Town of Easton Employee/Union Treasurer Charged with Larceny From Union Funds
Bristol County District Attorney’s Office
Thomas M. Quinn III
District Attorney
PRESS RELEASE
October 25, 2016
A 53-year-old Raynham woman who works for the Town of Easton has been charged with larceny over $250 by single scheme connected to her role as treasurer of the Southeastern Public Employees Association, District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced today.
Pamela J. Almeida, who works as a clerk for the Planning Department in Easton, was arrested late yesterday afternoon by Easton Police and Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to District Attorney Quinn’s office. The defendant was arraigned in Taunton District Court just before the end of the court day yesterday, and ordered held on $1,000 cash bail.
As the treasurer of the union representing various public employees employed in the Towns of Easton, Mansfield, West Bridgewater, and Milton, the defendant had control of the union’s bank account in Easton. Union representatives became suspicious that Almeida was stealing funds from the union bank account and contacted Easton police last week.
Easton Police contacted the District Attorney Quinn’s Office. The joint investigation by Easton Police Detective Darren Mangott and State Police Detective Melvin Rodriguez, who is assigned to this office, was led by Assistant District Attorney Michael Scott, who heads up District Attorney Quinn’s newly created Financial Crimes Unit.
A review of 21 months of bank records revealed that Almeida regularly drafted checks payable to herself from union funds for no legitimate reason. For the time-frame examined, Almeida wrote more than 30 checks to herself for a total theft of around $20,000.
Although the defendant has been arrested, the investigation remains active and ongoing as investigators now search back into bank records that precede the past 21 months.
The defendant is due back in court November 16th for a pretrial hearing.
“This was a joint investigation by Easton and state police, and was overseen by ADA Michael Scott, who is the head of my newly formed financial crimes unit. I would like to thank Easton Police Chief Gary Sullivan for his cooperation in this matter,” District Attorney Quinn said. “These allegations impact a number of union members in multiple communities. This is an alleged breach of trust by the defendant and is a serious matter that remains under investigation.”
Contact:
Gregg Miliote
Director of Communications
508-997-0711
774-292-9576