Related: Nothing Doing in Nahant
Former Nahant town manager indicted; Accused of fraud in past positions" by Travis Andersen, Globe Staff December 31, 2014
Former Nahant town administrator Andrew Bisignani, who resigned in June amid questions about the awarding of public contracts, was indicted Tuesday on charges that he committed fraud while working for the towns of Nahant and Saugus.
An Essex County grand jury handed up 12 indictments against Bisignani, 68, on charges including procurement fraud and altering or destroying public records, District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett’s office said in a statement.
Bisignani, who remains free pending his arraignment in Essex Superior Court, could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.
His attorney, Tracy Miner, commented only briefly when reached by e-mail.
“Apparently the DA’s office saw fit to give the indictment to the press before they gave it to me or my client,” Miner wrote. “As neither me nor my client has received the indictment, all I can say is at all times Andy Bisignani sought to benefit the towns that he served.”
Bisignani is accused of committing procurement fraud related to public building and public works repairs between February 2012 and June 2014, while serving in Nahant.
He is also accused during that period of knowingly violating public spending laws, failing to provide notice of competitive bids, and altering public records as well as documents requested in a grand jury summons, Blodgett’s statement said.
Bisignani faces similar charges dating back to his tenure as Saugus town manager, including procurement fraud between January 2009 and February 2012 related to town vehicle and public works repairs, according to the statement.
A spokesman for Blodgett declined to offer details of the alleged fraud and would not say whether others might face charges. Prosecutors did not identify any municipal vendors linked to the case.
Town officials in Nahant, where Bisignani still resides, and Saugus either declined to comment or could not be reached Tuesday.
“I don’t know what the charges are,” said Michael Manning, a member of the Nahant Board of Selectmen, adding he had not seen the indictments.
Saugus Selectman Stephen Castinetti also said he had no knowledge of the charges and declined to discuss the case.
“I really don’t think it’s appropriate,” he said.
Bisignani submitted his resignation from the Nahant post in mid-June, one day before State Police raided Town Hall offices and seized computers, paperwork, and lists of the town’s vendors.
Saugus selectmen had declined to reappoint Bisignani when his term was up and hired an outside accounting firm to review his management and spending practices. That audit identified more than $2 million in questionable spending during the last two years of Bisignani’s tenure and alleged there was an intentional violation of state laws and rules.
An arraignment date for Bisignani has not been set.
--more--"
So who did the FBI call?
"FBI unveils public corruption tipline, website" by Milton J. Valencia, Globe Staff December 15, 2014
The Boston office of the FBI sought the public’s help Monday in rooting out public corruption, warning that the state’s fledging casino and medical marijuana industries have the potential to tempt legislators, police officers, even zoning board members into wrongdoing.
“This is all fertile ground for bribery and public corruption,” said Lucy Ziobro, an assistant special agent in charge who oversees the prosecution of white-collar crimes.
That's why I didn't want casinos and regret my marijuana vote, the worst I ever cast.
“When there’s money, or opportunity to make money, there’s greed, and when there’s greed there’s corruption,” she said.
Ziobro joined Vincent Lisi, the special agent in charge in Boston, and supervisory agent Mike Carazza, who oversees the public corruption unit, in announcing a new tipline, 1-844-NO-BRIBE, and website, tips.fbi.gov.
The tipline and website will be promoted on billboards throughout the region in a “Stop Corruption Now” campaign, in hopes that people will report suspected corruption. The FBI will keep reports private.
At the Monday announcement of the anticorruption campaign, the FBI posted marketing posters with pictures from past investigations, including a picture of former state senator Dianne Wilkerson stuffing her bra with cash. Wilkerson was convicted of extortion in federal court in Boston and was sentenced in 2011 to 3½ years in prison.
“The public relies on us to identify corrupt public officials, and bring them to justice,” Lisi said.
Actually, I don't. I count on you to cover up the real big cases while focusing on small fry.
Ziobro added, “We want to see if the public can engage in this with us.”
With the recent prosecutions of several Massachusetts legislators – the three previous House speakers have been convicted in federal court – the FBI officials stressed their new campaign is not limited to the casino and medical marijuana industries, and that they will investigate public corruption at any level.
Still, Lisi warned that the potentially lucrative new industries, specifically casinos, cause concern.
Already, US prosecutors have indicted a Mafia associate and two other men who allegedly hid the Mafia associate’s ownership of an Everett plot of land that was to be sold to casino mogul Steve Wynn. The state’s gambling laws bar criminals from profiting from a gambling facility, and the Mafia associate’s ownership of the land could have jeopardized Wynn’s casino plans.
The state has also closely regulated the medical marijuana industry since voters approved the opening of dispensaries in Massachusetts two years ago.
What industry? We are still waiting.
Maybe by winter, they say. Well, it is winter!
Officials asked the public to be on the look out for any public official – a police officer, a judge, a legislator, or a zoning board member – who uses his or her office for personal gain, whether related to the casino or medical marijuana industries, or any other business.
They are all on Beacon Hill. Go get 'em.
The FBI officials listed recent public corruption cases from Providence to Maine....
I see Ma$$achu$etts is not alone.
--more--"
Does this mean less time framing patsy plotters in fabricated terror plots?
