Ex-Revere library chief indicted on embezzling charges
By Katheleen Conti Boston Globe
After a two-year investigation, the former director of the Revere Public Library has been indicted on charges that he embezzled at least $200,000 in city funds by purchasing items for himself or to sell online for his profit over four years.
Robert E. Rice Jr., 45, of Rowley, was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday on 21 felony counts, including three counts of larceny over $250, three counts of embezzlement by a city officer, and 15 counts of procurement fraud, according to Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s office.
Each count of larceny and procurement fraud carries a penalty, on conviction, of up to five years in prison, while each embezzlement count carries up to 10 years, according to Jake Wark, spokesman for the Conley’s office. Rice is scheduled to be arraigned April 1 in Suffolk Superior Court.
Rice, who has been the director of the Pelham, N.H., Public Library since October 2009, did not return a call for comment. He had resigned as Revere’s library director, a post he held for 12 of the 27 years he was employed there, immediately after the allegations surfaced in January 2009 through a routine city audit of his department.
Mayor Thomas G. Ambrosino of Revere said that while he felt there was evidence of criminal activity, the number of counts against Rice was unexpected.
“It seems like a lot of counts, but the city believes there was a lot of evidence of criminal activity and evidence of fraud,’’ Ambrosino said. “It was certainly surprising at the time. He had never given any indication that he was doing anything improper until our auditors looked at his procurement records. In many respects, we continue to implement the controls that allowed us to uncover this fraud.’’
Ambrosino said the extent of the alleged embezzlement was not known to city officials the day they first questioned Rice. The mayor said he hopes that if Rice is convicted, the city recoups some of its losses with monies Rice still has invested in the city’s pension fund.
Rice is accused of billing the city for the purchase of books, software, DVDs, and collectible curios that he kept for himself or sold on eBay, according to Conley’s office. In some cases, Rice allegedly kept money refunded to the city for items that were ordered but not shipped.
George M. Anzuoni, the city’s finance director, said Rice allegedly altered purchase orders and requisitions “to read as other items.’’
Revere Police Captain Michael Murphy called the investigation tedious but “quite historic’’ in scope, and said he has never seen the likes of it in his 25 years in the department. The investigation looked into alleged offenses dating to 2005 and was led by Revere police with the help of outside auditors and the New England State Police Information Network.
“He’s alleged to have purchased many things . . .’’ Murphy said, “some of which had been library related and then misappropriated, and others that did not seem on their face to have much to do with the library.’’
The charges still baffle some Revere officials.
“I knew him, and he seemed like a straight shooter, and I was shocked when I heard of the allegations,’’ said Councilor Anthony T. Zambuto. “But if they’re indicting at this point, where there’s smoke, there’s probably fire.’’
Councilor George Rotondo called the charges troubling, saying that the city needs to move forward.
“A wise thing to do at this point is double check the way we conduct business in the city and implement strict auditing procedures and move on from there,’’ Rotondo said.
Francis Garboski, chair of the Pelham Public Library Board of Trustees, said in a statement that the board is surprised by the indictments, and that members were aware of “issues regarding his prior position’’ when Rice was hired.
“Nevertheless, we were satisfied with his explanation, and his references were excellent,’’ Garboski said. “Bob’s service to the Pelham Public Library has been nothing short of exemplary. . . . We have complete confidence in our director to effectively run the library and have no evidence to question his ability to perform his job. This board will continue to support him and look forward to putting this unpleasant situation behind us.’’
Katheleen Conti can be reached at kconti@globe.com.
By Katheleen Conti Boston Globe
After a two-year investigation, the former director of the Revere Public Library has been indicted on charges that he embezzled at least $200,000 in city funds by purchasing items for himself or to sell online for his profit over four years.
Robert E. Rice Jr., 45, of Rowley, was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday on 21 felony counts, including three counts of larceny over $250, three counts of embezzlement by a city officer, and 15 counts of procurement fraud, according to Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s office.
Each count of larceny and procurement fraud carries a penalty, on conviction, of up to five years in prison, while each embezzlement count carries up to 10 years, according to Jake Wark, spokesman for the Conley’s office. Rice is scheduled to be arraigned April 1 in Suffolk Superior Court.
Rice, who has been the director of the Pelham, N.H., Public Library since October 2009, did not return a call for comment. He had resigned as Revere’s library director, a post he held for 12 of the 27 years he was employed there, immediately after the allegations surfaced in January 2009 through a routine city audit of his department.
Mayor Thomas G. Ambrosino of Revere said that while he felt there was evidence of criminal activity, the number of counts against Rice was unexpected.
“It seems like a lot of counts, but the city believes there was a lot of evidence of criminal activity and evidence of fraud,’’ Ambrosino said. “It was certainly surprising at the time. He had never given any indication that he was doing anything improper until our auditors looked at his procurement records. In many respects, we continue to implement the controls that allowed us to uncover this fraud.’’
Ambrosino said the extent of the alleged embezzlement was not known to city officials the day they first questioned Rice. The mayor said he hopes that if Rice is convicted, the city recoups some of its losses with monies Rice still has invested in the city’s pension fund.
Rice is accused of billing the city for the purchase of books, software, DVDs, and collectible curios that he kept for himself or sold on eBay, according to Conley’s office. In some cases, Rice allegedly kept money refunded to the city for items that were ordered but not shipped.
George M. Anzuoni, the city’s finance director, said Rice allegedly altered purchase orders and requisitions “to read as other items.’’
Revere Police Captain Michael Murphy called the investigation tedious but “quite historic’’ in scope, and said he has never seen the likes of it in his 25 years in the department. The investigation looked into alleged offenses dating to 2005 and was led by Revere police with the help of outside auditors and the New England State Police Information Network.
“He’s alleged to have purchased many things . . .’’ Murphy said, “some of which had been library related and then misappropriated, and others that did not seem on their face to have much to do with the library.’’
The charges still baffle some Revere officials.
“I knew him, and he seemed like a straight shooter, and I was shocked when I heard of the allegations,’’ said Councilor Anthony T. Zambuto. “But if they’re indicting at this point, where there’s smoke, there’s probably fire.’’
Councilor George Rotondo called the charges troubling, saying that the city needs to move forward.
“A wise thing to do at this point is double check the way we conduct business in the city and implement strict auditing procedures and move on from there,’’ Rotondo said.
Francis Garboski, chair of the Pelham Public Library Board of Trustees, said in a statement that the board is surprised by the indictments, and that members were aware of “issues regarding his prior position’’ when Rice was hired.
“Nevertheless, we were satisfied with his explanation, and his references were excellent,’’ Garboski said. “Bob’s service to the Pelham Public Library has been nothing short of exemplary. . . . We have complete confidence in our director to effectively run the library and have no evidence to question his ability to perform his job. This board will continue to support him and look forward to putting this unpleasant situation behind us.’’
Katheleen Conti can be reached at kconti@globe.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment