Former Chelsea Housing Authority chief Michael E. McLaughlin pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to four counts of deliberately concealing his inflated salary from state and federal regulators from 2008 until he was forced to resign in 2011.
McLaughlin, who has been criticized for allegedly building his own power and income at the expense of the poor people he was supposed to help, appeared late this morning in US District Court in Boston.
Comments
What happens to his pension?
It is on hold. The pension board was waiting till the trail was over before making a decision.
Now that he's pled guilty, why would he receive any pension at all? And why wouldn't he have to return everything he made above his stated salary? And why wouldn't he have to spend a couple of years in the can?
All great questions. The reporting of this story is terrible. These are the questiosn that people deserved answered.
another is, why is he looking at a 12-18 month sentence when it was reported that the federal offense carried a sentence of 8 months per offense? That adds up to 32 months. It's like they are already setting us up for him getting a reduced sentence. Sickening!
There are the sentencing considerations "they" get and the ones "we" get. We don't have friends who can get their brothers in law a good goventment job. They should put this guys head on a pike at the gate to th city and a memento for all that come after him.
What is really troubling is had The Globe not reported on this, no other mechanism or person within state governement was stopping this from happening. Is it unreasonable to assume that others exist within the vast darkness of state government who are still gaming the system and taxpayers too?
Great point. This just reinforces my opinion that newspapers like The Globe are essential to our society.
Like the globe used to be...
Maybe he will feel comfortable telling the truth about all of the phone calls with Lt. Governor Tim Murray.
I emailed the reporters on this story and was told thier will be a longer update in tomorrows paper. Maybe some of these issues will be highlighted.
Tiny Tim is getting ready for his "perp" walk. It should be on the six o'clock news any day now.
Well, Tim Murray's campaign has told TV reporters that the Lt Governor is "comfortable" with the way he handled himself. In earlier statements, Murray has thrown the former housing chief under the bus and backed it up twice!
For financial fraud, I don't see that jail time does any good except to punish by jail. The better puishment should be for him to pay back the money he took with interest. Then add a fine of whatever proportion. As for his pension, if you take that away, then you have created another homeless guy. Should he not get some credit for the time he put in? You bleeding heart liberal, you. Wait, he did wrong but the punishmment should fit the crime. I just don't see how jail time for financial fraud does anything for the State. If he pays back the money with interest and fines. isn't that enough punishment? Jail time only costs the State more. And while he's in jail, how can he find ways and means to pay back the stolen money?
they should get back the money, every dime and revoke his pension. again,if chuck turner goes away for a grand, mike should do time as well. does anyone think this is the extent of his funny business?
indeed, were it not for the Globe, this story would not have been brought to light. the local newspapers in the cities and towns are largely a joke these days. without a vigilant press, corruption has cover. not good.