The FBI arrested nine current and former Boston Police Department officers for an overtime fraud scheme that the bureau said resulted in the loss of more than $200,000.
The FBI identified those arrested in a Wednesday news release as Lt. Timothy Torigian, 54; retired Sgt. Gerard O’Brien, 62; retired Sgt. Robert Twitchell, 58; retired officer Henry Doherty, 61; retired officer Diana Lopez, 58; retired officer James Carnes, 57; officer Michael Murphy, 60; retired officer Ronald Nelson, 60; and officer Kendra Conway, 49.
They were all charged with one count of conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds.
According to the indictment, which was unsealed on Wednesday, the overtime fraud scheme began in at least May 2016. The officers involved all work or worked at the Boston Police Department’s Evidence Control Unit. The officers were permitted 1.5 times their regular pay for every hour they worked overtime and, according to investigators, decided to bilk the department of money by pretending to be working overtime while actually checked out.
“The defendants routinely departed overtime shifts two or more hours early but submitted false and fraudulent overtime slips claiming to have worked the entirety of each shift,” the FBI said.
FBI investigators, who were assisted by the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General, said that between May 2016 and February 2019, the group embezzled more than $200,000 in combined overtime pay, with Torigian raking in more than $43,000 alone.
“I am a strong supporter of the police, especially in these difficult times. But all must be treated equally under the law, regardless of wealth, power, or station,” U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said. “These officers are charged with stealing taxpayer money, year after year, through fraud.”
The defendants face up to 10 years in prison for the embezzlement charge and five years in prison for the conspiracy charge.
