The former chief of the Chelsea Housing Authority was charged Wednesday with four felony counts of deliberately concealing his inflated salary from state and federal regulators from 2008 until he resigned in 2011, triggering a scandal that has rocked Massachusetts’ public housing system to its foundation.
US Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz announced the federal charges against Michael E. McLaughlin, 67, of Dracut, alleging that McLaughlin deliberately underreported his annual salary by up to $164,000 a year in mandatory reports to state and federal housing regulators. The charges were contained in a document that is normally used when the defendant has agreed to plead guilty.
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Enjoy jail and the loss of your pension. Also, don't forget to pay back all that phony vacation time pay you left with. Next up, his enablers.
Bye, Mike! You're a rebel, you'll survive, probably.
Huh, and CRASH Murray just decided not to run.
Do you hear the foot steps Timmy ? Maybe the "All In Governor" will be exposed for conspiracy (one can only hope) ?
Stealing office supplies or crusing the internet when you are supposed to work is "the rebel", underreporting your salary is stealing, plain and simple.
when the state writes a paycheck, isnt there a record of how much is on it? the state is in shambles and we can blame the liberals for all of this crap....
No, we can blame people like you who don't know the facts of how things work. McLaughlin was paid by the Housing Authority. His crony was the Authority's treasurer. When the scandal broke, his treasurer cut him several checks as well - not the state.
nsn: You just proved jackelly's point.
Great Job....now how about the indictments of the CEO's of the large financial corps who cost us billions and brought down an entire economy and housing market ?
You're inferring that Obama has no interest in putting such fiends in jail....like John Corzine, former Democratic govenor and senator? The guy who ripped off billions last year? Yeah, interesting thing that Obama hasn't prosecuted anyone, no? Not even a "fat cat" like Corzine who violated the number one rule in financial management; never commingle corporate and customer funds? That one IS a tough one to prosecute.....right?
I wonder why the state's "little-scrutinized" public housing authorities were allowed to run under the radar? I wonder why the shennanigans at the Probation Dept went on for so long? I wonder why the MBTA is such a disaster? I wonder why we're still paying for the Mass Pike? I wonder why that rogue crime lab chemist was able to fake evidence for so long? I wonder why the pharmacy scandal happened? I wonder why Boston cops routinely haul down 200 grand a year? I wonder why half-time Boston firefighters make 100 grand? I wonder why toll takers make 75 grand? I wonder why I never see a flagman at a contruction site? (I'd continue, but I'm at work.) I wonder if any of this can be attributed to Mass being a one-party state? I wonder why the Globe never mentions that nearly all of this malfeasance is perpetrated by Democrats?
Are you suggesting that there may be political implications at the bottom of all these things that you mention are happening here ....... Massachusetts ?
how is this even possible? where is the oversight or even basic management of gov office? can any of us hide our pay from our bosses? so wrong...
Michael McLaughlin has fooled and scammed a lot of people for a long time....as Jay Ash attests...including dozens of politicians from both sides of the aisle, Murray among them, that he used to benefit himself. Glad Murray testified against this scum. Hope McLaughlin rots in jail. Globe reporters Murphy and Estes continue to exaggerate McLaughlin's involvement with Murray, but that sells papers, I guess....no mention of the list of other pols McLaughlin took advantage of.
Ya know the wantabe president can say we need to raise taxes but why not look into the hacks filling their pockets. That, I am willing to guess may fill the state coffers No????
"He was in line for one of the largest pensions in state history, up to $278,000 a year". Can someone explain why on earth the state pays more than, say, $50,000 in pensions to ANYONE? Legions of people in the private sector make $164,000 with a lot more demanding jobs than McLaughlin's and get no guaranteed pension. In fact, why should any business or organization guarantee a pension over $50,000? Whether you're making $200,000 in the private or public sector, by definition, your PRETTY SMART, no? That means you don't need handholding, you can find responsible investment methods, Making over $200,000 you can certainly put aside 10% or more of that income and, getting 7% per year, saving $20,000 per year for 15 years, would fund $500,000 for retirement. Should the state provide lower salaried employees with a pension? Arguably, yes by dint of the fact that these workers likely lack the knowledge and experience to save and invest reasonably competently. But how does even the most ardent liberal justify paying six figure pensions for "management" types who SHOULD be able to invest competently? The state is going bankrupt to pay pensions that amount to MULTI-MILLIONDOLLAR estates for "managers" like McLaughlin. How does that make any sense from any political perspective?