Latest news with #EssexCountyDistrictAttorney'sOffice
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Essex County Fair treasurer pleads guilty to taking thousands
ELIZABETHTOWN — Former Essex County Fair treasurer and former Willsboro town clerk Bridget Brown recently pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $90,000 from the fair and her town. She will be sentenced by Hamilton County Judge Tatiana Coffinger, specially presiding in Essex County Court, on Friday, July 25. Brown, age 41, of Reber Road, Willsboro, pleaded guilty to felony 2nd-degree grand larceny for the funds stolen from the fair and felony 3rd-degree grand larceny as a crime of public corruption for to the theft from the Town Willsboro. Brown took $60,000 from the fair and $29,000 from the Town of Willsboro, an investigation showed. As a part of a negotiated plea agreement, Brown is expected to be sentenced to five years probation and required to pay full restitution back to the town and the fair. The Franklin County District Attorney's Office served as special prosecutor, with Executive Assistant District Attorney Alyxandra Stanczak assigned. The Essex County District Attorney's Office had recused itself from the case due to a conflict of interest. A routine state audit of the Essex County Agricultural Society, which runs the fair, revealed the missing funds, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said. 'Bridget Brown exploited the trust of her community and used her two positions to enrich herself at taxpayer expense,' DiNapoli said in a statement. 'My thanks to Franklin County District Attorney (Elizabeth) Crawford and (NYSP) Superintendent (Steven) James for their partnership in fighting public corruption and holding Bridget Brown accountable.' Brown was Willsboro town clerk from 2014 to 2021, when she lost election to a write-in candidate after her indictment. She work for the fair from 2013 to 2019. James said Brown 'financially decimated' the Essex County Fair. 'The fair has thankfully been able to persist despite Ms. Brown's theft,' James said in a statement. 'Ms. Brown violated the public trust by disregarding the law and stealing funds she was not entitled to. We will continue to aggressively investigate any case that involves public corruption. 'I want to commend our State Police members, the Comptroller's Office, and Franklin County District Attorney's Office for their assistance in making sure she will no longer be able to take advantage of those who put their trust in her.' State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigator investigators found that while employed with the Agricultural Society, Brown overpaid herself and made unauthorized ATM withdrawals and personal purchases using the society's bank account. She also exploited $5,300 of society funds to repay a personal loan. To cover up her thefts, she falsified the fair's business records. Brown also obtained an unauthorized $20,000 bank loan on behalf of the fair, which the society's board was unaware of and did not approve, in order to cover up her thefts. Because of her actions as the fair treasurer, the State Comptroller's Office examined her activities as town clerk for the Town of Willsboro. An investigation and forensic audit showed that during Brown's tenure as town clerk/tax collector, she stole $29,000 from taxes, licenses and landfill fees by pocketing cash payments rather than depositing the funds into the town's account. The forensic analysis discovered that on days when Brown collected cash for the town there were corresponding almost identical cash deposits into her personal bank account. Franklin County District Attorney Elizabeth Crawford praised the Comptroller's Office and State Police for their work on a complex case. 'Thanks to the Comptroller's Office, especially the forensic analysts and the attorneys who provided their time and expertise through the investigation, indictment, and in preparation for trial,' Crawford said in a statement. 'As public officials ourselves, we understand the trust placed in government organizations. We are proud to uphold our oaths to bring a just result to this case, holding Bridget Brown accountable for her betrayal of the public trust when she used her position as tax assessor (collector) and town clerk to steal from the taxpayers of the Town of Willsboro.'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Two men found dead in woods next to Salem Walmart
Two men were found dead in a wooded area near a Salem Walmart Wednesday afternoon, according to the Essex County District Attorney's Office. Salem police were called to 450 Highland Ave. shortly after 2:20 p.m. after a man walking his dog discovered one of the bodies, the district attorney's office said in a press release. Officers soon found the bodies of the two men. 'At this point, an investigation led by the Essex County District Attorney's Office, along with the Massachusetts State Police and the Salem Police, is underway to determine the cause of death and if foul play was involved,' the district attorney's office wrote. Anyone with information about the deaths is asked to call Massachusetts State Police at 978-745-8909 or Salem police at 978-744-1212. Thunderbirds defeat P-Bruins in opening game of first-round series Skier who crashed on N.H. mountain died 'doing what he loved best' Nigerian man pleads guilty to $10M pandemic unemployment fraud scheme Springfield, police ratify new contract for nearly 500 officers Karen Read's own words coming back to bite as prosecutor weaves in videos at trial
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
DA identifies man killed in late-night shooting in Lynn
The Essex County District Attorney's Office has identified 35-year-old Lynn resident Derek Hines as the man who was shot and killed in the city late Thursday night. Lynn police responded to 33 High St. shortly before 11:25 p.m. for a report of shots fired, the district attorney's office said previously. They found Hines unresponsive with gunshot wounds, and he was soon declared dead at Salem Hospital. Read more: Two arrested in connection with late-night fatal shooting in Lynn Police have arrested 36-year-old Brian Rivera and 35-year-old Michael Constabile in connection with Hines' death, the district attorney's office said. Rivera is facing a murder charge, four gun charges and three drug charges. Constabile is facing an accessory after the fact of murder charge and a municipal knife ordinance violation. Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges during their arraignments in Lynn District Court Friday afternoon, the district attorney's office said. The judge ordered that Rivera be held without bail and that Constabile be held on $100,000 cash bail. Read more: 2 men plead not guilty in connection with Lynn fatal shooting Rivera is due back in court on May 9 for a probable cause hearing, and Constabile's probably cause hearing is scheduled for April 18. No further information about Hine's murder has been released. Ten men charged in Berkshire County child predator sting operation Ex-Mass. State Police trooper pleads guilty to driver's license scheme Quincy man guilty of 1st degree murder, killing Dorchester man in 2019 shooting Weymouth man suspected of 'peeping Tom' incident outside apartment complex Charges dropped against men accused of fatal fight at Patriots game
Boston Globe
11-03-2025
- Boston Globe
3 people arrested in probe of drug trafficking organization in Lawrence dealing fentanyl and cocaine, officials say
The drug trafficking organization based out of Lawrence was allegedly supplying fentanyl, cocaine base and cutting agents to customers, the release said. Between April 2021 and November 2024, more than a dozen controlled purchases were made using confidential sources, officials said. The defendants allegedly sold more than 600 grams of fentanyl, more than 60 grams of cocaine base, and copious amounts of cutting agents during the controlled purchases, authorities said. Advertisement If convicted, the three defendants face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million, officials said in the release. Several agencies collaborated in the investigation including North Andover, Billerica, Haverhill, Methuen and Lowell Police Departments as well as the Essex County District Attorney's Office, the Massachusetts State Police, the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service and Homeland Security Investigations. As part of Operation Take Back America, three Dominican nationals residing in Lawrence, MA, were arrested by — FBI Boston (@FBIBoston) Sarah Mesdjian can be reached at
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Yahoo
‘Years of bloodshed': Feds say they've dismantled violent transnational gang terrorizing North Shore
Federal authorities on Wednesday announced the dismantling of a violent transnational gang that has terrorized Massachusetts' North Shore and other New England states for years. About two dozen leaders and gang members of the Trinitarios, a Dominican American criminal organization, are facing federal charges, including racketeering conspiracy in connection with six murders and 11 attempted murders, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said during a press conference late Wednesday morning. Two people, who were juveniles at the time of the alleged criminal offenses, have been charged by the Essex County District Attorney's Office with murder. 'For all well over a decade, Trinitarios gang members have engaged in brazen acts of murder, assault, and narcotics distribution, instilling fear in the communities across this Commonwealth, particularly in Lynn and in Lawrence,' Foley said. 'Today's law enforcement operation has struck a significant blow against the Trinitarios in Massachusetts, virtually dismantling an organization responsible for years of bloodshed, drug trafficking, and lawlessness,' Foley said. 'This enforcement action ends the Trinitarios reign of terror in Massachusetts,' Foley said. One of the gang's alleged murder victims was a 16-year-old boy, Foley said. The violent gang typically recruited its young members from local high schools in Lynn and Lawrence, prosecutors said. The charges announced Wednesday stem from a multijurisdictional investigation that began after four murders and a series of attempted murders and shootings that took place in Lynn in 2023. Prosecutors eyed the Trinitarios as the perpetrators. According to court documents, chapters of the Trinitarios were identified in in Lawrence, Lynn, Boston and Haverhill. 'Trinitarios members in these cities allegedly undertake efforts to dominate their communities by intimidating rival gangs and establishing control over certain neighborhoods,' prosecutors said. The Trinitarios used violence and murder to further 'the organization's goals and purposes,' prosecutors allege. Gang rivalries developed over time, for reasons including competition over drug territory. Investigators identified that the Massachusetts Trinitarios have allegedly committed at least 10 homicides in Essex County over the past decade. Prosecutors also believe the gang to be responsible 'for numerous attempted murders, shootings, kidnappings and robberies.' Sixteen members of the Trinitarios criminal enterprise in Massachusetts have been charged with six of these murders – two of which took place in Lawrence in 2017 and two double murders in Lynn in 2023. The remaining four homicides are being prosecuted by the Essex District Attorney's Office. According to the charging documents, the Trinitarios are a hierarchical criminal organization, with positions that are known to exist at the state and local chapter level, whose members adhere to a code of conduct. Enmanuel Paula-Cabral, a/k/a, 'Nelfew,' a/k/a 'Gordo,' 'Manny,' allegedly serves as the State Supreme of the Trinitarios for Massachusetts, responsible for all of the gang's criminal activities, coordination with other state leaders and communication with leadership of the Trinitarios in the Dominican Republic. Paula-Cabral is also allegedly responsible for the Trinitarios chapter operating in Manchester, New Hampshire, as well as the Trinitarios located in Maine, where the gang operates a lucrative drug-trade. Ery Jordani Rosario, a/k/a 'Racacha' allegedly held the secondary leadership role, referred to as the 'Flag' or 'Segundo,' in the Bay State, prosecutors said. Each chapter allegedly has a 'cabinet' of leaders who are responsible for recruiting new members, disciplining members who violate Trinitarios' directives and collecting money into a communal account used to support illegal acts as well as incarcerated Trinitarios members and their families, prosecutors said. It is alleged that the Trinitarios use a written 'Magna Carta' that defines the structure and rules of the organization, as well as slogans, symbols, colors and practices, Foley said. This includes a green logo that consists of two crossed machetes and embellishments of 'The Green Nation' and 'Trinitarios Hasta La Muerte,' which translated from Spanish means, 'Trinitarios Until Death.' It is alleged that the Massachusetts Trinitarios have particularly embraced this logo and have created custom T-shirts bearing this logo and each member's gang name printed in green. Prosecutors said the Massachusetts Trinitarios allegedly recruit new members among communities of legal immigrants and illegal aliens from the Dominican Republic, specifically juveniles in local high schools in Lawrence and Lynn. To get favor with these new recruits, the Trinitarios allegedly appeal to their shared Spanish language and culture, Dominican patriotism and use the appearance of prosperity and brotherhood. Members are allegedly initiated into the gang after observation or probation and are often inducted after completing a 'mission' – which is generally a substantial act of violence such as shootings, beatings, or fist fights with rival gang members that were the same age or stature. According to the court documents, upon induction, new members are formally 'blessed' into the organization during a formal ceremony, are administered oaths by the State Supreme and are awarded with ceremonial beaded necklaces. Younger members are allegedly tasked with lesser roles during many violent 'missions,' including standing lookout during a shooting, holding or concealing weapons on behalf of full members and transporting weapons after their use in shootings. According to the charging documents, the Trinitarios 'endeavor to project power over the internet and social media' by producing music and music videos featuring members in Trinitarios colors and clothing holding weapons, cash and other items. Their lyrics 'boast about violence, drugs and other criminal endeavors as warnings and threats to other rival gangs,' investigators said. Michael Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, said that Wednesday's announcement comes with a stern warning for violent criminals in the Bay State. 'Today the message should be loud and clear: transnational criminal organizations and their associates who commit violent acts and who peddle in poison in our communities will never have refuge in the United States,' Krol told reporters. 'Today's operation sends a message that deadly gang violence, as well as illegal gun and drug trafficking, have no place in the Commonwealth,' Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoff Noble said during the press conference. 'Operations like this one are dangerous that require focus, coordination and precision,' Noble said. 'I commend the efforts of our brave troopers and law enforcement partners who have worked tirelessly for months to bring these criminals to justice today.' 'We cannot forget the victims in these cases and families who no longer have loved ones because of these crimes that these men are accused of,' Noble said. 'We hope these arrests give some small form of comfort to those families who have lost so much in the face of senseless violence.' The charge of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (also known as 'racketeering conspiracy' or 'RICO conspiracy') provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act conspiracy) provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 'Such shameless and senseless acts of violence have no place anywhere; especially not in any city in Massachusetts,' Foley said. 'If you threaten the safety of our residents, we will find you, we will hold you accountable, and we will ensure that justice is served.' This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
