Although three former utility cooperative officials were found guilty of theft for their roles in organizing trips to the Kentucky Derby and a West Virginia golf resort in 2015, it could be months before the case is resolved.

Former Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative CEO Drew Rankin, former Norwich Public Utilities General Manager John Bilda and former Norwich utilities commission and CMEEC board Chairman James Sullivan were found guilty Dec. 10 on one count each of theft from a program that received federal funding for their leadership roles in CMEEC’s trips to the Derby and The Greenbrier resort in 2015. The three were acquitted on charges of conspiracy and a theft charge related to 2014 Derby trips.

Two other defendants — Edward DeMuzzio of Groton and former CMEEC CFO Edward Pryor — were acquitted on all conspiracy and theft charges related to their roles in organizing the trips.

Attorneys for Rankin, Bilda and Sullivan this past week filed a motion before Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in the case asking to extend the time allowed to file post-verdict motions, “including motions for judgement of acquittal, motions for new trial and motions for mistrial,” considering the upcoming holidays and other commitments of various attorneys.

Judge Meyer granted the request for extension that calls for the defendants to file motions by Jan. 24, 2022, and for U.S. attorneys to file their responses by Feb. 23. The deadline for defendants’ attorneys to file their replies to the government’s arguments will be March 9.

Rankin and Sullivan face a second indictment with two charges of conspiracy and two charges of theft involving reimbursement by CMEEC to Sullivan of nearly $100,000 in alleged personal expenses. That case was delayed until completion of the first criminal trial. 

The criminal trial for all five defendants was held in U.S. District Court in New Haven and ran from Nov. 1 through Dec. 8, when closing arguments ended and the case was turned over to the 12-member jury with three additional alternates.

Several times prior to and during the trial, defense attorneys filed motions for acquittal or motions to dismiss the charges against one or more of the defendants. Meyer denied most requests. But the U.S. attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the theft charges relating to the 2016 Kentucky Derby trip, and the judge approved that request.

The case stemmed from CMEEC’s hosting of lavish trips to the Kentucky Derby for board members, top staff and a cadre of family members, business associates and vendors and political leaders that grew in size and scope from 2013 to 2016. Altogether, the trips, including private chartered jets, limousine rides, tickets costing hundreds of dollars apiece to the horse races and lavish dinners, totaled $1.02 million.

Prosecutors argued the defendants conspired to organize the trips outside the public eye for the personal benefit of participants using cooperative revenue designated to be returned to the member municipal utilities to stabilize electric rates.

Defense attorneys countered that the trips were strategic retreats approved by the CMEEC board and yielded great value in the board’s improved personal and professional relations and trust needed to bring success to the cooperative.

Nonprofit CMEEC is owned by its member municipal utilities: Norwich Public Utilities, Groton Utilities, Bozrah Light & Power, Jewett City Department of Public Utilities, South Norwalk Electric and Water and Norwalk Third Taxing District.

c.bessette@theday.com