Stamford ice skating rink manager pleads guilty to defrauding employer

The former general manager of a Stamford ice skating rink has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for bilking his employer of more than $490,000 in phony expenses.

Between October 1999 to August 2014, Mark J. Zito was the general manager of Stamford Twin Rinks on Hope Street, which is owned and operated by RivCan Associates LLC. Zito”™s contract with RivCan enabled him to hire third-party vendors to place advertising at the rink, and during this period he created and utilized AAZ Consulting to bill RivCan for these commissions.

Zito, a Shelton resident, is accused of submitting fraudulent invoices to RivCan, including charges for services that his employer neither requested nor required. RivCan lost $490,468.81 based on Zito”™s actions, which also included payments for his purportedly maintaining and updating the facility”™s internet website and for unauthorized benefits tied to overinflated salary payments, vacation pay and cellular telephone reimbursements.

Zito was released on bond pending his sentencing on March 19. He faces a maximum term of 20 years in prison.