Former Vt. trooper faces multiple charges following theft investigation

WILLISTON, Vt. (WCAX) - A former Vermont state trooper accused of stealing from a temporary storage room faces multiple charges following a three-month investigation by Vermont State Police.

The 16 charges against Giancarlo DiGenova, 44, of Essex, range from grand larceny-- a felony-- to several misdemeanors, like selling stolen property, neglect of duty, giving false information to police and more.

The leader of the Vermont State Police says the former trooper abused his position and tarnished his badge.

The investigation into DiGenova began in December at the Williston barracks.

State police say a fellow trooper noticed $40,000 of items from someone arrested in a narcotics case in late November were missing from the property storage room. That included Apple AirPods, diamond earrings and a $14,000 Rolex watch. And they say DiGenova had showed that watch to the same trooper, claiming to have bought it on eBay.

Police say they found the Rolex at the home of one of DiGenova’s relatives in Massachusetts.

But they say that wasn’t DiGenova’s first illegal trip to state police storage areas.

In June 2021, they say he took a bag with two cellphones from the Berlin barracks and tried to sell them at an automated kiosk at the University Mall in South Burlington, then falsely marked them as “destroyed” in state police records.

They also say DiGenova stole a child’s ADHD medication during a domestic disturbance call to a home last May in Bolton.

And they say they also found DiGenova claimed he’d done vehicle identification number inspections for a family member’s business when he hadn’t actually looked at the cars.

In a statement Monday, Vermont State Police Commander Col. Matthew Birmingham said the charges “represent an extraordinary betrayal of the public’s trust, his oath as a sworn police officer, and his colleagues in law enforcement who serve the state honorably every day... we have absolutely no tolerance for those who tarnish our badge.”

The statement also says no evidence in criminal cases was compromised, and state police have made changes since then, including adding more surveillance cameras to the barracks.

DiGenova had been with the force since 2009. His assignments included the Williston, Middlesex and Bradford barracks, and the Narcotics Investigation Unit. He resigned in early February. He has denied any involvement.

Police say DiGenova turned himself in at the Royalton barracks Monday morning. He was taken into custody and released with citations. He’s due in court in Burlington on Thursday and in Barre on April 6.

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