses, including debts and taxes. Orsini’s conduct resulted in delayed payments to vendors and unpaid wages to employees, police said.
By the time someone noticed Orsini was moving funds between bank accounts, “the chamber’s primary operating account had been nearly depleted,” according to police.
Police also said they coordinated with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services, which was also investigating Orsini, and it was discovered he committed serious tax-related offenses. He was charged with several counts of tax-related charges based on these allegations.
Authorities obtained an arrest warrant for Orsini on Thursday, and he was taken into custody on Friday morning.
He was held on a total $185,000 bond — $75,000 for the larceny charge and $110,000 for the tax-related charges — and is scheduled to appear in Middletown Superior Court later today.
Clinton police, the Middlesex state’s attorney’s office, and Connecticut Department of Revenue Services collaborated on this investigation, police said.
“While these arrests mark a significant step in this extensive investigation, other agencies are still actively
investigating the matter,” Clinton police said.
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