BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) A former Connecticut Department of Social Services official who managed state fraud and waste investigations has pleaded guilty to mail fraud for submitting a mortgage application with bogus information.

Lynwood Patrick Jr. of East Hartford entered the plea Monday in federal court in Bridgeport and faces up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing is set for Aug. 31.

The 39-year-old Patrick was the director of investigations for the Social Services Department's Quality Assurance Office. He was fired after his arrest in May.

Prosecutors say Patrick submitted a mortgage modification application for property he owns in East Hartford that included fabricated pay stubs and false information about how much money he had in bank accounts.

Patrick remains free on bail. His lawyer didn't immediately return a message Tuesday morning.