Attorney General's Office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagohomepage&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago http://www.mass.gov/Cago/RSS/Home/PressReleases_generic2.xml © 2009 Commonwealth of Massachusetts 2009-11-23T00:00:00Z http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_11_23_davidson_plea&csid=Cago 2009-11-23T00:00:00Z 2009-11-23T00:00:00Z

Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced that a Hyannis businessman pled guilty and was sentenced in connection with failing to account for and pay over sales taxes collected by his furniture business and for failing to file corporate excise tax returns. Abbott Davidson, age 52, of Centerville pled guilty in Suffolk Superior Court to charges of Willful Failure to Account for and Pay Over Sales Tax (3 counts) and Willful Failure to File Corporate Excise Tax Return (3 counts). Following the change of plea, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Carol Ball sentenced Davidson to one year in the House of Correction, with the sentence suspended for three years, and 10 years of probation, sentences to run concurrently. Davidson’s probation conditions include requirements that he file all outstanding tax returns within 120 days of sentencing and that he make payments throughout the term of his probation in the maximum amount that he is able to pay, up to the entire amount of the business’s tax liability.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announce that a Worcester Superior Court Judge ordered two Clinton men to serve time in State Prison for their involvement in setting fires to a historical landmark in Sterling, a barn in Holden, an abandoned paper factory in Erving, and at a railroad bungalow in Florida, MA. Superior Court Judge John S. McCann sentenced both Michael Dreslinski, age 30, and John Rousseau, age 30, to 15 years in State Prison for their convictions on the charges of Burning a Building (4 counts), Breaking & Entering in the Nighttime with Intent to Commit a Felony, Malicious Destruction of Property and Malicious Injury to a Railroad. Judge McCann also ordered both men be placed on probation while in prison, and also ordered that the men serve an additional 15 years of probation upon the completion of their State Prison sentences. While on probation, Rousseau and Dreslinski were ordered to have no contact with the victims nor have any contact with computers or incendiary devices. Upon their release from prison, the men will be monitored by electronic bracelet and will be placed on curfew from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Judge McCann also ordered the men to pay over $200,000 in restitution to the victims for the damage caused by their activities.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached an agreement with Aventis, an international drug company and wholly-owned subsidiary of sanofi-aventis U.S., LLC., resolving allegations that between 1995 and 2000, Aventis and its corporate predecessors knowingly misreported best prices for the steroid-based anti-inflammatory nasal sprays Azmacort, Nasacort and Nasacort AQ. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Aventis has paid $4.25 million to the Massachusetts Medicaid Program, which provides funds for health care products and services to eligible low-income individuals, including people with disabilities, children and elder citizens. The Massachusetts recovery is part of a national settlement that has returned $95.5 million of federal and state money to Medicaid programs across the country.

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Commonwealth Tank Incorporated (CommTank), a Wakefield oil tank installation and removal company, and its president and treasurer were indicted yesterday on charges they knowingly deceived clients and misrepresented compliance with environmental laws in order to justify excessive work and expenses. The indictments allege the defendants devised a scheme to obtain unnecessary environmental remediation work after removing oil tanks by falsely claiming to their clients that the work was required to be in compliance with Department of Environment of Protection (MassDEP) standards and other legal requirements. CommTank was indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury on charges of Larceny by False Pretenses of a Person over 60 (2 counts), Larceny by False Pretenses (1 count), Attempted Larceny by False Pretenses (4 Counts), and False and Misleading Advertisement (2 counts). Company president Kevin Hoag, age 42, of Reading, was charged with Larceny by False Pretenses (1 count), Attempted Larceny by False Pretenses (2 counts), and False and Misleading Advertisements (2 counts). Company treasurer Christina Hoag, age 42, of Reading, was charged with Offering to Practice Engineering Without being Registered (2 counts) and Untrue and Misleading Advertisements (2 counts).

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that a Norfolk County Grand Jury returned indictments against a Roxbury man and his girlfriend for allegedly trafficking and conspiring to sell cocaine in the Greater Boston area. Christian Miranda, age 39, and his girlfriend Samia French, age 30, of Boston, are both charged with Trafficking in Cocaine over 28 grams and Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws. French was also indicted on the additional charge of Accessory After The Fact to Trafficking in Cocaine.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office reached an agreement with two companies that sold an unregistered pesticide product called “Victory’s Miraculous Insecticide Chalk” or “Chinese Chalk” at the Dollar Fun Store in Fall River. The Attorney General’s Office filed an Assurance of Discontinuance in Suffolk Superior Court today under the Consumer Protection Act that requires Ding Ji, Inc., the current owner of the store, and Dollar Fun Too, Inc., the prior owner, to remove the product from the store shelves. The defendants have also agreed not to sell this product again and pay $2,500 in costs and penalties to the Commonwealth. Ding Ji Inc. and the Dollar Fun Too cooperated in the Commonwealth’s investigation in this matter.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office hosted its fourth Cyber Crime Initiative Quarterly Meeting of 2009 yesterday at the Sheraton Hotel in Framingham. Over 200 police officers, prosecutors, and computer forensic investigators from throughout the state attended the daylong training, which included a General Session in the morning and a Forensic Working Group session in the afternoon. The General Session focused on two topics, the first being how law enforcement and prosecutors should consider and analyze the new phenomenon of “sexting,” while the second topic was an introduction to Microsoft’s Xbox. The Forensic Working Group session focused on Xbox and Microsoft’s criminal compliance.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office offered the following advice to consumers to protect themselves as they kick off the holiday shopping season.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley and Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone announce that the former Middlesex County Register of Probate was sentenced in Middlesex Superior Court for his role in operating two separate schemes in which he stole thousands in taxpayer money and more than $100,000 in campaign funds. For both of the schemes John R. Buonomo, age 57, of Newton, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Bruce Henry to serve two and a half years in the House of Correction, followed by 10 years of probation. Judge Henry also ordered Buonomo to pay a fine of $1,000 in the Middlesex District Attorney’s case and Buonomo must also pay restitution in the amount of $102,792 in the Attorney General’s case.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a final judgment in a civil rights case against two men charged with a racially motivated attack in Worcester. The final judgment, granted by Worcester Superior Court Judge Mitchell Kaplan, prohibits John Polydores, of Worcester, and Douglas Griffin, of Paxton, from violating the civil rights of the victims and all others in the Commonwealth based upon actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity or national origin. A violation of the judgment is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and two and a half years in a House of Correction, or if bodily injury results from such violation, a $10,000 fine and up to 10 years in State Prison.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed a lawsuit and obtained a temporary restraining order against Jeffrey Riebman, doing business as “Timeshare Advocates,” for allegedly devising a scam to defraud owners of timeshare properties in Dennisport. According to the complaint, filed today in Suffolk Superior Court, Riebman falsely represented to timeshare owners that he was an attorney working with the Attorney General’s Office who could obtain a full refund of the purchase price of the timeshare, plus a refund of closing costs, property maintenance fees, plus interest. The complaint alleges Riebman collected up to $700 from some consumers to file a consumer complaint with the Attorney General’s Office, a service the Attorney General’s Office provides to consumers at no cost. To induce consumers to pay him a fee to file a complaint on their behalf, Riebman deceptively represented the complexity of the complaint process, misrepresenting that the process takes months, requires significant paperwork and legal knowledge, and that the Attorney General’s Office would reject improperly completed forms.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces the arraignment of a former project manager at a local hospital in connection with allegedly stealing millions of dollars from the institution in fraudulent construction contracts. John Lawler, age 52, formerly of Stowe, was arraigned in Worcester Superior Court on Friday on the charges of Larceny Over $250 (11 counts), Uttering (5 counts), Larceny by a Continuous Scheme Over $250, Commercial Bribery (2 counts), Unemployment Fraud, Filing False Tax Return. Lawler was arrested by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Attorney General’s Office on November 2, 2009 in Buda, Texas, and subsequently returned to the Commonwealth for arraignment last week.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a civil rights injunction against two men charged with viciously beating an African-American man in a racially motivated assault in Milton. The order, granted yesterday by Norfolk Superior Court Judge Patrick F. Brady, prohibits Scott Bierlich, of Braintree, and Robert Clarke, of Milton, from violating the civil rights of the victim and all others in the Commonwealth based upon their actual or perceived race. A violation of the injunction is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and two and a half years in a House of Correction, or if bodily injury results from such violation, a $10,000 fine and up to 10 years in State Prison.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced that it has entered into an agreement with Texas-based American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc. (“AHMSI”) that will provide significant benefits to approximately 8,200 Massachusetts borrowers holding loans originated by Option One Mortgage Corp. (“Option One”) and H&R Block Mortgage Corp. (“H&R Block Mortgage”). Those mortgage loans are the subject of a lawsuit which the Attorney General’s Office filed in June 2008. The complaint alleges Option One and H&R Block Mortgage originated the risky subprime loans with reckless disregard for whether borrowers would be able to afford their loan payments – a practice that has contributed significantly to the foreclosure crisis in Massachusetts. Under the agreement, filed today in Suffolk Superior Court, AHMSI will be required to provide affordable loan modifications to certain borrowers who fall behind in their mortgage payments.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office obtained a consent judgment against City Realty Group, LLC, a Boston-based realty company, and its agent, Matthew A. Rose, resolving claims that the company refused to rent an apartment to a tester from the Boston Fair Housing Commission posing as a woman with a three-year old child whose presence would require abatement of lead paint hazards under state law. The consent judgment, entered by Judge MaryLou Muirhead in Boston Housing Court, orders the defendants to pay a total of $5,000 to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Boston-based Lead Action Collaborative and bars the defendants from future acts of discrimination.

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A Worcester Superior Court jury returned guilty verdicts yesterday in the trial of a second Clinton man involved in setting fires to a historical landmark in Sterling, a barn in Holden, an abandoned paper factory in Erving, and at a railroad bungalow in Florida, MA. John Rousseau, age 30, was found guilty of Burning a Building (4 counts), Breaking & Entering in the Nighttime with Intent to Commit a Felony, Malicious Destruction of Property over $250 and Malicious Injury to a Railroad.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions yesterday urging support for Senate 1584, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009 (ENDA), legislation that would expand the protections granted under federal civil rights laws to ensure that workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is expressly and uniformly prohibited nationwide.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached a settlement agreement with a Dorchester asbestos abatement company for intentionally failing to pay the prevailing wage and for intentionally failing to pay overtime at various public construction sites in Massachusetts. Neal Cass, age 59, of Dorchester, and his company, Nealco Environmental Services, Inc. (Nealco), have agreed to pay $12,000 in fines and a total of over $122,200 in restitution to employees for the violations. In addition, Cass and Nealco have agreed to pay $6,000 in fines for the intentional failure to submit true and accurate certified payroll records to local awarding authorities at three public construction projects and $2,000 in fines for failure to submit certified payroll records on a weekly basis. Cass and his company have also agreed to refrain from bidding on, or contracting for, public construction work in the Commonwealth for a period of two years.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that a former Newton man was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court for allegedly stealing over $23,000 in rent checks while working as a property manager for an apartment building. William Gauthier, age 55, is charged with Larceny over $250 by False Pretenses (3 counts), Forgery (2 counts) and Uttering (2 counts).

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has obtained a consent judgment in a housing discrimination case against Sheryl Budd, the owner of a three-unit building located in Everett, who is accused of violating state anti-discrimination laws for refusing to de-lead an apartment after learning that a long-time tenant was pregnant. The Commonwealth alleged that Budd attempted to avoid the costs associated with her legal obligation to abate the lead hazards in the apartment and that she later retaliated against the tenants by threatening to increase their rent by 50 percent after they complained to the Everett Board of Health.

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Today, a Rhode Island man pled guilty in Suffolk Superior Court on charges he schemed to collect over $15,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Robert S. Johnson, age 41, of North Smithfield, RI, pled guilty to charges of Unemployment Fraud (27 counts), and Larceny Over $250. Following the change of plea, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Hiller B. Zobel sentenced Johnson to three years probation and ordered him to pay $15,586.24 in restitution.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that a former financial broker was arraigned in Barnstable Superior Court in connection with the alleged theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars from his former clients. Shane Selewach, age 46, of Hyannis, is charged with Larceny Over $250 (6 counts), Securities Fraud (6 counts) and Transacting Business as an Unregistered Broker/Dealer.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that an East Longmeadow couple was arraigned in Hampden Superior Court in connection with allegedly evading the Massachusetts excise tax by illegally selling unstamped cigarettes. Mei Zhen Zheng, age 34, and her husband Liang Fu Xu, age 37, both of East Longmeadow, are each charged with Possession with Intent to Sell Unstamped Cigarettes and Evasion of Cigarette Excise Taxes.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that a Roxbury man was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court yesterday for his alleged connection to a major drug distribution ring in the Greater Boston area. Christian Miranda, age 39, is charged as follows:

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced that amendments her office has made to its current Retail Advertising Regulations will become effective on January 4, 2010. The Attorney General’s Office is adopting these amendments given the change in retail sales technologies, the advent of Internet advertising and sales, and some advertising practices the Attorney General’s Office has investigated. The proposed amendments expand the scope of the current regulations to ensure coverage of Internet advertising; simplify price comparison analysis for print, television and radio advertising; and delete references to catalogue price comparisons.

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The Massachusetts Appeals Court has affirmed a preliminary injunction obtained by Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office against Option One Mortgage Corp. (“Option One”) and H&R Block Mortgage Corp. (“H&R Block Mortgage”), subprime lenders that originated thousands of loans in Massachusetts. The preliminary injunction, issued by then Judge Ralph D. Gants in Suffolk Superior Court last November, prohibited Option One and American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc. (“AHMSI”) from initiating or advancing foreclosures on mortgage loans that the Court found to be “presumptively unfair.” Under the order, which affects up to 9,700 Massachusetts loans originated by Option One, AHMSI must give the Attorney General’s Office advance notice before it intends to foreclose on any such loan, and if the Attorney General objects, obtain approval from the Court before foreclosing on a loan.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley today issued the following statement regarding the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) decision not to levy a penalty against Unitil in connection with the utility’s restoration efforts in the aftermath of an ice storm on December 11-12 2008. The storm caused outages for 100 percent of Unitil’s customers with approximately one in five of its customers without electricity for a week and over 1,000 customers without electricity for twelve days or more. In June, Attorney General Coakley’s office filed a brief with the DPU seeking a penalty of $4.6 million against Unitil for multiple failures during the Company’s response to the 2008 Ice Storm including but not limited to failing to maintain and execute an adequate emergency response plan, failing to adequately control tree vegetation, failing to contact its critical care customers and failing to communicate with both customers and government officials.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office reached a settlement with an East Boston landlord, resolving allegations that he unfairly discriminated against prospective tenants, denying them the opportunity to rent an apartment. The Assurance of Discontinuance, filed in Suffolk Superior Court on October 30, 2009, against Russell Tremaine, the landlord, alleges that he violated state anti-discrimination and lead paint laws by denying a couple with a young child the right to rent an apartment in East Boston because of the presence of lead paint.

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Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office, and 14 other states filed a joint complaint in federal court intervening against pharmaceutical manufacturer Amgen, International Nephrology Network (INN), a specialty group purchasing organization, and ASD Healthcare, a wholesaler. The complaint alleges the companies knowingly offered illegal kickbacks to medical providers to increase sales of Amgen's anemia drug, Aranesp, including offering free Aranesp product to medical providers and encouraging them to bill third party payers including the state Medicaid programs for the free Aranesp. Amgen is also alleged to have conspired with INN and ASD Healthcare to offer illegal kickbacks to medical providers, such as so-called “honoraria” to attend all-expense paid meetings with the intention and effect of increasing sales of Aranesp and converting new providers from competitor drugs to Aranesp.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley will be honored tonight with the 2009 Robert Ian Schlessinger Memorial Award for her efforts in public safety and civil rights, including her filing of a lawsuit challenging the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). This honor will be awarded by the Gay Officers Action League of New England’s at their 13th Annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony, held at the Sheraton Boston Hotel.

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Today, a former real estate lawyer pled guilty in Worcester Superior Court for his role in a complex scheme in which fraudulent documents were used to defraud homeowners and mortgage lenders in numerous real estate transactions involving distressed properties in the Worcester County area. Raymond A. Desautels III, age 43, of Oxford, pled guilty to Inducing a Lender to Part with Property (5 counts). He will be sentenced in Worcester Superior Court by Judge James Lemire on December 1, 2009.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office reached settlements in 20 cases against landlords and real estate agents across the Commonwealth accused of violating state anti-discrimination laws by making discriminatory statements in rental advertisements posted on the popular classified advertising website Craigslist.org (“Craigslist”). The Attorney General’s Office also filed lawsuits against six other defendants based on similar allegations. The settlements and lawsuits are a result of a statewide investigation into reports of widespread discriminatory Internet advertising, and involved properties or their owners in seven different counties: Suffolk, Middlesex, Norfolk, Essex, Bristol, Plymouth, and Hampden.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a consent judgment against Inna Bogina, the owner of a three-bedroom rental property in Quincy, and her daughter Tatiana Bogina, the rental agent for the property, resolving allegations that they violated state anti-discrimination laws by refusing to rent to recipients of housing subsidies and a family with children. The consent judgment, entered yesterday by Judge Barbara A. Dortch-Okara in Norfolk Superior Court, orders Inna and Tatiana Bogina to pay $5,000 to the victims, bars the Boginas from discriminating in the future, and requires Tatiana Bogina to attend a training on fair housing laws.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley is being honored tonight with the 2009 Community Peacemaker Award in recognition of her longstanding support of consumer mediation programs and her strong advocacy of youth violence prevention. The award will be presented at the 30th Annual “Spirit of Mediation” Gala, hosted by the Community Dispute Settlement Center (CDSC). The event will be held at The Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley issued the following statement today regarding President Barack Obama’s signing of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crime Prevention Act (HCPA):

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached a $2.275 million settlement with the developers of the Turtle Crossing Condominium Complex (“Turtle Crossing”) in Braintree, resolving the office’s investigation into the developers’ compliance with chapter 40B. The investigation focused on whether the developers conformed to chapter 40B’s restriction on developer profits on affordable housing projects, which in this case were capped at 20 percent pursuant to an agreement between Braintree and the developers. Chapter 40B — the state’s affordable housing law — encourages the development of affordable housing by granting developers waivers from zoning and other local ordinances and bylaws in return for a commitment to earn a limited development profit. Under Chapter 40B, those developers who benefit from the advantages of the law are limited to a reasonable profit on the affordable housing projects they develop.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office reached a settlement with a Dorchester property owner resolving allegations that he made racially discriminatory statements to an African American woman seeking to rent an apartment he had advertised to the public. The Assurance of Discontinuance, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, against Robert Gallo, Sr., resolves allegations that the defendant violated state and federal anti-discrimination laws and requires him to pay $25,000 to the victim.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has issued citations against one insulation company, and has reached a settlement agreement with a second insulation company as a result of violations of the Massachusetts wage and hour laws at two Taunton Public School projects. The Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division has cited South Easton-based Proline Industries, Inc., and its owner, David Cheffro, age 46, of Brockton, for failure to submit certified payroll records to the awarding authority on a weekly basis and failure to pay employees in a timely manner. The citations require Proline Industries and Cheffro to pay a total of $9,000 in fines for the two violations.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that a Russell woman pled guilty yesterday in Hampden Superior Court in connection with allegations that she overbilled the state’s Medicaid program, MassHealth, over $57,000 for Personal Care Attendant (PCA) services she did not receive. Lynn M. Patten, age 38, pled guilty to charges of Medicaid False Claims (4 counts), Larceny over $250 (4 counts), Distribution of a Class B Substance (2 counts), Uttering, and Forgery. Following the change of plea, Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Kinder sentenced Patten to one year in the House of Correction for the Medicaid False Claims, Uttering, and Forgery charges. Judge Kinder also sentenced Patten to five years of probation on the Larceny over $250, and one year of probation on the Distribution of a Class B substance charges, and ordered her to pay $57,000 in restitution.

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Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley issued the following statement regarding Secretary of State William Galvin’s referral of the alleged deletion of emails by staff at Boston City Hall for further investigation:

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office reached an agreement with Minnesota-based Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., resolving allegations of unfair sales practices in Massachusetts. The Attorney General’s Office filed an Assurance of Discontinuance in Suffolk Superior Court yesterday under the Consumer Protection Act under which Ameriprise has agreed to pay $200,000 to the Commonwealth, adhere to a variety of conduct rules going forward relating to the company’s sales practices, and make restitution to any Massachusetts customers that the Attorney General’s Office may identify in the future relating to the alleged conduct by six of its financial advisors.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that a Middlesex Grand Jury has returned indictments against a former Newton man for allegedly stealing over $23,000 in rent checks while working as a property manager for an apartment building. William Gauthier, age 55, is charged with Larceny over $250 by False Pretenses (3 counts), Forgery (2 counts) and Uttering (2 counts).

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley today issued the following statement today in response to City Councilor and mayoral candidate Michael Flaherty’s demand that the Attorney General’s Office complete its investigation into the possible unlawful deletion of public records by staff at Boston City Hall:

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Today, a Hull man pled guilty in Plymouth Superior Court in connection with a 10-month long larceny and securities fraud scheme, in which he represented himself as a financial planner and stock broker, and stole money from a neighbor who entrusted him to invest more than $187,000. Jeffrey Gruber, age 46, pled guilty after jury empanelment to charges of Larceny over $250 (5 counts) and Securities Fraud. Immediately after the plea was entered, Superior Court Judge Jeffrey A. Locke sentenced Gruber to serve four years, three months to seven years in State Prison on the charge of Securities Fraud. On three counts of Larceny over $250, Judge Locke sentenced Gruber to suspended House of Correction sentences. On the remaining two counts of Larceny over $250, Judge Locke sentenced Gruber to 10 years probation. Gruber must also pay restitution in the amount of $120,000 to the victim. While on probation, Gruber must seek to maintain full-time employment; cannot be employed in any position in which he is entrusted to handle other people’s money; and must have no contact with the victim. In connection with a civil suit brought by the victim, $59,000 was seized from Gruber’s accounts in 2006.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office entered into a Brownfields Covenant Not to Sue Agreement with Trinity Appleton Limited Partnership and Trinity Appleton Four Limited Partnership (Trinity). Under the agreement, Trinity will clean up and redevelop the site of a former textile mill in downtown Lowell into affordable housing.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that a Barnstable County Grand Jury has returned indictments against a former financial broker in connection with the alleged theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars from his former clients. Shane Selewach, age 46, of Hyannis, is charged with Larceny Over $250 (6 counts), Securities Fraud (6 counts) and Transacting Business as an Unregistered Broker/Dealer. On September 24, 2009, Massachusetts State Police arrested Selewach at his residence in Hyannis without incident. He was then transported to Barnstable District Court where he was arraigned, pled not guilty and was subsequently released on $20,000 bail.

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Today, a Worcester Superior Court jury convicted a Clinton man involved in setting fires to a historical landmark in Sterling, a barn in Holden, an abandoned paper factory in Erving, and at a railroad bungalow in Florida, MA. Michael Dreslinski, age 30, was found guilty on the charges of Burning a Building (4 counts), Conspiracy to Commit Arson, Breaking & Entering in the Nighttime with Intent to Commit a Felony, Malicious Destruction of Property and Malicious Injury to a Railroad. Dreslinski will be sentenced by Superior Court Judge John S. McCann at a later date.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced that a Freetown woman was arraigned in Bristol Superior Court for allegedly stealing approximately $200,000 from her former employer. Jennifer St. Clair, age 37, is charged with Falsifying Corporate Books (3 counts) and Larceny over $250 by Continuous Scheme.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that a Suffolk Superior Court jury convicted two men yesterday of distributing and trafficking cocaine in East Boston. Miguel Cruz, age 50, of East Boston, was found guilty on charges of Distribution of Cocaine (2 counts), School Zone Violation (4 counts), Trafficking in Cocaine over 14 grams, and Trafficking in Cocaine over 100 grams. Immediately after the guilty verdict was returned, Suffolk Superior Court Justice Regina Quinlan sentenced Cruz to serve 10 years in State prison on the charge of Trafficking in Cocaine over 100 grams. Cruz was also ordered to serve two and a half years in State Prison on the charges of Distribution of Cocaine and School Zone Violation (3 counts), and three years in State Prison on the charge of Trafficking in Cocaine over 14 grams. The sentences for the distribution and trafficking charges will run concurrently. Cruz will being serving the school zone violation sentence upon the completion of the trafficking and distribution sentences. Upon the completion of his State Prison sentences, Justice Quinlan also ordered that Cruz serve two years in the House of Correction on the remaining count of School Zone Violation.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office requested that the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) reject a $111 million rate increase sought by National Grid and instead reduce National Grid’s rates by approximately $36.4 million. The Attorney General’s Office requested this rate reduction in a brief filed late yesterday with the DPU. The rate reduction is proposed in conjunction with the modifications set out earlier this month in a September 28 brief to the DPU that focused on issues related to National Grid’s decoupling proposal and rate plan specifically.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office entered into an agreement with Carrington Mortgage Servicing, LLC (“Carrington”) that provides significant benefits to approximately 280 borrowers holding unfair loans originated and previously serviced by Fremont Investment & Loan (“Fremont”). In April 2008, Carrington purchased certain mortgage servicing rights from Fremont, thereby becoming subject to certain obligations under a letter agreement with the Attorney General’s Office that contained obligations similar to the preliminary injunction issued by Suffolk Superior Court against Fremont in February 2008. That injunction was modified in March 2008, upheld by the Supreme Judicial Court in December 2008, and made permanent in June 2009. The Attorney General’s Office and Carrington reached an agreement to memorialize Carrington’s obligations, including how loans previously serviced by Fremont would be modified in order to avoid unnecessary foreclosures and account for Fremont’s unfair and deceptive lending practices that were the subject of the Attorney General’s law enforcement action against the California-based lender.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed a housing discrimination complaint against Carl and Karen Fontana, the owners of a two-bedroom rental property in Melrose. The complaint, filed in Middlesex Superior Court, alleges that the Fontanas violated state antidiscrimination laws by refusing to rent to recipients of housing subsidies.

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The former Middlesex County Register of Probate has pleaded guilty to two separate schemes in which he stole thousands in taxpayer money and more than $100,000 in campaign funds, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone announced today.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced that a Suffolk County Grand Jury has returned indictments against a Peabody man for allegedly stealing over $15,000 in unemployment benefits to which he was not entitled. Michael Doucette, age 42, is charged with Unemployment Fraud (25 counts) and larceny over $250.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley announces the arraignment of a Falmouth man on charges he schemed to collect over $26,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Paul DiMestico, age 39, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (47 counts), and Larceny Over $250.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley announces the arraignment of a Brockton man on charges he schemed to collect over $12,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Rodrigue Raymond, age 44, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (26 counts), and Larceny Over $250.

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Tomorrow, Attorney General Martha Coakley will testify before the Legislature’s Joint Committee on the Judiciary, chaired by Senator Cynthia Creem (D-Newton) and Representative Eugene O’Flaherty (D-Chelsea), in support of Senate Bill 1848, An Act to Require Commercially Reasonable Efforts to Avoid Foreclosure. The bill is sponsored by Attorney General Coakley, Senator Susan Tucker (D-Andover) and Representative Steven Walsh (D-Lynn), both of whom will also testify tomorrow. Over 20 other legislators are also sponsoring the bill. The legislation would require lenders or servicers to offer loan modifications in certain circumstances in order to avoid foreclosure.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office entered into a settlement with Neville Francis, resolving allegations that he participated in a foreclosure rescue scheme in which he and eighteen defendants – mortgage brokers, real estate brokers, closing attorneys and straw buyers – deceived homeowners facing foreclosure into selling their homes under the false promise of avoiding foreclosure and maintaining their homes and their homes’ equity.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed a lawsuit against four companies, alleging that they were involved in deceptively marketing and selling a medical discount plan to hundreds of Massachusetts residents. The civil complaint, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, alleges that Consumer Health Benefit Association, National Benefits, Consultants, LLC, Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company and Vantage America Solutions, Inc. sold a discount medical plan unfairly and deceptively in multiple ways, including representing it as satisfying Massachusetts law requiring individuals to have health insurance. The complaint asserts that the defendants unfairly targeted their marketing efforts at Massachusetts consumers with pre-existing conditions who were seeking health insurance.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office reached an agreement with Golbos, Inc., which operates the Gordon and Alperin Butcher Shop, and its principal, Ricardo Bosich, resolving allegations that they violated the Massachusetts Kosher Food Law by posting signage in Hebrew advertising “Kosher Meat” when the Newton shop was no longer certified as Kosher. The Attorney General alleged that the shop had also continued to advertise on its website that it was under Kosher supervision when it had discontinued such supervision. The Attorney General’s Office filed an Assurance of Discontinuance in Suffolk Superior Court under the Consumer Protection Act and Bosich and Golbos, Inc. have agreed to pay a $1,000 civil penalty to settle these allegations.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office joined an 18-state coalition to defend a decision by President Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that grants states the right to regulate global warming pollution from automobiles. The coalition is opposing a lawsuit brought by the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that seeks to deny individual states the ability to limit greenhouse gas emissions from cars.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached a settlement agreement with Lowell-based asbestos removal company, SRS Contractors, Inc. (SRS Contractors) and its owners, Sina Min, age 29, and Sambath Yim, age 44, both of Lowell, to settle claims that the company failed to pay employees the prevailing wage rate and failed to properly keep and submit payroll records as required by state law. SRS Contractors has paid $115,760 in restitution to the affected employees, and will pay a total of $20,000 in fines to the Commonwealth to resolve the allegations.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office, Massachusetts State Police and the Boston Police Department (BPD) announce the indictments of 15 individuals in connection with a conspiracy to traffic and distribute large amounts of cocaine, and conspiring to commit assaults in the Greater Boston area. Seven of these defendants were arrested this morning, and the other eight are already in custody on unrelated matters. This investigation targeted a violent street gang in the city of Boston known as the Magnolia Steelers. The arrests are the result of a joint operation conducted by the Attorney General’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police and the Boston Police dubbed “Operation 1370,” with the number representing the temperature at which steel melts.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley issued the following statement today regarding the Boston City Hall public records matter:

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The Energy Efficiency Advisory Council has given its approval to an agreement between the Patrick Administration and Attorney General Martha Coakley to set nation-leading targets for electricity savings from energy efficiency investments. The targets will serve as the cornerstone of three-year energy efficiency plans that will be presented to the Department of Public Utilities for approval this fall.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that several individuals were arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on charges related to the indictments of 15 individuals in connection with a conspiracy to traffic and distribute large amounts of cocaine, and conspiring to commit assaults in the Greater Boston area. As part of a joint investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Office, the Boston Police Department and Massachusetts State Police, seven of these defendants were arrested this morning, and the other eight are already in custody on unrelated matters.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed a lawsuit against Fit ‘N Fitness, a Taunton health club, its manager John Copell and an employee Gail Barbas, for their roles in soliciting and collecting membership fees for a health club that failed to open.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that a former East Longmeadow man was arraigned in Hampden Superior Court in connection with allegedly evading the Massachusetts excise tax by illegally selling unstamped cigarettes. Jin Zheng, age 30, is charged with Possession with Intent to Sell Unstamped Cigarettes, Evasion of Cigarette Excise Taxes, Subscribing to False Income Tax Returns, Subscribing to False Sales Tax Returns, and Failure to File Sales Tax Returns. At arraignment, Zheng entered a plea of not guilty before Superior Court Judge Brian S. McDonald and was released on personal recognizance.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that a local retailer was arraigned in Hampden Superior Court in connection with knowingly selling cigarettes that were not properly stamped for Massachusetts excise tax, thereby defrauding the Commonwealth of over $150,000 in unpaid taxes. Thomas Lesperance, age 45, of South Hadley, is charged with Possession/Sale of Cigarettes not Bearing Required Massachusetts Excise Tax Stamp (2 counts), and Tax Evasion. At arraignment, Lesperance entered a plea of not guilty before Judge Brian McDonald and was released on personal recognizance.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley announces the sentencing of a Lynn woman yesterday that participated in a scheme to collect on fraudulent auto insurance claims by staging multiple motor vehicle accidents. Suffolk Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Fahey sentenced Vivian Thomas, 37, to five years probation on the charge of Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud. As a condition of her probation, Thomas must notify her probation officer of any insurance claims she files, excluding health insurance.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley and Department of Energy Resources Commissioner (DOER) Commissioner Phil Giudice today petitioned the US Department of Energy (DOE) to allow Massachusetts to enforce a gas furnace efficiency standard significantly stricter than the federal standard – a move that could save Massachusetts consumers approximately $144 million in heating costs between 2013 and 2030, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions over the same period by approximately 100,000 metric tons.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a Final Consent Judgment yesterday against two Holyoke brothers, Jesse and Roman Jedrzejczyk, who are accused of harassing, threatening and intimidating their neighbors, a single mother and her two six year-old daughters. The adult victim is a political asylee to the United States who, in 2001, fled political persecution in Haiti out of fear for her life. The judgment, granted by Hampden Superior Court Judge Constance Sweeney, includes a civil rights injunction prohibiting the Jedrzejczyks from threatening, intimidating or coercing the victims, or anyone else in the Commonwealth, because of their actual or perceived race or ethnicity. The order also prohibits the Jedrzejczyks from knowingly coming within 10 feet of the victims. A violation of the order is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and two and a half years in a House of Correction, or if bodily injury results from such a violation, a $10,000 fine and up to ten years in State Prison.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced yesterday that the agency is initiating an “Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” (ANPR) and will be seeking broad public input in amending its regulations governing the labeling of pesticides to ensure that consumers are aware of all of the potentially hazardous chemicals in pesticides, including so called “inert” ingredients that currently do not have to appear on pesticide labels. In 2006, the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, with 14 other states, petitioned the EPA to require that hazardous ingredients be identified on pesticide labels. The EPA is considering regulatory action as well as pursuing voluntary initiatives to achieve broader disclosure.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office hosted its third Cyber Crime Initiative Quarterly Meeting of 2009 at the Doubletree Hotel in Milford. Over 150 police officers, prosecutors, and computer forensic investigators attended the daylong training, which included a General Session in the morning and a Forensic Working Group session in the afternoon. The focus of the General Session was the forensic process that occurs after evidence has been submitted to a computer lab, while the Forensic Working Group session was specialized for cybercrime subject matter experts in the Commonwealth.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced the guilty plea of a former Somerville real estate attorney yesterday in connection with making false statements on mortgage applications and associated documents and using the funds secured from the loans for his own purposes, rather than paying off existing loans as directed by the new lenders. Kevin Carey, age 49, of Middleboro, pled guilty in Middlesex Superior Court to the charges of Larceny over $250 (8 counts) and Willfully Making a False Statement Regarding Financial Condition or Assets (7 counts). Carey is scheduled to be sentenced on November 6, 2009, in Bristol Superior Court.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office requested that the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) significantly modify a rate plan filed by Nation Grid, including implementation of several consumer protection measures should the company be authorized to “decouple” its revenues from volumetric sales. In a brief filed with the DPU on Monday, the office has also asked state regulators to reject a variety of proposed complex cost trackers/automatic adjustment mechanisms that will make the company less efficient, less conscious of controlling costs, and, when combined with decoupling, virtually a risk-free enterprise for the company’s shareholders despite a requested return on investment (authorized profit) of 11.6 percent. The brief filed yesterday focuses on issues related to National Grid’s decoupling proposal and rate plan specifically. In the coming weeks, the Attorney General’s Office will file an additional brief making a final recommendation regarding the company’s request for a $111 million rate increase.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that a Worcester County Grand Jury returned indictments on Friday against an Oxford man, a real estate lawyer, a real estate paralegal and a notary public for their roles in a complex scheme in which fraudulent documents were used to defraud homeowners and mortgage lenders in numerous real estate transactions involving distressed properties in the Worcester County area. Allen Seymour, age 41, of Oxford, Raymond A. Desautels III, age 43, also of Oxford, Jason Passell, age 51, of Worcester, and Judith Piette, age 44, of Worcester, are charged as follows:

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that a former financial broker was arrested and arraigned Thursday in connection with allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from his former clients. Shane Selewach, age 46, of Hyannis, is charged with Larceny Over $250 (6 counts). Massachusetts State Police arrested Selewach at his residence in Hyannis without incident. He was then transported to Barnstable District Court where he was arraigned before District Court Judge Don L. Carpenter. At arraignment, Selewach plead not guilty and was ordered held on $20,000 bail.

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BOSTON – Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley sent a letter to members of Congress expressing her strong support for HB 3567, the Respect for Marriage Act, which seeks to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced that a Bristol County Grand Jury returned indictments yesterday against a Freetown woman for allegedly stealing approximately $200,000 from her former employer. Jennifer St. Clair, age 37, is charged with Falsifying Corporate Books (3 counts) and Larceny over $250 by Continuous Scheme.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley announces the indictment of a Brockton man on charges he schemed to collect over $12,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Rodrigue Raymond, age 44, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (26 counts), and Larceny Over $250.

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BOSTON – Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed briefs with the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) requesting that they reject a petition for a $34.6 million rate increase filed by Bay State Gas Company (Bay State) this past April. The office has also asked state regulators to reject an automatic rate increase mechanism that would result in the unnecessary recovery of millions of dollars in costs associated with its gas main infrastructure replacement program.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that it has reached a settlement agreement with Bentonville, Arkansas based Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Wal-Mart) to resolve allegations that the company failed to properly comply with the Massachusetts Meal Break Law. The company has agreed to pay $3,000,000 to the Commonwealth to resolve all outstanding allegations asserted by the Attorney General.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley announces the indictment of a Falmouth man on charges he schemed to collect over $26,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Paul DiMestico, age 39, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (47 counts), and Larceny Over $250.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced that Russell Goyette, age 62, of Walpole, pled guilty in Norfolk Superior Court yesterday to charges of Possession of Child Pornography (28 counts). Immediately after the change of plea was entered, Superior Court Judge Kenneth J. Fishman sentenced Goyette to two and a half years in the House of Correction, six months to serve, with the balance of the sentence suspended for a probationary period of five years. While on probation, Judge Fishman ordered that Goyette must:

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WORCESTER – Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced that a Worcester County Grand Jury has returned indictments against a Worcester man and his company on 66 counts of violating the Massachusetts wage and hour laws, and committing insurance and tax fraud. Tam Vuong, age 34, is charged with Willful Failure to Pay Minimum Wage (14 counts); Willful Failure to Pay Overtime (6 counts); Willful Charging a Transportation Fee That Reduces An Employee’s Daily Wages Below the Minimum Wage (2 counts); Willful Failure to Provide a Pay Stub (14 counts); Willful Failure to Furnish Employment Records to the Attorney General; Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud (5 counts); Unemployment Insurance Fraud (5 counts); Failure to Make Unemployment Insurance Contributions (5 counts); Larceny by False Pretenses Over $250; Willful Failure to File a Tax Return (5 counts) and Willful Aiding or Assisting in the Presentation of Fraudulent Tax Documents (2 counts). Vuong’s company, Labor Solutions, Inc. is charged with Willful Failure to Provide a Pay Stub (6 counts).

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a civil rights injunction against a Winthrop man charged with the May 2009 assault of two women in Provincetown based on their perceived sexual orientation. The order, granted today by Suffolk Superior Court Judge Charles T. Spurlock prohibits Eric Patten from violating the civil rights of the victims and all others in the Commonwealth based upon their actual or perceived sexual orientation. A violation of the injunction is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and two and a half years in a House of Correction, or if bodily injury results from such violation, a $10,000 fine and up to 10 years in State Prison.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office entered into a settlement agreement with Help Save the Lake, Inc. to resolve alleged violations of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Massachusetts Waterways statute. In 2007, Help Save the Lake, a group made up of Taunton-area citizens, participated in the construction of a coffer dam (temporary dam) at the outlet of Lake Sabbatia, in Taunton, without the necessary authorizations from the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). Members of Help Save the Lake constructed the coffer dam in an effort to raise water levels in Lake Sabbatia that had fallen after the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Office of Dam Safety ordered the gates opened on Morey’s Bridge Dam because of significant public safety concerns with that structure

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley delivered the welcoming remarks at the New England Chapter Meeting of the High Technology Crime Investigation Association (HTCIA). The meeting was hosted by the Attorney General’s Office in Boston. Attorney General Coakley spoke about the importance of cyber crime investigation, digital forensics, and cyber security.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached a settlement agreement with Atlanta, Georgia-based Delta Air Lines, Inc. (Delta) to resolve allegations that the company failed to pay certain workers on a schedule permissible under Massachusetts Law.

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BOSTON – Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office launched three new grant programs totaling $4 million that help provide active jobs for youth at risk, support the rehabilitation of abandoned property and promote financial literacy as a means to prevent foreclosure. The funding for the grants stems from several settlements that were obtained by the Attorney General’s Office as a result of recent enforcement actions against pharmaceutical giants Merck Vioxx, Eli Lilly and Pfizer and against Fremont Investment & Loan. All grant programs have an expected start date of January 4, 2010.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces the arraignment of two men on charges they schemed to commit insurance fraud and submitted false health care claims while operating a medical facility. Alan Perl, age 63, of Dudley, and Lalit Savla, M.D., age 71, of Holden, were each charged with Insurance Fraud (19 counts), Larceny Over $250 (5 counts), Filing False Health Care Claim (3 counts), and Larceny Under $250. Perl was also charged with Unauthorized Practice of Medicine.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office entered into a settlement with a Waltham based real estate company resolving allegations that the company refused to rent to a woman because she had a Section 8 housing subsidy to pay a portion of the rent. The Assurance of Discontinuance filed in Suffolk Superior Court on September 15, 2009, against Chiccarelli Real Estate, Inc., orders the company to assist the woman to find an apartment and pay a portion of the rental cost. The Assurance of Discontinuance also bars Chiccarelli Real Estate from discriminating in the future.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has filed a lawsuit against Acton-based Crossroads Development LLC (“Crossroads”), its owners James Fenton and Michael Jeanson, as well as a related contractor, James Fenton & Son Contracting, Inc. (JF&S) for violating the False Claims Act (FCA) in connection with falsifying cost statements and profits on an affordable housing development in Acton.

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BOSTON – Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed an amicus brief in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) in the case of Commonwealth v. Runyan, urging the Commonwealth's highest court to reject a constitutional challenge to the Commonwealth's safe firearm storage law. The law requires stored firearms be secured in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant safety device, except when "carried by or under the control of the owner or other lawfully authorized user." The law is intended to ensure that irresponsible persons do not gain access to firearms and to minimize the risk of accidental discharge.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that a Hampden County Grand Jury returned indictments late yesterday against a former East Longmeadow man, in addition to his sister and his brother-in-law, in connection with allegedly evading the Massachusetts excise tax by illegally selling unstamped cigarettes. Jin Zheng, age 30, formerly of East Longmeadow, is charged with Possession with Intent to Sell Unstamped Cigarettes, Evasion of Cigarette Excise Taxes, Subscribing to False Income Tax Returns, Subscribing to False Sales Tax Returns, and Failure to File Sales Tax Returns. Zheng’s sister, Mei Zhen Zheng, age 34, and her husband Liang Fu Xu, age 37, both of East Longmeadow, are each charged with Possession with Intent to Sell Unstamped Cigarettes and Evasion of Cigarette Excise Taxes.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that a Hampden County Grand Jury returned indictments late yesterday, against a local retailer in connection with knowingly selling cigarettes that were not properly stamped for Massachusetts excise tax, thereby defrauding the Commonwealth of over $150,000 in unpaid taxes. Thomas Lesperance, age 45, of South Hadley, is charged with Possession/Sale of Cigarettes not Bearing Required Massachusetts Excise Tax Stamp (2 counts), and Tax Evasion.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has cited Dansville, New Hampshire-based Professional Framing, LLC, for violating the Commonwealth’s wage and hour laws by failing to pay employees in a timely manner. Pursuant to a settlement agreement, Professional Framing will pay over $21,000 in restitution to eight employees, along with a $1,000 fine to the Commonwealth.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced that two individuals have pled guilty and were sentenced in connection with the improper awarding of a contract for a public project handled by the Boston Housing Authority (BHA). Former BHA employee Gisela Collins, age 38, of Jamaica Plain, pled guilty today in Suffolk Superior Court to the charge of Conflict of Interest by a Municipal Employee. Following the change of plea, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Charles Hely sentenced Collins to one year of probation.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced the opening of its new, state-of-the-art Computer Forensics Lab in Boston. The lab is part of the Attorney General’s Cyber Crime Initiative, which was launched in the Fall of 2007 and was designed to help the Commonwealth develop a statewide capacity to prevent, investigate, and prosecute cyber crime. The lab will expand the office’s forensic capabilities, allowing it to conduct exams on a variety of digital media such as computers, cell phones, laptops, PDAs and GPS devices.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces that a Springfield woman was ordered to pay full restitution in the amount of $11,037 in connection with collecting unemployment benefits while working. Lori Watson, age 39, admitted to sufficient facts in Boston Municipal Court to charges of Unemployment Fraud (13 counts), and Larceny Over $250. While the Commonwealth requested that the court find the defendant guilty, Boston Municipal Court Judge Thomas Horgan ordered Watson to pay full restitution in the amount of $11,037. Under the terms of the finding, Watson will serve a probationary term of five years and is ordered to pay a minimum of $160 per week in restitution.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office filed proposed new consumer protection regulations designed to protect Massachusetts residents from unscrupulous marketing of plans that claim to offer discounts on medical products or services. The proposed regulations are part of the Attorney General’s multi-pronged approach to address the increasing problem of deceptive marketing of medical discount plans. In addition to the regulations, Attorney General Coakley’s Office has also published a consumer education advisory and pursued law enforcement actions to protect consumers from medical discount plan scams.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today that JP Morgan Chase & Co., as successor in interest to Unicorn Financial Services, and Capital One, N.A. have agreed to implement an enhanced dispute resolution process for victims of the unfair and deceptive sales practices and credit-billing scheme that are the subject of a pending enforcement action brought by Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office. Last year the Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit against 15 individuals and corporations who were involved in the management and operation of several high-volume dental clinics: Fall River-based Coast Dental and Spectrum Dental and Weymouth-based Sierra Dental.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced that a Suffolk County Grand Jury returned indictments against a New Hampshire waterproofing contractor for allegedly violating the state’s Prevailing Wage Laws. Stom Companies, Inc. d/b/a Premier Caulking, Inc. (Premier), formerly of Londonderry, New Hampshire, and the company’s corporate officer, Stephen P. Bissonette, of Salem, New Hampshire, are both charged with 12 counts each of Failure to Pay Prevailing Wages and Failure to Submit True and Accurate Certified Payroll Records.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley has appointed a new Chief of the Health Care Division of the Attorney General’s Office. Thomas More O’Brien, of Brighton, assumed leadership of the division last week.

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Today, a Georgia woman was arraigned on charges she schemed to collect over $13,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Theresa Houston, age 44, of Atlanta, GA, formerly of North Cambridge, MA, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (33 counts) and Larceny Over $250.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley will be one of the afternoon speakers at the New England Organized Retail Crime Symposium & Trade Show in Worcester tomorrow afternoon. Attorney General Coakley will discuss An Act to Combat Economic Crime, comprehensive economic crime legislation designed to give law enforcement the necessary tools to investigate and prosecute sophisticated criminal activities and enterprises in the 21st century.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announces the arraignment of a former Behavioral Assistant (BA) at the Neuro-Rehab Center in Worcester charged in connection with the alleged assault of a 53-year-old disabled resident at the facility. Edwin Boyd, age 27, of Worcester, was arraigned in Worcester District Court on the charge of Assault and Battery on a Disabled Person (1 count).

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BOSTON – Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced that American International Group (AIG) has paid an additional $900,000 to the Central Artery Tunnel (CA/T) Project. The payment is part of an ongoing reconciliation of premiums and residual market payouts stemming from the insurer’s settlement of Big Dig workers compensation insurance premium issues with the Attorney General’s Office. AIG serves as the workers’ compensation carrier for the Central Artery Tunnel (CA/T) Project.

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BOSTON – Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office, along with 42 other state Attorneys General, reached a $33 million settlement with Pfizer Inc. resolving allegations of improper marketing of the atypical antipsychotic drug, Geodon. Under the terms of a consent judgment filed today in Suffolk Superior Court, Pfizer is prohibited from deceptively promoting Geodon to consumers. Under the terms of the settlement, Massachusetts will receive $804,748 to assist and educate consumers and to pay for the cost of the Commonwealth’s investigation.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office entered into two separate settlements with Dr. Mohamed Jawad Shakarchi, a dentist who practiced at Weymouth-based Sierra Dental from 2005 to late 2006, and Robert V. Whelan, the general manager at Sierra Dental from 2005 to early 2007. The complaints, filed today in Suffolk Superior Court, allege that Shakarchi worked in concert with business managers at Sierra Dental to arrange and promote financing for dental treatment plans on unfair and deceptive terms and alleges that Whelan perpetuated deceptive marketing and sales protocols to ensure that patient volume and cash from credit arrangements remained high at the dental practice.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office completed its constitutional review of 30 initiative petitions, including 25 proposed laws and five proposed constitutional amendments. All but five petitions have cleared the first hurdle for inclusion on future statewide ballots.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today that her office will increase its oversight of compensation practices for executives and directors in Massachusetts non-profit charitable health care organizations. The Attorney General’s Office issued a memorandum today to the Massachusetts Hospital Association and to the state’s four largest charitable health insurance providers outlining this expanded effort.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office entered into a settlement with Marie Bettie Mereus, resolving allegations that she participated in a foreclosure rescue scheme in which nineteen defendants – mortgage brokers, real estate brokers, closing attorneys and straw buyers – deceived homeowners facing foreclosure into selling their homes under the false promise of avoiding foreclosure and maintaining their homes and their homes’ equity.

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Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office reached an agreement with pharmaceutical manufacturer Pfizer Inc. (“Pfizer”), resolving allegations that the company engaged in improper marketing practices to promote the sales of a variety of its drugs. Under the terms of this landmark settlement, Pfizer will pay $14,728,408 to the Massachusetts Medicaid Program, which provides funds for health care products and services to eligible low-income individuals, including people with disabilities, children and elder citizens. Attorney General Coakley’s office took a leading role in negotiating this agreement by serving as the lead representative and negotiator for the multi-state settlement team. This is the largest national settlement in history in a health care fraud matter.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office obtained a consent judgment against ABG Residential, a Cambridge-based realty company, and its agent, Georgina Zala, resolving claims that the company refused to rent an apartment to a couple because they had a nine-month old child whose presence would require abatement of lead paint hazards under state law. The consent judgment, entered yesterday by Judge Thomas Billings in Middlesex Superior Court, orders the defendants to pay $3,500 to the couple and bars the defendants from future acts of discrimination.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakely’s Office filed a lawsuit against a Bronx, New York, based company and its principals for allegedly operating a locksmith scheme that deceived Massachusetts consumers into believing they were contacting local locksmith companies, and then charged consumers hundreds of dollars more than the quoted price for their services. The Attorney General’s Office also obtained a temporary restraining order preventing defendants from destroying any documents or transferring any assets and is seeking permanent injunctive relief, restitution, penalties, costs and attorney’s fees.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office resolved the Commonwealth’s consumer protection lawsuit against HealthMarkets, Inc., and its subsidiaries, the MEGA Life and Health Insurance and Mid-West National Life Insurance, settling allegations that the insurers engaged in unfair and deceptive practices in their marketing and administration of health plans sold to small businesses and individuals in Massachusetts. These insurance carriers targeted the self-employed and small business owners in Massachusetts through sales of products packaged with association memberships in the National Association for the Self Employed, Americans for Financial Security and the Alliance for Affordable Services.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office reached a settlement with a Dedham real estate company and one of its employees, resolving allegations that they unfairly discriminated against a prospective homebuyer, causing her proposed home purchase not to go forward. The Assurance of Discontinuance, filed in Suffolk Superior Court on August 25, 2009, against Discover Real Estate Corporation and its employee, Virginia E. Bethoney, alleges that the company and the employee violated state anti-discrimination laws by denying an African-American woman the opportunity to negotiate the purchase of a home in Dedham.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley commended ISO-New England’s (“ISO-NE”) recent creation of a Consumer Liaison Group (“CLG”) for the purpose of providing electric consumers with a forum and an opportunity for input on the region’s electric markets and transmission planning and construction process. The Attorney General’s office is a participating member of the CLG.

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A Worcester woman pled guilty in Worcester Superior Court yesterday to stealing over $202,000 from her former employer while working as the company’s financial controller. Karen Peryea, age 44, pled guilty to the charges of Larceny over $250 by Continuous Scheme (2 counts), Unemployment Fraud (19 counts), Fraudulent Use of Corporate Credit, and Making False Entries in Corporate Books. Immediately after the plea was entered, Superior Court Judge John S. McCann sentenced Peryea to serve 18 months in the House of Correction, 30 days to serve, with the balance suspended for a probationary period of five years, on one count of Larceny over $250 by Continuous Scheme. On all of the remaining charges, Judge McCann ordered that Peryea serve five years of probation, upon the completion of her House of Correction sentence. While on probation, Peryea must: pay $12,225 in restitution to the Department of Unemployment Assistance; pay $5,000 in restitution to her former employer; disclose her convictions to any potential future employers; forfeit her rights to any property seized during the investigation; and pay nearly $2,300 to the Commonwealth for prosecution costs.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley issued the following statement today regarding the death of U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy:

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A former Boston Housing Authority (BHA) employee pled guilty in Suffolk Superior Court yesterday in connection with rigging the bidding process for public projects handled by the Boston Housing Authority, and for also causing damage to a BHA apartment he was living in. Mark Collins, age 37, of Jamaica Plain, pled guilty to the charges of Procurement Fraud (10 counts), Conflict of Interest by a Municipal Employee, and Wanton Destruction of Property over $250. Immediately after the plea was entered, Superior Court Judge Charles Hely sentenced Collins to serve one year in the House of Correction on the charges of Procurement Fraud (10 counts), and one year in the House of Correction on the charge of Conflict of Interest by a Municipal Employee. The sentences will run concurrently. On the charge of Wanton Destruction of Property over $250, Judge Hely ordered Collins to serve two years of probation upon the completion of his House of Correction sentence. A restitution hearing to determine the amount of money owed to the BHA by Collins will be scheduled at a later date.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office reached a settlement with premium finance company AFCO Credit Corporation (“AFCO”) resolving allegations that AFCO enabled Boston-based William Gallagher Associates Insurance Brokers, Inc. (“WGA”) to charge its customers undisclosed broker fees, billed as insurance premiums. Premium finance companies such as AFCO pay premiums to insurance companies on their customers’ behalf and then bill customers for those premiums, plus interest, on a monthly basis.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley praised the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s (SJC) recent decision in Somers v. Converged Access, Inc. (CAI). On Friday, the SJC ruled as to the proper measure of damages an employee must receive when misclassified as an independent contractor under the state’s Wage and Hour laws. The SJC ruled that in such circumstances the damages incurred are equal to the value of wages and benefits the worker should have received as an employee, but did not receive from his employer. In issuing the decision, the Court affirmed that the employer bears the burden of proof on the issue of whether an employee is properly classified as an independent contractor. The Attorney General’s Office filed an amicus brief in support of the plaintiff in this case.

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A Cumberland, Rhode Island, woman pled guilty in Bristol Superior Court yesterday in connection with stealing the identity of a 77-year-old acquaintance and using it to create a fake identification card and to purchase items for personal use. Julie Senechal, age 46, pled guilty to charges of Identity Fraud, Larceny over $250, Forgery and Uttering. Immediately after the plea was entered, Superior Court Judge Frances A. McIntyre sentenced Senechal to serve two years in State Prison on the charges of Larceny over $250, Forgery and Uttering. On the charge of Identity Fraud, Senechal was sentenced to two and a half years in the House of Correction, with the sentence suspended for a probationary period of five years. As a condition of probation, Judge McIntyre ordered that Senechal have no contact with the victim, and that she also not be employed in a position where she has control over money.

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The former owner and operator of Associated Processor Service (APS), a medical waste disposal company in Natick, pled guilty in Middlesex Superior Court on charges he unlawfully stored and disposed of medical waste, and unlawfully dumped hazardous waste, including mercury, down the drain of his Mechanic Street facility. Edward P. Small, age 56, of Dover, pled guilty yesterday to violating the Hazardous Waste Management Act (7 counts), the Clean Water Act (2 counts), the State Sanitary Code (2 counts), and the Solid Waste Management Act (1 count).

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley, along with the Attorneys General of 23 other states and jurisdictions, sent a letter to United States House and Senate Leadership urging Congress to support legislation establishing the federal Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA). Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper co-sponsored the letter. The current financial crisis, caused by irresponsible subprime lending and inadequate oversight, has demonstrated the need for comprehensive and effective consumer protection and enforcement at the federal level. The establishment of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, as proposed by President Barack Obama, combined with joint enforcement by state officials, the Attorneys General believe, will protect consumers, promote sound credit practices and restore confidence in the financial markets. There is clear need for effective regulation of consumer financial products that crosses existing regulatory lines.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has issued citations against two different Domino’s Pizza franchise owners for violations of the Massachusetts Wage Act. The Attorney General’s Office cited Brian Lebo, age 40, of Wakefield, and Mavnick Enterprises, LLC, doing business as Domino’s Pizza in Lynn, Randolph and Saugus, ordering the company and Lebo to pay over $16,500 in restitution and penalties for failing to pay wages in a timely manner, failing to pay minimum wage and failing to furnish records for inspection. The Attorney General’s Office has also separately cited Jeffery P. Dufficy, age 45, of Mendon, and his company, Dufficy Enterprises, Inc., doing business as Domino’s Pizza in Mansfield, for multiple child labor violations. The citation orders Dufficy and his business to pay over $5,000 in penalties for the work permit and hours violations.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_08_18_litton_fremont&csid=Cago 2009-08-18T00:00:00Z 2009-08-18T00:00:00Z

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has entered into an agreement with Texas- based Litton Loan Servicing LP (“Litton”) that provides significant benefits to approximately 1,100 borrowers holding loans originated by Fremont Investment & Loan (“Fremont”). The Fremont loans were the subject of the Attorney General’s recently settled enforcement action against Fremont which alleged that the loans were predatory and unfair. In June 2008, Litton purchased certain mortgage servicing rights from Fremont, thereby becoming subject to certain obligations under a preliminary injunction issued by Suffolk Superior Court against Fremont in March 2008. That injunction was upheld by the Supreme Judicial Court in December 2008, and became a permanent injunction in June 2009 under a Consent Judgment entered against Fremont. The Attorney General’s Office and Litton reached an agreement to memorialize Litton’s obligations under the permanent injunction, including how loans previously serviced by Fremont would be modified in order to avoid unnecessary foreclosures and mitigate Fremont’s unfair and deceptive lending practices.

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A former Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) at EPOCH Senior Healthcare, a nursing home in Melrose, was arraigned in Malden District Court yesterday in connection with the alleged assault of an 83-year-old resident at the facility. Marie Michel, age 54, of Medford, is charged Assault and Battery on an Elderly Person (1 count), and Threatening to Commit a Crime (1 count).

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Today, the former Police Chief of the Hamilton Police Department (HPD); a former Wenham Police Department Lieutenant and Ipswich Selectman; the training coordinator for the Danvers-based Lyons Ambulance Service (Lyons), who is the retired Fire Chief of Middleton and Ipswich, and; a former reserve police office from HPD who conducted EMT training for HPD, were all arraigned in Essex Superior Court in Salem in connection with allegedly participating in an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training scandal. All four men plead not guilty before Superior Court Judge Howard Whitehead and were released on personal recognizance.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley today issued the following statement regarding the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) decision to approve the first utility company proposal to own and operate solar energy installations, as authorized by the Green Communities Act of 2008. The decision allows Western Massachusetts Electric Company’s (WMECO) plan to construct and deploy approximately 6 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic power throughout its service territory.

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Today, a Rhode Island man was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on charges he schemed to collect over $18,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Christian Waldron, age 38, of Providence, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (29 counts), and Larceny Over $250.

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The Massachusetts Appeals Court affirmed a Superior Court decision finding that Hanover Insurance Co. (Hanover) must pay the Commonwealth $415,000, or all of the remaining funds that have not yet been recovered from the theft of millions of dollars from the State Treasurer’s office. This decision means that the Commonwealth will be made whole and will recover all of the approximately $9.4 million that was stolen as a result of the largest theft of state money in Massachusetts history, uncovered by the Attorney General’s Office in 1999.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached a settlement agreement with Everett-based environmental remediation and emergency/disaster response service company LVI Environmental Services, Inc. (LVI), resolving allegations related to payment of workers as part of its disaster relief efforts after Hurricane Ike in the Fall of 2008. The company has agreed to pay up to $50,000 in restitution to resolve the claims.

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A Worcester Superior Grand Jury returned indictments yesterday against two men on charges they schemed to commit insurance fraud and submitted false health care claims while operating a medical facility. Alan Perl, age 63, of Dudley and Lalit Savla, M.D., age 71, of Holden, were each charged with Insurance Fraud (19 counts), Larceny Over $250 (5 counts), Filing False Health Care Claim (3 counts), and Larceny Under $250. Perl was also charged with Unauthorized Practice of Medicine.

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Meeting yesterday’s 5:00 p.m. deadline, 17 groups have filed 30 petitions for proposed laws or constitutional amendments with Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office. Of the 30 petitions, five constitutional amendments were filed for the 2012 ballot. Some initiative petition sponsors submitted more than one version of a petition on the same topic.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley has issued three citations, ordering a Dorchester painting company to pay $36,000 in fines and over $53,000 in restitution for intentionally violating the Massachusetts Prevailing Wage, Payroll Records Keeping, and Wage and Hour Laws. American East Painting, Inc. (American East), and its President, Anthony C. Celestine, age 45, of Dorchester, were cited for violations related to painting work performed from June 2008 through August 2008 for the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) at two public skating rinks located in Hyde Park and Brighton, MA.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley delivered the keynote address at the Women2Women International Leadership Conference. The event was held yesterday at the Massachusetts State House in Boston. Attorney General Coakley spoke about her personal background and discussed the challenges and choices she faced in pursuing a career as a lawyer, prosecutor, and now elected official.

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Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and a coalition of legislators, District Attorneys, and law enforcement organizations, announced the filing of An Act to Combat Economic Crime, comprehensive economic crime legislation designed to give law enforcement the necessary tools to investigate and prosecute sophisticated criminal activities and enterprises in the 21st century. The bill, which is sponsored by a number of legislators, District Attorneys, and the Attorney General, specifically updates the law in three areas, including money laundering, enterprise crime, and wire interception.

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An Essex County Grand Jury returned indictments on Friday against: 1) the former Police Chief of the Hamilton Police Department (HPD); 2) a former Wenham Police Department Lieutenant and Ipswich Selectman; 3) the training coordinator for the Danvers-based Lyons Ambulance Service (Lyons), who is the retired Fire Chief of Middleton and Ipswich, and; 4) a former reserve police office from HPD who conducted Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training for HPD.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed a housing discrimination complaint against two Somerville property owners for allegedly refusing to rent an apartment to a prospective tenant and his family on the basis of their race and national origin. The complaint, filed in Middlesex Superior Court on July 29, 2009, alleges that Jardelina and Olivero Costa of Somerville violated state anti-discrimination and consumer protection laws by refusing to rent to a prospective tenant and his family because they are of Indian national origin.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley has named two seasoned attorneys as the new Chief and Deputy Chief of her office’s Government Bureau. Attorney General Coakley announced this week that Peter Sacks, who has served as the Deputy Chief of the Government Bureau for over 10 years, will assume the position of Bureau Chief. Jennifer Miller, who has served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Administrative Law Division of the Government Bureau, will be the Bureau’s new Deputy Chief.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed a complaint in Suffolk Superior Court against Auto Body Solvent Recovery Corp. (Auto Body) alleging that the company illegally leased its license to transport hazardous waste within Massachusetts to an unlicensed company. The lawsuit, filed yesterday, alleges this lease agreement allowed an unlicensed company to transport hazardous waste on public roads in violation of the state’s Hazardous Waste Management Act. The complaint seeks a permanent injunction prohibiting Auto Body from leasing or transferring its hazardous waste transport license to any other company, as well as civil penalties for violation of the Commonwealth’s environmental laws.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office reached an agreement with Boch Imports, Inc. (“Boch”) resolving allegations that the automobile dealer used deceptive prices in its print, television, and radio advertisements. The Attorney General’s Office filed an Assurance of Discontinuance in Suffolk Superior Court under the Consumer Protection Act and Boch has agreed to change its advertising practices and to pay $55,000 in civil penalties and costs and $55,000 to the Local Consumer Aid Fund.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached a settlement agreement with Boston Clinical Laboratories, Inc. (“Boston Clinical”), an independent clinical laboratory in Waltham, settling a lawsuit alleging Medicaid False Claims violations. Boston Clinical has agreed to pay $615,000 to the Commonwealth’s Medicaid program and $14,000 to the federal Medicare program. Boston Clinical has also agreed to institute a comprehensive compliance program to ensure compliance with state laws and Medicaid regulations.

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Today, a Mattapan man was indicted on charges he schemed to collect over $11,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Pierre Jeannot, age 34, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (20 counts), and Larceny Over $250.

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Today, the owner of a Hanover cleaning company was arraigned in Boston Municipal Court in connection with violating the state’s larceny, wage and hour, and worker’s compensation laws. Charles B. Wood III, age 58, and owner of Clean Tech Professional Cleaning Services, was arraigned on charges of Larceny by Check over $250, Failure to Pay Wages (7 counts), Failure to Provide Suitable Pay Stub Record (4 counts), and Failure to Provide Workers Compensation Insurance Coverage. A plea of not guilty was entered on Wood’s behalf and he was released on personal recognizance by District Court Judge Sally Kelly. Wood is scheduled to appear in court on August 28, 2009, for a pre-trial conference.

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A Sharon man was sentenced in Middlesex Superior Court to more than two years in jail in connection with his role in a large-scale marijuana distribution ring operating throughout the greater Boston area. Joshua Katz, age 25, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge S. Jane Haggerty to serve two and a half years in the House of Correction on the charge of Trafficking in Marijuana. Judge Haggerty also sentenced Katz to serve two years of probation on the charges of Distribution of Marijuana, Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, and Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (3 counts). Katz will begin his probation after the completion of his jail sentence. Katz pled guilty in the middle of his trial on July 16, 2009.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has filed a lawsuit against Cornerstone Corporation, a for-profit property management company that manages the Roxse Homes residential housing development in Boston, alleging that the company and one of its employees discriminated against a tenant because she is a foster parent. Under state and federal law, it is illegal to discriminate against a person based on his or her familial status which can include foster parent relationships.

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A Winchester construction and demolition company was arraigned and pled guilty in Charlestown District Court on July 22, 2009, in connection with failing to properly pay their employees, failing to pay the proper premium for its workers’ compensation insurance policy, and failing to provide true and accurate payroll records. P & R Partners Construction Inc. (P & R) pled guilty to charges of Workers’ Compensation Fraud, Failure to Pay Overtime, and Payroll Records violations. In addition, the company’s owners and officers, Elienai Coelho, age 30, of Stoneham, and Rodrigo Silva, age 29, of Medford, admitted to sufficient facts for Failing to Pay Overtime and Failing to Provide True and Accurate Payroll Records. After the plea was entered, District Court Judge Mark H. Summerville ordered Coelho, Silva and P & R to pay over $54,000 in restitution to 51 former employees, $50,000 in restitution to the insurance company, and a $30,000 fine to the Commonwealth. Judge Summerville also placed Coelho and Silva on probation for a period of one year.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office and Georgia based Home Depot, U.S.A., Inc. (Home Depot) have reached an agreement to settle allegations the company did not properly calculate vacation benefits for some employees during part of 2005 through 2007. Under the terms of the agreement, Home Depot has agreed to pay a total of nearly $45,000 in restitution to 58 former employees as well as an assessment of $10,000 to the Commonwealth.

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BOSTON –Attorney General Martha Coakley served as host and special guest yesterday to the weekly meeting of the John William Ward Public Service Fellowship program. The meeting was held at the Attorney General’s Office in Boston. Attorney General Coakley spoke about her career in public service including her role as Attorney General and the work being done by the Attorney General’s Office.

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Today, a Georgia woman was indicted on charges she schemed to collect over $13,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Theresa Houston, age 44, of Atlanta, GA, formerly of North Cambridge, MA, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (33 counts) and Larceny Over $250.

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The former owner of Thorstensen Laboratory Inc. of Westford was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court for submitting falsified water testing reports to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for several municipalities in the Commonwealth, including Ashby, Carlisle, Harvard, and Lawrence. Michael Carlson, 56, of Westford, was arraigned yesterday on charges of making false reports to the MassDEP (50 counts), Larceny under $250 (2 counts), and Larceny over $250 (2 counts). The charges of larceny against Carlson stem from the allegations that the defendant collected thousands of dollars from municipalities for water tests that had either not been conducted or had been conducted at a laboratory not certified to conduct the water tests. At arraignment, Carlson entered a plea of not guilty and was released on personal recognizance.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_07_21_mccauley_arraignment&csid=Cago 2009-07-21T00:00:00Z 2009-07-21T00:00:00Z

Today, Darryl McCauley was arraigned on additional charges in Middlesex Superior Court in connection with allegedly stealing millions of dollars from national entertainer Dane Cook. McCauley, age 43, of Wilmington, was arraigned on charges of Larceny over $250 (20 counts). At arraignment, McCauley entered a plea of not guilty before Clerk Magistrate Michael Sullivan. After the plea was entered, Clerk Magistrate Sullivan ordered that McCauley continued to be held on $1 million bail. At this time, authorities allege that McCauley stole a total of over $11 million from Cook. The Attorney General’s investigation remains active and ongoing.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office entered into a settlement with Emerson College (“Emerson”) concerning its student lending practices. The settlement follows a Massachusetts-led investigation which found that Emerson unfairly steered students to borrow from certain lenders that gave undisclosed inducements to Emerson’s financial aid staff. In many instances, these lenders failed to provide Emerson’s students with competitive loan terms.

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Today, a Revere man pled guilty in Suffolk Superior Court to charges he schemed to collect more than $164,000 in unemployment benefits by using false identities. Domingos Gomes, also known as Domingos Correia, age 52, pled guilty to charges of Unemployment Fraud (286 counts), Larceny Over $250 (15 counts), and Identity Fraud (4 counts). Following the change of plea, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Peter Lauriat sentenced Gomes to serve 18 months to two years in State Prison, followed by supervised probation for three years and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $164,412.

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A Sharon man pled guilty in Middlesex Superior Court in connection with his role in a large-scale marijuana distribution ring operating throughout the greater Boston area. Joshua Katz, age 25, pled guilty mid-trial to charges of Trafficking in Marijuana, Distribution of Marijuana, Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, and Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (3 counts). Katz will be sentenced in Middlesex Superior Court before Judge S. Jane Haggerty on July 29, 2009.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley and Governor Deval Patrick today announced a commitment to jointly develop large scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power installations through a new statewide entity operating in collaboration with the state’s four investor-owned electric distribution utilities. This plan will maximize the benefits of renewable power for ratepayers across the state authorized by the Green Communities Act and help meet Governor Patrick’s goal of 250 MW of solar generation installed in the Commonwealth by 2017.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office asked state regulators to refund over $860,000 to customers for Unitil’s Gas Division’s use of a costly gas procurement program that was not authorized by the Department of Public Utilities (DPU). The request was made in connection with an investigation opened by the DPU into Unitil’s gas procurement practices for the period November 1, 2007 through April 30, 2009. The Attorney General’s Office alleges that Unitil’s customers paid gas supply costs that were higher than the ratepayers of other gas companies. The Attorney General’s Office filed this brief last week with the DPU.

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Today, a Holliston man and his business were arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court on charges they allegedly provided inaccurate payroll information to their insurer and payroll administrator to secure a lower workers’ compensation insurance premium and to avoid paying the full amount of unemployment insurance and state income tax. Paul McKunes, age 52, and his business M&M Equipment Services, Inc., doing business as d/b/a Earth Designs (M&M), located in Ashland, are charged with Unemployment Fraud (10 counts), Failure to Withhold State Income Tax (31 counts), Workers’ Compensation Fraud (3 counts), and Larceny Over $250 (3 counts).

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_07_16_dish_network&csid=Cago 2009-07-16T00:00:00Z 2009-07-16T00:00:00Z

Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and Attorneys General of 45 other states entered into a $5 million settlement agreement with Colorado-based DISH Network, L.L.C., to resolve allegations that it engaged in unfair and deceptive sales practices, including failing to make adequate disclosures to consumers and charging credit cards and bank accounts without proper authorization. Massachusetts will receive $125,000 under the terms of the settlement, which will be used to fund local consumer aid programs.

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Today, the owner of Northeast Demolition and Removal, and a site foreman who worked for the same company, were arraigned in Bristol County Superior Court for the improper removal of asbestos from properties in Attleboro and North Attleboro. Arthur Amaral, 49, of Middleboro, the owner of Northeast Demolition and Removal, and Shaun Amaral, 37, of Norton, the site foreman, were each arraigned today on charges they violated the Clean Air Act by failing to file notices of asbestos demolition with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (2 counts), failing to conduct proper asbestos removal (2 counts), and failure to comply with asbestos disposal regulations (1 count). Both defendants were released on personal recognizance.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley, along with 35 other state Attorneys General and the District of Columbia, announced a settlement with Merck & Co. Inc, Schering-Plough Corporation, and a joint venture of the two companies, MSP Singapore Company, LLC. The settlement, entered in Suffolk Superior Court, resolves an investigation into the companies’ lengthy delay in releasing negative results from a study of Vytorin, a cholesterol-lowering drug that is a combination of the drugs Zetia and Simvastatin. The settlement contains comprehensive injunctive terms that will prohibit the unfair and deceptive promotion of Vytorin and Zetia. In addition, the companies have agreed to pay the states’ investigation costs of $5.4 million. Massachusetts will receive $100,000 to cover the costs of the investigation; which will go to the Commonwealth’s general fund.

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HOLYOKE -Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a civil rights injunction against two Holyoke brothers, Jesse and Roman Jedrzejczyk, who are accused of harassing, threatening and intimidating their neighbors, a single mother and her two six year-old daughters. The adult victim is a political asylee to the United States who, in 2001, fled political persecution in Haiti out of fear for her life.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_07_14_apex_construction_plea&csid=Cago 2009-07-14T00:00:00Z 2009-07-14T00:00:00Z

An Ashby man and his construction company pled guilty yesterday in Ayer District Court in connection with failing to properly pay his employees. Jeremy Ethier, age 35, and his corporation, Apex Construction Services, Inc. (Apex Construction), located in Townsend, both pled guilty to the charge of Failure to Pay Wages (27 counts). Immediately following the change of plea, District Court Judge David Cunis sentenced Ethier to serve three years of probation and ordered the defendants to pay nearly $18,000 in restitution.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has completed a review of certain related party transactions involving Suffolk University and two firms that provided the University with strategic services since 1997, and has determined that no further action by the Attorney General’s Office is warranted at this time.

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In a decision issued yesterday afternoon, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the constitutionality of the Commonwealth’s buffer zone law. That statute creates a 35-foot buffer zone around entrances and driveways of reproductive health care facilities that provide abortion-related services. The law allows persons to enter the buffer zone only to enter or leave the clinic, to reach a destination other than the clinic, or if they work for the clinic or municipality and are acting within the scope of their employment. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office defended the constitutionality of the statute in the federal court proceedings.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a civil rights injunction against two men charged with a racially motivated attack in Worcester. The order, granted today by Worcester Superior Court Judge Richard T. Tucker prohibits John Polydores of Worcester and Douglas Griffin of Paxton from violating the civil rights of the victims and all others in the Commonwealth based upon their actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity or national origin. A violation of the injunction is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and two and a half years in a House of Correction, or if bodily injury results from such violation, a $10,000 fine and up to 10 years in State Prison.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_07_08_oconnor_final_judgment&csid=Cago 2009-07-08T00:00:00Z 2009-07-08T00:00:00Z

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has obtained a Final Judgment imposing a five year civil rights injunction against a Quincy man accused of committing a bias-motivated attack on a Quincy resident because of his perceived sexual orientation. The Final Judgment, entered on July 3, 2009, by Norfolk Superior Court Judge Thomas A. Connors, prohibits Jeffrey O’Connor from threatening, intimidating or coercing the victim or anyone else in the Commonwealth on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation. A violation of the injunction is a criminal offense punishable by up to a fine of $5,000 and two and a half years in a house of correction, or if bodily injury results from such violation, a $10,000 fine and up to ten years in state prison.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley filed a lawsuit in United States District Court (D. Mass.) challenging the constitutionality of Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”). The law, which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman, unfairly excludes more than 16,000 Massachusetts married same-sex couples and their families from critically important rights and protections based on marital status. The complaint alleges that DOMA, which affects more than 1,100 federal statutory provisions, violates the United States Constitution by interfering with the Commonwealth’s sovereign authority to define and regulate the marital status of its residents. The complaint also alleges that DOMA exceeds Congress’s authority under the Spending Clause because Congress does not have a valid reason for requiring Massachusetts to treat married same-sex couples differently from all other married couples.

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A Middlesex Grand Jury returned an additional 20 indictments against Darryl McCauley in connection with allegedly stealing millions of dollars from national entertainer Dane Cook. McCauley, age 43, of Wilmington, is charged with Larceny over $250 (20 counts). At this time, authorities allege that McCauley stole a total of over $11 million from Cook. The Attorney General’s investigation remains active and ongoing.

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A Middlesex Grand Jury has returned indictments against the former accountant of a religious non-profit organization charged in connection with allegedly stealing money from the organization and using it for his own personal use. William O’Brien, age 58, of Framingham, is charged with Larceny over $250 (11 counts), Larceny by Continuous Scheme (2 counts), Failure to File Income Tax Returns (5 counts), Forgery, and Uttering.

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Today, a New Hampshire woman was arraigned in connection with allegedly embellishing several insurance claims and fraudulently collecting lost wages. Ana Keegan, age 39, of Seabrook, formerly of Haverhill, MA, was charged with Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud (3 counts), Larceny over $250 (2 counts), Insurance Fraud, and Attempted Larceny.

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Today, a Lynn man pled guilty in Suffolk Superior Court to charges he schemed to collect over $16,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Gary Gaglione, age 43, pled guilty to charges of Unemployment Fraud (28 counts), and Larceny Over $250. Following the change of plea, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Carol Ball sentenced Gaglione to two years probation and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $16,128.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached a settlement with Weston & Sampson Services, Inc. (Weston & Sampson), of Peabody, and its president and treasurer, John A. Bocchino, Jr., age 47, of Wilmington, to settle allegations of prevailing wage and record keeping violations. As part of the settlement agreement, Weston & Sampson and Bocchino will pay $92,500 in restitution to 25 mechanics, technicians and electricians who worked on public projects in 27 different municipalities throughout Massachusetts between January 2006 and June 2009. The agreement also requires the company to pay a $15,000 fine to the Commonwealth for the alleged violations. Weston & Sampson conducted a self-audit of their records and cooperated fully with the Attorney General’s investigation.

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Today, a Beverly man pled guilty in Suffolk Superior Court for stealing millions of dollars worth of excise taxes from the City of Boston. Stephen Colahan, age 53, pled guilty to the charges of Larceny over $250 by Continuous Scheme and Procurement Fraud. Immediately after the plea was entered, Superior Court Judge Carol Ball sentenced Colahan to two and a half years in the House of Correction, with 18 months to serve, and the balance of that sentence will be suspended for a 10-year probationary period. As a condition of his probation, Judge Ball ordered that Colahan pay $1.9 million in restitution back to the City of Boston. Previously, Colahan made $800,000 in repayments to the City account.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced that investment bank and financial services firm Merrill Lynch (Merrill) will make a payment to the Commonwealth of $300,000 related to Merrill’s sales of auction rate securities to the city of Springfield. The payment stems from an investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Office during late 2007 and 2008 regarding whether certain Merrill representatives misled Springfield into investing in funds the company knew or should have known were impermissible under Massachusetts state law. Under state law, cities and towns cannot invest their short term cash funds into this type of security. The Attorney General’s Office investigated whether Merrill representatives omitted material information, and/or otherwise misled Springfield officials, regarding the nature of the investment. As a result of that investigation, Merrill repaid nearly $14 million to the City of Springfield.

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A Holliston man and his business were indicted on charges they allegedly provided inaccurate payroll information to their insurer and payroll administrator to secure a lower workers’ compensation insurance premium and to avoid paying the full amount of unemployment insurance and state income tax. Paul McKunes, age 52, and his business M&M Equipment Services, Inc., doing business as d/b/a Earth Designs (M&M), located in Ashland, were charged with Unemployment Fraud (10 counts), Failure to Withhold State Income Tax (31 counts), Workers’ Compensation Fraud (3 counts), and Larceny Over $250 (3 counts).

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Today, two former Haverhill Highway Department employees were sentenced in Essex Superior Court for their role in defrauding the City of Haverhill. On June 2, 2009, a jury convicted James Flaherty, age 65, on the felony charge of Larceny over $250 by Continuous Scheme. The jury also convicted James Flaherty’s son, Kevin Flaherty, age 35, on the felony charges of Larceny over $250 by Continuous Scheme and Presentation of False Claims. Prior to trial James Flaherty agreed to plead guilty to the charges of Filing False Tax Returns (3 counts).

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Attorney General Martha Coakley praised the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) for upholding an approximately $8 million fine against National Grid for the company’s failure to meet service quality standards in 2006. On Friday, the DPU issued a ruling refusing National Grid’s request to exclude four storms from the calculation of service quality penalties in 2006. The $8 million penalty will result in a slight decrease in rates for customers in National Grid’s service territory.

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Authorities are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a Roxbury man who is a major drug distributor in the Greater Boston area and who has eluded police for the past four days. Christian Miranda, age 39, is considered to be armed and dangerous and faces charges of Trafficking in Cocaine over 100 grams, Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substances Act, and Illegal Possession of a Firearm (2 Counts).

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A Medford man pled guilty in Middlesex Superior Court yesterday in connection with his role in a charity fraud ring that used fraudulent telemarketing practices to deceive donors who gave to disabled veterans’ and retired police charitable organizations and then converted those funds for their own personal use. Brandon Seeley, age 21, pled guilty to charges of Larceny over $250, Attempted Larceny, Conspiracy to Commit Larceny over $250, Gross Fraud and Deceptive Professional Solicitation Practices. Immediately after the plea was entered, Superior Court Judge Sandra Hamlin sentenced Seeley to serve two and a half years in the House of Correction, with the sentence suspended for five years.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained two separate preliminary injunctions in conjunction with a lawsuit against Disabled Police Officers Counseling Center, Inc., a Florida public charity; its president, Terry Morrison; and its professional fundraisers, Patrick Kane, doing business as the Kane Marketing Group, Mark Hemphill, doing business as Infiniti Marketing Firm, and James Vincent, doing business as Northeast Advertising.

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An East Freetown man pled guilty in Suffolk Superior Court to charges he schemed to collect over $18,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Girard Pike, age 40, pled guilty to charges of Unemployment Fraud (51 counts), and Larceny Over $250 (3 counts). Following the change of plea, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Carol Ball sentenced Pike to three years probation and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $18,026.

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The operator of a Framingham auto repair shop was arraigned for repeatedly issuing state inspection stickers for vehicles that would not pass inspection. Samuel Bicalho, 22, of Framingham, pled not guilty yesterday on charges he improperly issued state inspection stickers (4 counts), and violating Massachusetts Clean Air Act regulations designed to prevent pollution or contamination to the atmosphere (8 counts). Bicalho was released on the condition that he not conduct any vehicle inspections during the pendency of this case.

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A New York-based fitness company and its president have been cited over $40,000 in penalties for violating the Massachusetts Child Labor laws. Town Sports International, Inc., doing business in Massachusetts as Boston Sports Club, and its president, Alexander A. Alimanestianu, age 50, of Larchmont, New York, have paid a $40,000 fine to the Commonwealth for over 1,600 child labor violations at 23 fitness facilities owned or operated by the company throughout the Commonwealth.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley obtained a preliminary injunction against the owner of a highly contaminated property located in Danvers. Under the terms of the court order, entered by Judge D. Lloyd MacDonald in Suffolk Superior Court on Tuesday, Nicholas J. Decoulos must allow the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (“MassDEP”) onto the property to ensure that the most contaminated areas are secured with fencing and that signs are posted to notify the public of the potential hazards of coming into contact with the contaminated soil and sediments at the property. The order also requires Decoulos to ensure that the fencing and signage remains in good repair, and to regularly inspect the property and report to MassDEP any trespasser use of the property.

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A Rhode Island man was arraigned yesterday afternoon on charges he schemed to collect over $15,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Robert S. Johnson, age 41, of North Smithfield, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (27 counts), and Larceny Over $250.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a consent judgment against Brian Keefe and JBK Associates, LLC, the owners of a two-unit apartment building in Cambridge who were accused of violating state antidiscrimination laws by refusing to rent an apartment to an individual who participates in the Section 8 program.

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Today, a group of 41 Attorneys General, led by the Office of Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, announced a settlement with the Framingham-based TJX Companies, Inc. (“TJX”) The Assurance of Discontinuance between the parties, filed in Suffolk Superior Court today, resolves claims relating to TJX’s failure to appropriately protect its customers’ financial information and to guard against a massive data breach that placed thousands of consumers’ personal data at risk, nationwide. TJX has agreed to pay $9.75 million to the states and to implement and maintain a comprehensive information security program, designed to safeguard consumer data and address any weaknesses in TJX’s systems in place at the time of the breach. Under the terms of the settlement, Massachusetts will receive approximately $951,000 to aid efforts to protect consumers’ personally-identifiable information and to cover the costs of the investigation. TJX cooperated fully with the multistate investigation.

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As the lead state petitioner in Massachusetts. v. EPA, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office, along with 13 states and the City of New York, submitted comments in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed determination that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare. On April 24, 2009, the EPA formally issued its proposed findings that carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases are pollutants that threaten public health and welfare. The comments submitted yesterday recommend the EPA set a firm goal to make an endangerment determination by August 2009 and have it finalized by 2010.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has cited a Lynn flooring company, Phat’s Hardwood Floor, and its owner, Phat Q. Du, age 65, of Newton, for intentionally violating the Commonwealth’s record keeping laws by failing to submit certified payroll records on a weekly basis and failing to submit true and accurate certified payroll records to the Arlington Housing Authority over a nine-month period in 2008. The citation orders Phat and his company to pay a $10,000 fine for each violation.

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Today, the former chief financial officer of a local museum turned herself in to authorities after a Worcester County Grand Jury returned indictments against her in connection with the alleged embezzlement of more than $1.3 million from the institution. Peggy Kempton, age 53, of Hollis, New Hampshire, was arraigned in Worcester Superior Court on charges of Larceny over $250 by Single Scheme (14 Counts), Fraudulent Use of Credit Cards (3 counts), and False Entries in Corporate Books.

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A Lynn man pled guilty and was sentenced in Essex Superior Court on cocaine trafficking charges. Pedro Rojas, age 47, pled guilty to charges of Trafficking Cocaine between 100 to 200 grams (2 counts), and Trafficking Cocaine between 28 to 100 grams (3 counts). Following the change of plea, Essex Superior Court Judge Timothy Feeley sentenced Rojas to serve 10 years in State Prison.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office joined a coalition of states that included California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia, in filing a complaint against the drug manufacturer Wyeth. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, alleges the company knowingly failed to give the government the same discounts it provided to private purchasers of its drugs, as required by laws governing the Medicaid program. As a result, Wyeth allegedly avoided paying hundreds of millions in rebates due to state Medicaid programs for its drugs, Protonix Oral and Protonix IV. These drugs belong to a class of drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPI), which are used to suppress stomach acid.

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A Bristol County Grand Jury returned indictments against the owner of Northeast Demolition and Removal, and a site foreman who worked for the same company, for the improper removal of asbestos from properties in Attleboro and North Attleboro.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a preliminary injunction against defendants H.O.P.E. Alliance, Inc., (H.O.P.E. Alliance), Law & Associates, LLC and Thomas E. Law, II. The preliminary injunction, signed yesterday by Suffolk Superior Court Judge Christopher Muse, prohibits the defendants from publishing advertisements concerning foreclosure-related services, contacting Massachusetts consumers regarding foreclosures or mortgages, and taking and/or soliciting advance fees from consumers. The preliminary injunction follows a temporary restraining order granted against the defendants last week.

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As part of an ongoing effort to address wage violations in the painting industry, the Attorney General’s Office has resolved 27 cases and has recovered nearly $560,000 in restitution for over 250 employees of various employers and fined painting companies nearly $195,000 since the spring of 2008. In addition to civil penalties, the Attorney General’s Office has also taken criminal enforcement action against several painting companies and owners, and has debarred companies that have violated the state’s Prevailing Wage laws, preventing them from bidding on public works projects in the Commonwealth. The attached list details the painting cases that the Attorney General’s Office has resolved since the spring of 2008.

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Today, a Fitchburg man was sentenced in Worcester Superior Court on charges he possessed images of child pornography and allowed them to be accessed through a peer-to-peer online network on the Internet. Superior Court Judge John McCann sentenced Christian Darby, age 37, to two and a half years in the House of Corrections, nine months to serve; the balance suspended for 10 years, and 10 years probation on the charges of Possession of Child Pornography (2 counts). Among the special conditions of his probation, Darby is required to comply with Sex Offender registration and treatment, and is prohibited from having any unsupervised direct or indirect contact, physical or electronic, with any child under the age of 18 without another adult present who is responsible for the child’s welfare and who is aware of his sex offender status. Darby is also required to comply with GPS monitoring for the duration of his probation sentence. A Worcester Superior Court jury convicted Darby on May 1, 2009, on the charges of Possession of Child Pornography (2 counts).

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a consent judgment against Geoffrey Wells, doing business as (d/b/a) Harvard Real Estate of Brookline, and one of his employees, David Ravalli, accused of violating state antidiscrimination and lead paint laws by refusing to show a property to a family because they had young children.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has entered into a judgment with Leo H. Desire, Sr. resolving allegations over his role in repeated instances of mortgage fraud related to a Revere property. Under the terms of the Consent Judgment, entered late Friday afternoon by Suffolk Superior Court Judge Margaret Hinkle, Desire is permanently prohibited from acting as a mortgage loan broker or originator. In addition, Desire must pay $240,000 in restitution, disgorging monies he received as a result of the fraudulent transactions. He is also required to pay $60,000 in fees and penalties to the Commonwealth.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached a settlement agreement with a New Bedford drywall company to settle allegations that the company failed to pay employees the prevailing wage rate, the correct overtime rate and failed to keep proper payroll records for work performed at four Massachusetts public works job sites. Garcia Drywall, Inc. (Garcia Drywall), and its president, Emanuel Garcia, have agreed to pay over $41,600 in restitution to the affected employees and over $18,000 in fines for intentionally violating the Prevailing Wage, and Overtime and Record Keeping Laws. In addition, Garcia and his company have agreed to a one-year debarment, which prevents them from bidding on any public construction projects, as well as from accepting any contracts for public work for a one-year period in the Commonwealth.

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An Essex County Grand Jury has returned indictments against a Seabrook, New Hampshire, woman in connection with embellishing several insurance claims and fraudulently collecting lost wages. Ana Keegan, age 39, formerly of Haverhill, is charged with Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud (3 counts), Larceny over $250 (2 counts), and Attempted Larceny (2 counts).

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BOSTON – Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed a complaint in Suffolk Superior Court against the owner of a contaminated site in Danvers. The complaint, filed yesterday afternoon, alleges that Nicholas J. Decoulos violated state hazardous waste law by refusing to clean up the soils and sediments at the site, which contain high levels of arsenic and dioxin. The complaint further alleges that Decoulos has violated the law by failing to secure the most dangerous sections of the site and by failing to post signs warning about the hazards at the property.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a temporary restraining order against defendants H.O.P.E. Alliance, Inc., (H.O.P.E. Alliance) Law & Associates, LLC and Thomas E. Law, II. In a complaint filed yesterday in Suffolk Superior Court, the Attorney General’s Office alleges that the defendants collectively solicited unlawful advance fees for foreclosure-related services, and unnecessarily delayed negotiations regarding loan modifications, thereby pushing homeowners further into debt. The temporary restraining order, signed by Judge Christopher J. Muse, prohibits the defendants from contacting any Massachusetts resident to solicit or offer foreclosure-related services, publishing advertisements that offer foreclosure related services and destroying any assets. Additionally, the defendants must provide a list of all Massachusetts homeowners they have contacted and a list of homeowners who have paid fees for services to the Attorney General’s Office within 10 days.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has entered into a judgment with Brockton attorney Valerie Hanserd resolving allegations over her role as a closing attorney in two companion lawsuits that both allege unfair practices with respect to mortgage brokering services. The first lawsuit involved Ms. Hanserd's closing of a loan allegedly obtained by using false and forged documents and the second lawsuit involved allegations relating to her participation in an unfair and deceptive foreclosure rescue scheme. Under the terms of the Consent Judgment, filed late last week in Suffolk Superior Court, Hanserd must refrain from acting as a real estate closing attorney or title agent for seven years retroactive to April 27, 2007. In addition, Hanserd must pay $80,000 in restitution to victims of foreclosure rescue schemes or to address the negative impact of mortgage foreclosures in the Commonwealth, as well as $35,000 in fees and penalties to the Commonwealth.

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Today, a Billerica man was arraigned for allegedly stealing over $35,000 in workers’ compensation disability benefits to which he was not entitled. William Bertrand, age 54, is charged with Larceny over $250 (2 counts), Workers’ Compensation Fraud (4 counts), and Perjury.

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The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) ruled today that employees must be compensated for their unused vacation upon discharge. In issuing the decision, the Court upheld the Attorney General’s Office interpretation of the Wage Act, which protects employees’ rights to receive wages.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley delivered the keynote address at the 4th Annual Fraud and Cost Containment Seminar sponsored by the Northeast Chapter of the International Association of Special Investigative Units (NEIASIU), the New England Association of Insurance Fraud Investigators (NEAIFI), and Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers (CAR). The event was held at the Westford Regency Hotel.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office entered into a settlement with Fremont Investment and Loan and its parent Fremont General Corporation ("Fremont") to resolve the Commonwealth's lawsuit against the California-based lender. Fremont has agreed to pay the Commonwealth $10 million in consumer relief, civil penalties and costs. Fremont has also agreed not to foreclose upon unfair loans without certain protections for borrowers or originate unfair loans in the Commonwealth. Those protections against foreclosure, which have been in place since the Superior Court issued a Preliminary Injunction in March 2008 are now permanent and also apply to the loan holders and servicers who acquired the Fremont loans since the injunction issued.

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The former owner of Thorstensen Laboratory Inc. of Westford was indicted today for submitting falsified water testing reports to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for several municipalities in the Commonwealth, including Ashby, Chicopee, Harvard, and Lawrence.

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Today, a Norwood man was sentenced in Middlesex Superior Court for his role in a large-scale marijuana distribution ring operating throughout the greater Boston area. On June 2, 2009, Robert McCormick, age 30, pled guilty to charges of Trafficking in Marijuana (4 counts), Distribution of a Class D substance (2 counts), Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class D substance (2 counts), Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition without a FID Card (2 counts), Conspiracy to Traffick between 100-2,000 pounds of Marijuana, and Possession of a Class B Substance - Percocet. Today, Superior Court Judge S. Jane Haggerty sentenced McCormick to serve three to four years in State Prison, followed by three years of supervised probation.

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Today, a Worcester-based attorney was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court in connection with fraudulently collecting workers’ compensation survivor benefits that he received after the death of his first wife. Herman Bayless, age 50, of Brookfield, is charged with Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud and Larceny over $250. Bayless entered a plea of not guilty in front of Clerk Magistrate Gary Wilson, and was subsequently released on personal recognizance.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has obtained a judgment against Florida-based Zeus Funding and its manager, Rachel Noyes, for deceptively persuading Massachusetts homebuyers to purchase homes they could not afford. The order, signed earlier this week by Judge Linda E. Giles in Suffolk Superior Court, directs both parties to stop doing business in Massachusetts and pay $480,887 in civil penalties, fees and costs.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office reached an agreement with GOL Foods, Inc. (GOL Foods), located in Hyannis, and its president, Joao Araujo, age 46, of Framingham, to settle allegations the company violated the Commonwealth’s wage and hour laws by failing to pay employees overtime and Sunday and holiday pay. GOL Foods and Araujo have agreed to pay a total of over $74,000 in restitution, as well as a $15,000 fine for the violations

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Today, a former manager of the Nantucket Regional Transit Authority (NRTA) pled guilty in Barnstable Superior Court to stealing more than $8,000 from their fare boxes and for improperly storing a firearm. Quoizel Wilson, age 31, of Nantucket, pled guilty to charges of Larceny over $250, Breaking into a Depository, and Improper Storage of a Firearm. Immediately after the plea had been entered, Superior Court Judge Richard Connon sentenced Wilson to two years in the House of Correction, with the sentence suspended for two years, on the charges of Larceny over $250 and Breaking into a Depository. These sentences will run concurrently. Wilson must also pay $8,000 in restitution to his former employer. On the charge of Improper Storage of a Firearm, Judge Connon ordered Wilson to pay a $500 fine.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed a brief with the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) seeking a penalty of $4.6 million against Unitil. The filing was made in connection with an investigation by the DPU into Unitil’s restoration efforts in the aftermath of an ice storm on December 11-12, 2008. The storm caused outages for 100 percent of Unitil’s customers with approximately one in five of its customers without electricity for a week and over 1,000 customers without electricity for twelve days or more.

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A Quincy man pled guilty in Middlesex Superior Court yesterday in connection with using fraudulent telemarketing practices to deceive donors who gave to disabled veterans’ and retired police charitable organizations and then converted those funds for his own personal use. George Borden, age 53, pled guilty to charges of Larceny over $250 (3 counts), Attempted Larceny, Conspiracy to Commit Larceny over $250 (2 counts), Conspiracy to Commit Forgery, Gross Fraud and Deceptive Professional Solicitation Practices. Immediately after the plea was entered, Judge Sandra Hamlin sentenced Borden to serve two and a half years in the House of Correction on one count of Conspiracy to Commit Larceny over $250. On the remaining count of Conspiracy to Commit Larceny over $250, Judge Hamlin sentenced Borden to serve two and a half years in the House of Correction, with the sentence suspended for five years. On all of the remaining charges, Borden was sentenced to serve five years of probation, upon completion of his House of Correction sentence. As a condition of his probation, Judge Hamlin also prohibited Borden from participating in any charitable fundraising organizations, and also ordered him to perform 200 hours of community service.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached a settlement with a Brockton real estate company in response to a tenant’s claim of discrimination and retaliation. The Assurance of Discontinuance filed in Plymouth Superior Court against Churchill Forge Properties, Inc., and its employee Joyce Levine, alleges that the real estate company and the employee violated state anti-discrimination laws by retaliating against an African-American tenant when he contacted the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD). Churchill Forge, which is headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts, manages several rental properties across the Commonwealth.

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Fiat and the new “Chrysler Group LLC” agreed to honor the “Lemon Law” rights of Chrysler buyers when the company effectively takes control of the U.S. auto maker. State “Lemon Laws” provide consumers with rights and procedures to obtain a refund or a replacement vehicle if a new vehicle develops a significant problem that cannot be repaired after a certain number of repair attempts. Massachusetts was part of a group of Attorneys General that reached agreement with the new Chrysler Group LLC, which will be owned by Fiat, the United Auto Workers (UAW), and the U.S. and Canada.

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BOSTON – Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office reached a settlement with Brockton-based WB Mason, Inc. (“WB Mason”) resolving allegations that the office supply company’s internal accounting practices led to mishandled credits of its business customers’ credits resulting in the improper write-off of those credits from WB Mason’s electronic accounting systems for business accounts. As a result of today’s settlement, WB Mason will pay $545,000 to the Commonwealth and is prohibited from engaging in any accounting process that results in depriving customers of valid credits due.

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BOSTON – Today, a Worcester man pled guilty in Suffolk Superior Court to charges he schemed to collect over $13,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Donald Bullard, age 41, pled guilty to charges of Unemployment Fraud and Larceny Over $250. Following the change of plea, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Carol Ball sentenced Bullard to three years probation and ordered him to pay the remaining balance of restitution in the amount of $11,260.

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Today, a Hudson woman pled guilty in Worcester Superior Court in connection with stealing large amounts of cash and auctioned goods from her former employer. Joanne Shea, age 72, pled guilty to charges of Larceny over $250, and Making False Entries in Corporate Books. Immediately after the plea was entered, Superior Court Judge James R. Lemire sentenced Shea to 10 years of probation on each charge, with the sentences to run concurrently. As conditions of her probation, Judge Lemire ordered that Shea be placed under home confinement for two years, pay $250,000 in restitution to her former employer, and perform 2,500 hours of community service.

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Today, an Essex Superior Court jury convicted two former Haverhill Highway Department employees following a nine day trial. James Flaherty, age 65, was found guilty on the felony charge of Larceny over $250 by Continuous Scheme. James Flaherty’s son, Kevin Flaherty, age 35, was convicted on the felony charges of Larceny over $250 by Continuous Scheme and Presentation of False Claims. Both men will be sentenced by Superior Court Judge David Lowy in Essex Superior Court in Salem on June 30th.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached an agreement with Trane, U.S., Inc. (Trane), of Piscataway, New Jersey, and its treasurer, David S. Kuhl, age 49, of Skillman, NJ, for violating the Massachusetts Wage and Hour Laws. As part of the settlement agreement, Trane and Kuhl will pay $38,000 in restitution to 15 employees who worked on numerous public projects in Massachusetts between August 2005 and May 2009. The company and Kuhl also agreed to pay a $10,000 fine to the Commonwealth for failing to pay the prevailing wage and failing to submit certified payroll records in violation of the law.

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Today, a Suffolk County Grand Jury returned indictments against a Billerica man for allegedly stealing over $35,000 in workers’ compensation disability benefits to which he was not entitled. William Bertrand, age 54, is charged with Larceny over $250 (2 counts), Workers’ Compensation Fraud (4 counts), and Perjury.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a stipulated preliminary injunction against the owner of Pocasset Mobile Home Park, a manufactured housing park located in Bourne, and his company, which operates the park. Under the terms of the court order, entered by Judge Christopher J. Muse in Suffolk Superior Court, Charles W. Austin and Pocasset Mobile Home Park, LLC, must hire licensed professionals to pump out, inspect, and repair the park’s septic system as necessary to prevent further backups and overflows. The order also requires Austin to immediately report any further sewage problems at the park to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), and to keep sufficient funds in escrow to pay for the inspections, repairs, and sewage pump outs. Both parties agreed to the terms of this court order.

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Today, a Rhode Island man was indicted on charges he schemed to collect over $15,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Robert S. Johnson, age 41, of North Smithfield, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (27 counts), and Larceny Over $250.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has cited currency trading company Touchpoint Global, Inc. (Touchpoint) and its former director, Craig Karlis, age 49, of Hopkinton, for violating the Commonwealth’s wage and hour laws by failing to pay employees in a timely manner and failing to furnish payroll records to the Attorney General’s Office for inspection. The citation orders Touchpoint and Karlis to pay over $49,000 in restitution to seven employees, along with $10,500 in fines for the violations.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced that Ohio-based Progressive Direct Insurance Company has agreed to resolve allegations that the insurer provided consumers with inaccurate quotes on its rate comparison website, www.progressive.com. Under the terms of the agreement, Progressive has agreed to pay $120,000 to the Commonwealth and to reimburse overcharged consumers.

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A Suffolk County Grand Jury returned indictments against a Worcester-based attorney yesterday for fraudulently collecting workers’ compensation survivor benefits that he received after the death of his first wife. Herman Bayless, age 50, of Brookfield, is charged with Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud and Larceny over $250. Bayless maintains his own law practice that includes, among other areas, workers’ compensation law.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Computer Forensics Lab has received the 2009 Computer and Enterprise Investigations Conference (CEIC) Excellence in Computer Forensics Award, for its distinction as one of the premier computer forensics labs in country. On Monday, May 18, 2009, David Papargiris, Director of the Attorney General’s Computer Forensics Lab, accepted the award on behalf of the office.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed a complaint in Suffolk Superior Court against the owner of Pocasset Mobile Home Park, a manufactured housing park located in Bourne, and his company, which operates the park. The complaint alleges Charles W. Austin and Pocasset Mobile Home Park, LLC, have failed to comply with state law by failing to repair and upgrade the park’s deteriorated septic system, causing untreated sewage to backup into several lots at Pocasset Mobile Home Park. The complaint further states that this alleged inaction by the defendants has put the health of the park’s residents and the environment at risk.

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Tomorrow, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley will attend the White House bill signing ceremony of the recently passed Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, often referred to as the “Credit Card Bill of Rights.” Attorney General Coakley and Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler, who have both advocated for better protections for credit card holders, have been invited to attend as President Barack Obama signs the new legislation into law in the Rose Garden.

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An Essex Superior Court jury convicted an Everett man Monday in connection with selling cocaine to an undercover Massachusetts State Trooper. Michael Castro, age 37, was found guilty of Trafficking in Cocaine over 100 grams, and Trafficking in Cocaine over 28 grams. Immediately after the verdict, Superior Court Judge David Lowy sentenced Castro to serve 10 years in State Prison on the charge of Trafficking in Cocaine over 100 grams. On the charge of Trafficking in Cocaine over 28 grams, Judge Lowy sentenced Castro to serve five years in State Prison. The sentences will run concurrently.

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Today, a Mansfield man was arraigned in connection with allegedly stealing over $50,000 from his former employer. Marc Lombardo, age 40, is charged with Larceny over $250 by Continuous Scheme.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached an agreement with pharmaceutical manufacturer Eli Lilly & Co. (“Lilly”), resolving allegations that the company engaged in the improper marketing of its atypical antipsychotic drug, Zyprexa. Under the terms of the settlement, Lilly has paid $22,499,433.04 to the Massachusetts Medicaid Program, which provides funds for health care products and services to eligible low-income individuals, including people with disabilities, children and elder citizens.

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Today, a Brookline couple pled guilty in Suffolk Superior Court to charges they schemed to obtain public health insurance to which they were not entitled. Joseph Youshaei, age 46, and Jila Youshaei, age 41, each pled guilty to charges of Procurement Fraud (2 counts), and Larceny Over $250 by Continuous Scheme. Following the change of plea, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Carol S. Ball sentenced Joseph Youshaei to one year in the House of Corrections; 30 days to serve, balance suspended for one year. Jila Youshaei was sentenced to one year probation. Judge Ball ordered Joseph and Jila Youshaei to jointly pay restitution in the amount of $53,114 and fined each $17,500.

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A Bristol County Grand Jury returned indictments on Friday against a Cumberland, RI, woman and her mother in connection with allegedly stealing the identity of a 76 year-old acquaintance and using it to create a fake identification card and to purchase items for their own personal use. Julie Senechal, age 45, and her mother Anna Senechal, age 77, also of Cumberland, RI, are each charged with Identity Fraud, Larceny over $250, Forgery and Uttering.

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Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office, along with Attorneys General from 16 other states, reached a settlement with Michelin North America, Inc. (“Michelin”) of Greenville, South Carolina, regarding representations Michelin made in its advertising of Michelin fuel-efficient tires.

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Today, a Waltham man pled guilty in Suffolk Superior Court to charges he schemed to collect over $9,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. William Preston, age 38 pled guilty to charges of Unemployment Fraud (19 counts), and Larceny over $250. Following the change of plea, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Carol Ball sentenced Preston to two years in the House of Correction; three months to serve with the balance suspended for two years on the charges of Unemployment Fraud. On the charge of Larceny over $250, Judge Ball sentenced Preston to two years of probation and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $9,196.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office entered into a settlement with Ohio-based insurer Great American Insurance Company (“Great American”) resolving allegations that Great American submitted a fake and intentionally uncompetitive insurance quote to Norwood-based Analog Devices, Inc. (“Analog Devices”) as part of a scheme to ensure American International Group, Inc. (“AIG”) won Analog Devices’ 2004 insurance renewal.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office hosted its second Cyber Crime Initiative Quarterly Meeting of 2009 at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester. The full-day cyber crime certification training was attended by over 160 law enforcement personnel from throughout the state and focused on the gathering of information and evidence from cyber network environments, which are locations involving linked computers or wireless routers capable of connecting multiple computers to the Internet. The training, which was designed for all levels of law enforcement personnel, is part of an ongoing partnership between the Attorney General’s Office and the Massachusetts Computer Forensic Advanced Technology Education (CFATE) program.

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Today, a Beverly man was arraigned on charges he allegedly stole millions of dollars worth of excise taxes from the City of Boston. Stephen Colahan, age 53, is charged with Larceny over $250 by Continuous Scheme and Procurement Fraud.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has cited MicroLogic, Inc., formerly located in Westborough, and its president, Sheldon P. Apsell, age 65, of Newton, for violating the Commonwealth’s wage and hour laws by failing to pay employees in a timely manner. The citation orders MicroLogic and Apsell to pay over $378,000 in restitution to seven employees, along with nearly $31,000 in fines for the violations.

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Tomorrow, Attorney General Martha Coakley will tour the Gloucester Seafood Display Auction (GSDA) and discuss the fishing industry in Massachusetts with local fishermen. The tour will take place at the GSDA facility in Gloucester at 10:00 a.m. Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante, Senator Bruce Tarr, and Mayor Carolyn Kirk of Gloucester will join Attorney General Coakley on the tour.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced that it has reached a settlement agreement with Goldman Sachs & Company (Goldman), stemming from the office’s investigation of subprime lending and securitization markets. The Attorney General’s Office has been investigating the role of investment banks in the origination and securitization of subprime loans in Massachusetts, leading to today’s settlement. To resolve any potential claims stemming from the Attorney General’s investigation, Goldman has agreed to provide loan restructuring valued at approximately $50 million to Massachusetts subprime borrowers. The loan restructuring program is designed to enable borrowers to replace problem loans with new, more affordable loans that take into account the current value of their properties. Goldman has also agreed to make a $10 million payment to the Commonwealth, and will continue to cooperate with the Attorney General in her ongoing investigation of industry practices.

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Today, a New Hampshire woman pled guilty in Suffolk Superior Court in connection with stealing over $200,000 from her former employer, a credit union located in the Greater Boston area, and using the funds for her own personal use. Kelly Curley, age 35, of Nashua, NH, pled guilty to charges of Embezzlement by a Bank Employee (5 counts), and Identity Theft. On the charge of Embezzlement by a Bank Employee, Superior Court Judge Carol Ball sentenced Curley to two and a half years in the House of Correction, eight months to serve, with the balance suspended for three years. On the charge of Identity Theft, Curley was sentenced to three years of probation. The sentences will run concurrently. Judge Ball also ordered Curley to pay restitution in the amount of $10,000 to the credit union. While on probation Curley is prohibited from working in the financial services industry.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has cited Y Non Ren, LLC, corporate owner of Baba Sushi Restaurant (Baba Sushi), located in Worcester, and its individual owner, Weidong “Wilson” Wang, age 40, of Boylston, for violating the Massachusetts Wage and Hour Laws. The citation orders Y Non Ren and Wang to pay over $7,700 in restitution to eight employees and a $2,600 fine to the Commonwealth for illegally retaining tips, penalizing employees for assisting the Attorney General’s Office in an investigation, failing to pay wages in a timely manner, failing to provide paystubs to employees, misclassifying employees as independent contractors and record-keeping violations.

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BOSTON — Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has awarded over $430,000 in grants to nonprofit community centers, health advocacy organizations and government agencies to support programs that prevent childhood lead poisoning. Organizations across the Commonwealth were notified this week that they would be awarded up to $50,000. The grantees will be providing a variety of services in the designated communities including education, training, coalition building, lead screening and referrals. Programming will begin July 1, 2009, and run through June 30, 2010. The funding for the grants stems from a December 2008 multistate settlement agreement between 38 Attorneys General and toy maker Mattel, Inc. that lead to a voluntary recall of the companies’ toys for excessive lead paint in 2007. Under the terms of the settlement, Attorney General Coakley’s Office received $500,000 to dedicate to combating childhood lead poisoning.

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The owner of a Somerville printing company was arraigned yesterday in Middlesex Superior Court for his alleged role in a scheme to help John Buonomo steal from his campaign committee. Marc Piro, age 46, of Wilmington, is charged with Larceny Over $250, Personal Use of Campaign Funds, and Willfully Misleading Investigators. Piro is the owner of Guy T. Piro Printing (“Piro Printing”), located in Somerville. At arraignment before Judge Maureen B. Hogan, Piro pled not guilty and was released on personal recognizance.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed a brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York, challenging a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) decision denying a Petition for Rulemaking that Massachusetts filed in 2006. In Massachusetts’ rulemaking petition, filed in the Second Circuit late Tuesday, the Attorney General’s Office requested that the NRC address new and significant information regarding the risks of severe accidents in the spent fuel pools at nuclear plants, including Pilgrim and Vermont Yankee, caused by terrorist attack, human error, equipment malfunction, or natural disaster. The brief was submitted jointly with the States of New York and Connecticut, which joined with Massachusetts last fall in appealing the NRC Rulemaking decision.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley, along with seven other state’s Attorneys General, participated in the inaugural conference of the Northwestern Law Attorneys General Education Program (AGEP). Attorney General Coakley, along with the Attorneys General of Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois and Washington, has been named to the Board of Advisory of the new program. Attorney General Coakley served as moderator for the panel discussion entitled, “The Aftermath: The Proper Role of Civil and Criminal Enforcement in the Wake of the Financial Crisis,” a discussion of different types of financial regulation, their failures and recommendations future remedies.

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BOSTON - Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office urged consumers to beware of individuals making unsolicited offers to them to re-sell their time-share. Recently, the Attorney General’s Office has received many complaints about this practice, particularly about re-sellers who offer to sell or buy a consumer’s time-share as long as the consumer pays them some upfront fee to cover the transaction costs. The Attorney General’s Office advises consumers to be aware of each of the following red flags which may indicate you have encountered a time-share resale scam:

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BOSTON- Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has obtained a consent judgment against a Boston realty company and one of its owners, resolving allegations that they violated Massachusetts antidiscrimination laws by asking a prospective tenant about her national origin.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley was honored last night with the 2009 Leadership Award in recognition of her efforts in health care at “For the People: A Celebration of Health Care Leaders,” an annual event sponsored by Health Care for All (HCFA). The event was held at The Westin Copley Place in Boston.

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Today, a Dedham man pled guilty in Suffolk Superior Court to charges he schemed to collect over $29,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Mark MacDonald, age 51, pled guilty to charges of Unemployment Fraud (54 counts) and Larceny over $250 (3 counts). Following the change of plea, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Carol Ball sentenced MacDonald to three years probation and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $29,728 and a $1,000 fine.

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Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley testified before the House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity regarding her office’s efforts to combat predatory lending practices, including protecting consumers from foreclosure rescue schemes. The Committee, chaired by California Congresswoman Maxine Waters, held a hearing today in Washington, D.C., on HR 1231, which is aimed at addressing loan modification and foreclosure relief scams. The Attorney General was invited to testify by Chairwoman Waters.

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Today, a Suffolk County Grand Jury returned indictments against a Beverly man for allegedly stealing millions of dollars worth of excise taxes from the City of Boston. Stephen Colahan, age 53, of Beverly, is charged with Larceny over $250 by Continuous Scheme and Procurement Fraud.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a Consent Judgment against Hingham-based College Advisors Group (CAG), its sister companies, and its operator, Kirk Brown, also of Hingham. The settlement resolves allegations that Mr. Brown and CAG, knowingly sold consumers unsuitable insurance policies they could not afford. Under the terms of today’s settlement, Mr. Brown and CAG must pay $245,000 to the Commonwealth, which will be used to compensate approximately 25 families.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached an agreement with Samuel McClain, age 46, of Danvers, and his company, Capitol Construction Services, LLC, formerly of Chelsea, to settle allegations that they violated the Commonwealth’s wage and hour laws. McClain, the president of Capitol Construction Services, has agreed to pay over $40,000 in restitution to six former employees, as well as a $10,000 penalty to the Commonwealth for the violations.

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Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced the STOP Fraud Task Force (STimulus Oversight and Prevention of Fraud), which includes a wide variety of state and federal agencies with regulatory and law enforcement oversight of federal stimulus funds. The task force will provide a coordinated and efficient approach to oversight of federal recovery spending in Massachusetts and to prevent fraud.

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Today, Superior Court Judge Peter Lauriat entered two court orders in Suffolk Superior Court involving a landfill in Newburyport, and a solid waste processing facility in Everett. The first order, a consent judgment, resolves a case brought by the Commonwealth against New Ventures Associates, LLC, owner of the Crow Lane landfill in Newburyport. The Court also entered an agreed-to injunction imposing restrictions on Wood Waste, Inc., the operator of the Everett facility. New Ventures and Wood Waste are run by the same principal, William Thibeault.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley applauds the action that the Obama administration took yesterday to overturn a late-term regulatory action by the Bush Administration to the Endangered Species Act. Attorney General Coakley’s Office, along with seven other state Attorneys General, joined California on January 16, 2009, in challenging this regulatory action by the Bush Administration. The regulatory changes sought to relieve federal agencies and applicants for federal permits from having to consider the effects of increased greenhouse gas emissions on species and habitats under the federal Endangered Species Act.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office reached a settlement agreement with a Dorchester motor vehicle inspection station and an inspector who was employed by the station. The settlement resolves allegations that both defendants were responsible for conducting at least 72 illegal emission inspections in violation of the state’s Enhanced Emissions and Safety Test program. Under the terms of the settlement, filed today in Suffolk Superior Court, Dorchester Auto Service, Inc. (“Dorchester Auto”), will pay a total penalty of $144,000, and will be subject to a six-month suspension of its inspection station license. George C. Nelson, of Cambridge, the inspector employed at the station who allegedly conducted the fraudulent inspections, will have his inspector license revoked as part of the settlement agreement. Attorney General Coakley brought the action on behalf of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (“MassDEP”) and the Registry of Motor Vehicles (“RMV”).

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BOSTON – Today, a Rhode Island man was arraigned on charges he schemed to collect over $12,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Jason Orville Lee, age 34, of Providence, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (26 counts), and Larceny Over $250.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office reached an agreement with a western Massachusetts company, resolving claims that the company had transported hazardous waste through several western and central Massachusetts communities without the proper permits. Under the terms of the Consent Judgement, filed today in Suffolk Superior Court, Western Mass Environmental, LLC, must pay a $225,000 civil penalty to the Commonwealth, with $125,000 of that amount suspended if the company retains a consultant for two years to ensure that it will not engage in any further violations of the Commonwealth’s hazardous waste management laws.

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BOSTON – Today, a Florida man was arraigned on charges he schemed to collect over $13,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Stephen Rapazzo, age 34, formerly of Salisbury, MA, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (30 counts), and Larceny Over $250.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has entered into a stipulated preliminary injunction with three defendants for their alleged inappropriate business practices in offering loan modification assistance. Under the terms of the order, signed yesterday by Judge Linda Giles in Suffolk Superior Court, Loan Modification Group Corporation, Mitigation LLC, and the companies’ principal, Daniel H. Fox must place $50,000 into an escrow account to be used to satisfy any judgment that the Attorney General may receive against them. Additionally, the defendants must cease collecting up-front fees and must contact all existing Massachusetts customers within 10 days to let them know about the court’s order.

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BOSTON – Today, the owner of a contracting and roofing company was arraigned in connection with not paying the proper workers’ compensation insurance by misclassifying his employees and filing false tax returns over a five-year period. Richard Copeland, age 43, of Blackstone, and owner of Copeland Contracting Inc. (CCI), is charged with Unemployment Fraud (20 counts), Larceny over $250 (4 counts), Aiding or Assisting in Fraudulent Tax Returns (60 counts), and Workers’ Compensation Fraud (3 counts).

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The Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York sent back to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for reconsideration its rule requiring residential gas-fired furnaces to meet an 80 percent efficiency standard yesterday. In January 2008, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office, along with the State of New York, the City of New York, and the State of Connecticut, filed a challenge in the Second Circuit to DOE'S November 2007 publication of a rule that sets an 80 percent fuel efficiency standard for residential furnaces and boilers.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_23_loan_mod_pi&csid=Cago 2009-04-23T00:00:00Z 2009-04-23T00:00:00Z

Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office entered into a settlement with Express Modifications, Inc., d/b/a “Loan Mods By Lawyers, Inc.,” and its owner David J. Gotterup, who ran prominent advertisements in a local newspaper earlier this year offering to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. The settlement resolves allegations that the advertisements were unfair and deceptive, in violation of the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act, because they gave the false impression that Express Modifications would provide the homeowner with the services of an attorney, guarantee a loan modification and improve the homeowner’s financial situation dramatically and save the home from foreclosure. Under the terms of today’s settlement the defendants must pay $7,300 in restitution and $25,000 in civil penalties. If the court finds that either defendant has violated any terms of today’s settlement, an additional $25,000 civil penalty may be imposed. The settlement was approved by Judge Linda Giles.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_22_ne_pellet&csid=Cago 2009-04-22T00:00:00Z 2009-04-22T00:00:00Z

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has filed a lawsuit against New England Pellet, LLC, a retail distributer of wood pellets, and its principals, Stephen Zaczynski, of Suffield, CT, and Jason Tynan, of East Longmeadow, MA, over alleged violations of home fuel contracts. The complaint, filed late yesterday in Hampden Superior Court, alleges that the defendants committed numerous violations of the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act, including accepting pre-paid wood pellet orders when they knew they would not be able to fill those orders.

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Today, John Buonomo, the former Middlesex Register of Probate, was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court in connection with allegedly stealing funds from his campaign committee and using those funds for his own personal use. Buonomo, age 57, of Newton, is charged with Larceny Over $250 (2 counts), Personal Use of Campaign Funds (2 counts), and Willfully Misleading Investigators. Buonomo pled not guilty at today’s arraignment and was released on personal recognizance.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_22_norwood_bid_decision&csid=Cago 2009-04-22T00:00:00Z 2009-04-22T00:00:00Z

Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office issued a decision denying the bid protests contesting the public bidding process for the construction of Norwood High School. The decision finds that the bid laws have not been violated and the town, subject to further appeals or other protests, may move forward with construction.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_21_lombardo_indict&csid=Cago 2009-04-21T00:00:00Z 2009-04-21T00:00:00Z

A Plymouth County Grand Jury returned indictments against the former Director of Internal Audit for a local company in connection with allegedly stealing over $50,000 from his former employer. Marc Lombardo, age 40, of Mansfield, is charged with Larceny over $250 by Continuous Scheme.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_21_reposa_pi&csid=Cago 2009-04-21T00:00:00Z 2009-04-21T00:00:00Z

Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a preliminary injunction against Robert Reposa, the former owner of the Navigator Beach Club (Navigator) and LSC Associates (LSC), the time-share’s developer and managing entity, who collected over $1.5 million from consumers in exchange for time-share intervals at the Navigator which were never made available for use. Under the terms of the order, signed by Judge Christopher Muse in Suffolk Superior Court, the defendants are prohibited from marketing time-share intervals, developing or managing any time share resort in Massachusetts, disposing of any assets and destroying records related to personal or business finances. The Attorney General’s Office also obtained a $1.5 million attachment against Reposa in order to secure potential assets. The defendants must also provide to the Attorney General’s Office all information about any assets they own.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_16_reposa_order&csid=Cago 2009-04-16T00:00:00Z 2009-04-16T00:00:00Z

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has obtained a temporary restraining order against Robert Reposa, the former owner of the Navigator Beach Club (Navigator) and LSC Associates (LSC), the time-share’s developer and managing entity, who collected over $1.5 million from consumers in exchange for time-share intervals at the Navigator which were never made available for use. In a lawsuit filed yesterday in Suffolk Superior Court, the Attorney General’s Office alleges that the defendants’ conduct violated the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act and the Massachusetts Real Estate Time-Share Act in connection with the construction and development of the Navigator as well as the marketing and sale of the time-share intervals. The temporary restraining order prohibits Reposa and LSC from collecting monies from consumers for any time-share intervals in Massachusetts.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_16_victim_comp_leg&csid=Cago 2009-04-16T00:00:00Z 2009-04-16T00:00:00Z

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, along with a coalition of over 20 legislators from around the state, has filed legislation to update victim compensation laws by broadening assistance options available to victims of violent crimes. The bill, An Act Relative to Victims of Violent Crimes, has been filed in both the Senate (S. 1598), by lead sponsor Senator Stephen J. Buoniconti (D-West Springfield), and in the House (H. 1587), by lead sponsors Representatives Eugene O’Flaherty (D-Chelsea) and Barry Finegold (D-Andover). This bill was one of several that Attorney General Coakley discussed with legislators this morning at her annual legislative breakfast at the State House.

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Today, a Dorchester man was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court in connection with operating an illegal car rental operation and unlawful firearms possession. George Quinn, age 70, is charged with Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud (13 counts), Larceny over $250 (4 counts), Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card (4 counts), and Unlawful Possession of Ammunition (4 counts).

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_15_bfi_settlement&csid=Cago 2009-04-15T00:00:00Z 2009-04-15T00:00:00Z

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached a settlement agreement with the Arizona-based trash disposal company BFI Transfer Systems of Massachusetts, LLC (BFI Transfer Systems) to settle claims that the company did not pay employees the prevailing wage rate or correct overtime rate for work performed at the Oak Bluffs/Tisbury Transfer Station on Martha’s Vineyard. BFI Transfer Systems has agreed to pay $404,500 in restitution to the affected employees, as well as a $50,000 penalty to the Commonwealth. BFI Transfer Systems has already paid over $198,000 of the restitution to its workers.

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A New Hampshire woman pled guilty in Middlesex Superior Court yesterday to charges she schemed to steal over $82,000 from her former employer. Michelle Hogan, age 39, pled guilty to charges of Larceny over $250 (9 counts), and Falsifying Corporate Books. Following the change of plea, Middlesex Superior Court Judge Sandra Hamlin sentenced Hogan to two years in the House of Correction suspended for five years, and ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $82,827.35. Judge Hamlin also ordered Hogan to perform 150 hours of community service. As part of her plea, Hogan paid the full restitution amount yesterday.

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A Lawrence man pled guilty in Suffolk Superior Court yesterday to charges he schemed to collect over $14,000 in unemployment benefits and workers’ compensation benefits. Rigoberto Tellez, age 39, pled guilty to charges of Unemployment Fraud (23 counts), Workers’ Compensation Fraud, and Larceny over $250 (2 counts). Following the change of plea, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Carol Ball sentenced Tellez to two years probation and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $14,398.

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Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley commended the decision of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to begin the rescission of the so-called “Provider Conscience” regulation and submitted comments late last week along with the Attorney Generals of 15 other states to urge that no new regulation be promulgated.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_13_mhp_trainings&csid=Cago 2009-04-13T00:00:00Z 2009-04-13T00:00:00Z

BOSTON- In its ongoing effort to help communities respond to the foreclosure crisis, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today that her office is expanding its Abandoned Housing Initiative by teaming with the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) to hold five regional training sessions on how to use receivership to stabilize troubled properties and revitalize neighborhoods.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_10_occidental_rates&csid=Cago 2009-04-10T00:00:00Z 2009-04-10T00:00:00Z

Occidental Fire and Casualty Insurance Company of North Carolina (Occidental), a company new to the auto insurance market in Massachusetts, made significant changes to the rates it charges Massachusetts drivers after Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office asked the Commissioner of Insurance to hold a hearing on the insurer’s initial rate filing. In the company’s original request, filed on February 13, Occidental sought to charge drivers rates based on rates that other companies charge “high risk” drivers, as well as a 35% surcharge for any driver that held a foreign drivers license or license from Puerto Rico. Occidental began writing Massachusetts policies on April 1 and intends to sell its policies in those areas where other insurers are declining business, such as inner city areas.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_10_excel_citation&csid=Cago 2009-04-10T00:00:00Z 2009-04-10T00:00:00Z

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has cited a Tewksbury home health care company, Excel Home Care, Inc. (Excel) and its president, Diane E. Porter, age 63, also of Tewksbury, for violating the Commonwealth’s wage and hour laws by intentionally failing to pay employees in a timely manner and intentionally failing to provide proper pay stubs to employees with their wages. The citation orders Porter and her company to pay over $7,800 in restitution to 10 employees and $14,000 in fines to the Commonwealth.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_09_werner_sentence&csid=Cago 2009-04-09T00:00:00Z 2009-04-09T00:00:00Z

Today, a Bridgewater woman was sentenced in Plymouth Superior Court in connection with stealing from her former employer, Bridgewater State College (BSC). Superior Court Judge Wendie Gershengorn sentenced Clare Werner, age 63, to three years in State Prison on the charge of Larceny over $250 (6 counts). Following the completion of her State Prison sentence Judge Gershengorn also sentenced Werner to five years of probation on the remaining counts of Larceny over $250 (6 counts). Werner was also ordered to pay $350,000 in restitution. A Plymouth Superior Court jury convicted Werner on April 7, 2009, on the charge of Larceny over $250 (12 counts).

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_09_barnett_arraignment&csid=Cago 2009-04-09T00:00:00Z 2009-04-09T00:00:00Z

A Wayland man was arraigned yesterday in Middlesex Superior Court in connection with possessing images of child pornography on his computer. Jeffrey Barnett, age 51, is charged with possession of Child Pornography (3 counts), and Dissemination of Child Pornography.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_09_peryea_arraignment&csid=Cago 2009-04-09T00:00:00Z 2009-04-09T00:00:00Z

Today, a Worcester woman was arraigned in Worcester Superior Court for allegedly stealing over $202,000 from her former employer while working as the company’s financial controller. Karen Peryea, age 43, is charged with Larceny over $250 by Continuous Scheme (2 counts), Unemployment Fraud (19 counts), Fraudulent Use of Corporate Credit, and Making False Entries in Corporate Books.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_09_conti_indictment&csid=Cago 2009-04-09T00:00:00Z 2009-04-09T00:00:00Z

Today, a Boston woman was indicted on charges she schemed to collect over $11,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Chantelle Conti, age 38, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (22 counts), and Larceny Over $250.

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A Hogansberg, New York man pled guilty yesterday in Middlesex Superior Court in connection with trafficking large amounts of marijuana in the greater Boston area. Kory Arquette, 31, pled guilty to Trafficking in over 50 Pounds of Marijuana. After the change of plea, Superior Court Judge Jane Haggerty sentenced Arquette to serve one year in the House of Correction.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_07_fox_loan_mods&csid=Cago 2009-04-07T00:00:00Z 2009-04-07T00:00:00Z

BOSTON – Today, as federal regulators in Washington, D.C., warned consumers about foreclosure assistance scams, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed a lawsuit and obtained a temporary restraining order against four defendants for their alleged involvement in such a scam. The complaint, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, alleges that Loan Modification Group Corp., (The Loan Modification Group), Mitigation, LLC (Mitigation), the companies’ principal Daniel H. Fox and website operator Chris Fuelling sought to capitalize on the foreclosure crisis and prey upon Massachusetts residents facing the loss of their homes.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_07_fioravanti_plea&csid=Cago 2009-04-07T00:00:00Z 2009-04-07T00:00:00Z

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_06_foreclosure_assistance_scam_advisory&csid=Cago 2009-04-06T00:00:00Z 2009-04-06T00:00:00Z

BOSTON - Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office cautioned homeowners that her office has seen an increase in reports of scams targeting homeowners attempting to save their homes from foreclosure. While some of these solicitations are from Massachusetts persons or entities, others originate in other states but seek to prey upon Massachusetts homeowners.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_06_national_alliance_complaint&csid=Cago 2009-04-06T00:00:00Z 2009-04-06T00:00:00Z

Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed a lawsuit against three individuals and two New Jersey companies, alleging that they marketed and sold a fraudulent health insurance product to hundreds of Massachusetts residents. The civil complaint, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, alleges that National Alliance of Associations, Professional Benefit Consultants, Thomas Sullivan, James Doyle, and Christopher Ashiotes sent unsolicited facsimiles to Massachusetts individuals and businesses advertising discounted quality health care. According to the complaint, the defendants deceived consumers into believing they were buying health insurance, but the product the defendants sold was no more than purported association memberships that provided a limited plan for discounts on certain medical services.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_06_pinkney_cop&csid=Cago 2009-04-06T00:00:00Z 2009-04-06T00:00:00Z

Today, a Malden man pled guilty to charges he schemed to collect over $10,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. David Pinkney, age 44, pled guilty to charges of Unemployment Fraud (29 counts) and Larceny over $250. Following the change of plea, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Carol Ball sentenced Pinkney to three years probation and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $10,440.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_04_01_pan_am_railways_sentence&csid=Cago 2009-04-01T00:00:00Z 2009-04-01T00:00:00Z

A New Hampshire railway company, and three of its subsidiaries, were sentenced yesterday to three years of probation and ordered to pay criminal fines totaling $500,000 for failing to report a hazardous materials spill and contamination on its rail yard property in Ayer in August 2006. On Tuesday, Middlesex Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Fahey ordered Pan Am Railways, Inc., of Nashua, NH, a privately-owned freight railroad that services northern New England, from Mattawamkeag, Maine, to Rotterdam Junction, New York, to pay a $125,000 fine to the Commonwealth. Judge Fahey also ordered the Maine Central Railroad Company, which owns the locomotive from which the spill occurred; the Boston & Maine Corporation, which owns the Ayer rail yard; and the Springfield Terminal Railway Company, which is the operator of both the locomotive and the rail yard, to also each pay a $125,000 fine to the Commonwealth. Pan Am, and its three subsidiaries, were also sentenced to three years of probation as part of yesterday’s sentence. A Middlesex Superior Court Jury convicted Pan-Am and its three subsidiaries on March 23, 2009, on charges of violating the Massachusetts Oil and Hazardous Material Release Prevention Act (2 counts).

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_03_31_occidental_settlement&csid=Cago 2009-03-31T00:00:00Z 2009-03-31T00:00:00Z

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has entered into a settlement with Occidental Fire and Casualty Insurance Company of North Carolina (Occidental), barring it from using a variety of unfair rating practices and company policies when underwriting automobile insurance policies in Massachusetts. In February, Occidental filed its rating plan with the Commissioner of Insurance to begin writing automobile insurance this year.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_03_31_buonomo_indict&csid=Cago 2009-03-31T00:00:00Z 2009-03-31T00:00:00Z

Today, a Middlesex Grand Jury returned indictments against John Buonomo, the former Middlesex Register of Probate, in connection with allegedly stealing funds from his campaign committee and using those funds for his own personal use. Buonomo, age 57, of Newton, is charged with Larceny Over $250 (2 counts), Personal Use of Campaign Funds (2 counts), and Willfully Misleading Investigators. Also indicted today for his role in the alleged scheme was Marc Piro, age 46, of Wilmington. Piro is charged with Larceny Over $250, Personal Use of Campaign Funds, and Willfully Misleading Investigators. Piro is the owner of Guy T. Piro Printing (“Piro Printing”), located in Somerville.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_03_30_zangani_indict&csid=Cago 2009-03-30T00:00:00Z 2009-03-30T00:00:00Z

A Boxborough Man was indicted last week for allegedly collecting over $17,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Siavash Zangani, age 48, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (43 counts), and Larceny Over $250 (2 counts) on Thursday March 26, 2009.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_03_30_rosario_indict&csid=Cago 2009-03-30T00:00:00Z 2009-03-30T00:00:00Z

Today, a Bristol County Grand Jury returned indictments against a New Bedford man and his nephew for allegedly stealing the personal information of 16 individuals and using that information to obtain credit cards, purchase numerous items and electronics and to also produce fake Massachusetts driver’s licenses. Gerardo Rosario, age 43, of New Bedford, is charged with Identity Fraud (16 counts), Fraudulent Use of Credit Cards to Obtain Goods (5 counts), Falsification of Operator’s License (7 counts), Larceny over $250 and Larceny Under $250. Gerardo’s nephew, Adrian Rosario, age 21, of Fall River, is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Identity Fraud (16 counts) and Larceny under $250.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_03_30_morillo_indict&csid=Cago 2009-03-30T00:00:00Z 2009-03-30T00:00:00Z

Today, a Florida man was indicted on charges he schemed to falsely collect workers’ compensation benefits and lied under oath. Nelson Morillo, age 32, formerly of Framingham, MA, was charged with Workers’ Compensation Fraud (2 counts) and Perjury.

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Today, a Suffolk County Grand Jury returned indictments against a Dorchester man in connection with operating an illegal car rental operation and unlawful firearms possession. George Quinn, age 70, is charged with Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud (13 counts), Larceny over $250 (4 counts), Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card (4 counts), and Unlawful Possession of Ammunition (4 counts).

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_03_30_patten_arraignment&csid=Cago 2009-03-30T00:00:00Z 2009-03-30T00:00:00Z

Today, a Russell woman was arraigned in Hampden Superior Court for allegedly falsely billing the state’s Medicaid program, MassHealth, over $57,000 for Personal Care Attendant (PCA) services she did not receive. Lynn M. Patten, age 37, is charged with Medicaid False Claims (4 counts), Larceny over $250 (4 counts), Distribution of a Class B Substance (2 counts), Uttering and Forgery.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_03_30_toysrus_agreement&csid=Cago 2009-03-30T00:00:00Z 2009-03-30T00:00:00Z

Attorney General Martha Coakley's Office has reached an agreement with Toys "R" Us, of Wayne, New Jersey, to settle allegations the company did not compensate employees at Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us stores in Massachusetts for their earned vacation pay after the employees left the company's service. Under the terms of the agreement, Toys "R" Us agreed to pay over $95,800 in restitution to 813 employees as well as a penalty of $8,000 to the Commonwealth. Toys "R" Us cooperated fully with the Attorney General’s investigation.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_03_27_copeland_indict&csid=Cago 2009-03-27T00:00:00Z 2009-03-27T00:00:00Z

Yesterday, a Suffolk County Grand Jury returned indictments against the owner of a contracting and roofing company in connection with not paying the proper workers’ compensation insurance by misclassifying his employees and filing false tax returns over a five-year period. Richard Copeland, age 43, of Blackstone, and owner of Copeland Contracting Inc. (CCI), is charged with Unemployment Fraud (20 counts), Larceny over $250 (4 counts), Aiding or Assisting in Fraudulent Tax Returns (60 counts), and Workers’ Compensation Fraud (3 counts).

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_03_27_hebshie_judgment&csid=Cago 2009-03-27T00:00:00Z 2009-03-27T00:00:00Z

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has obtained a consent judgment against a Brockton property owner and landlord, accused of unlawfully discriminating against a former tenant by refusing to participate in the Section 8 housing subsidy program.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_03_27_colon_cop&csid=Cago 2009-03-27T00:00:00Z 2009-03-27T00:00:00Z

Today, a Plainville woman and man pled guilty in connection with stealing funds from their auto insurance company, lying under oath, and obtaining fake Massachusetts identification cards. Rosita Colon, age 41, plead guilty to charges of Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud (2 counts), Larceny Over $250 (2 counts), Conspiracy (2 counts), Falsification of a Massachusetts Identification Card, and Attempting to Obtain a False Massachusetts Identification Card. Efrain Colon, age 44, pled guilty to charges of Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud (2 counts), Conspiracy (2 counts), Larceny Over $250, Attempted Larceny, and Perjury. Following the changes of plea, Plymouth Superior Court Judge Carol Ball sentenced Rosita Colon to three years probation and ordered her to pay $20,000 in restitution. Judge Ball sentenced Efrain Colon to three years probation and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $4,000.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_03_26_may_cj&csid=Cago 2009-03-26T00:00:00Z 2009-03-26T00:00:00Z

DEDHAM – Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office entered into a settlement with a Norwood woman, Deborah May, which resolves allegations that she repeatedly harassed and intimidated a former neighbor because he is gay.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_03_26_big_dig_recovery&csid=Cago 2009-03-26T00:00:00Z 2009-03-26T00:00:00Z

BOSTON - Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced that her office has resolved the pending civil claims, concluding all litigation related to the July 2006 Big Dig I-90 Connector Tunnel ceiling collapse. Attorney General Coakley, on behalf of the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (MTA), and the Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD), has entered into a settlement agreement with Gannett Fleming, Inc., resolving the pending civil claims against the company in connection with the July 2006 ceiling collapse. Gannett Fleming was the designer for the section of the tunnel ceiling that collapsed. Gannett Fleming has agreed to pay $1,525,000 into the Central Artery Statewide Road and Bridge Infrastructure Fund, also known as the TIF, $50,000 to the City of Boston, and forgo $150,000 in payments from the MTA. The Attorney General’s Office has also reached a settlement agreement with Sika Corporation, the manufacturer of the epoxy glue used in the ceiling that collapsed who sold it to Powers Fasteners, Inc. Sika has agreed to pay $200,000 into the Central Artery Statewide Road and Bridge Infrastructure Fund. The Attorney General’s Office is dismissing the claims against Sigma Engineering International Inc., a structural engineering company and Conam Inc., a materials inspection company, finding that the corporations were not liable in connection with the ceiling collapse.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_03_26_community_benefits&csid=Cago 2009-03-26T00:00:00Z 2009-03-26T00:00:00Z

BOSTON – Massachusetts residents received more than $408 million in community benefits from non-profit hospitals last year, according to the 2008 Community Benefits Hospital Reports released today by Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office. Disease prevention education programs, charity care, and assistance obtaining health insurance are among the benefits residents received through the Attorney General’s Community Benefits Program. The program, established by the Attorney General’s office in 1994, sets expectations on how non-profit acute care hospitals and HMOs should formally assess the health care needs of their communities, plan programs in concert with community partners, and report those activities to the Attorney General’s Office. Today’s reports are available at: www.mass.gov/ago/communitybenefits.

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WOBURN – Today, a Wilmington man was arraigned in connection with stealing millions of dollars from a national entertainer Dane Cook. Darryl McCauley, age 43, is charged with Larceny over $250 (8 counts), Forgery, and Larceny by Continuous Scheme.

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Today, a Lynn man was arraigned on charges he schemed to collect over $16,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Gary Gaglione, age 43, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (28 counts), and Larceny Over $250.

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GREENFIELD – Today, a former Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) employee and her niece were arraigned in Greenfield Superior Court in connection with allegedly stealing the identities of five individuals and using that information to steal nearly $7,000 from the state. Linda Gilmore, age 60, of Greenfield, and her niece, Tracy Warner, age 36, also of Greenfield, are both charged with Conspiracy, Larceny, Electronic Funds Transfer Violation (5 counts), Identity Fraud (5 counts), and Department of Transitional Assistance False Representations (5 counts).

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Today, a Salisbury man was indicted on charges he schemed to collect over $13,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Stephen Rapazzo, age 34, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (30 counts), and Larceny Over $250.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced the expansion of her office’s Abandoned Housing Initiative (AHI) in collaboration with the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP). Through the AHI, the Attorney General’s Office and the MHP will assist municipalities in rehabilitating dangerous, abandoned homes throughout the state. The AHI model developed by the Attorney General’s Office empowers communities to work with the Attorney General’s Office to locate delinquent property owners, demand repairs and petition the Housing Court for appointment of a receiver. Earlier this month, the Attorney General’s Office and the MHP were awarded $435,000 in federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), to support the expansion of the AHI.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has obtained a temporary restraining order against Express Modifications, Inc., d/b/a “Loan Mods By Lawyers, Inc.,” which ran prominent advertisements in a local newspaper last month offering to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. In a complaint filed in Suffolk Superior Court today, the Attorney General’s Office alleges that the advertisements were unfair and deceptive, in violation of the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act, because they falsely give the impression that Express Modifications would provide the homeowner with the services of an attorney, and would guarantee a loan modification that would improve the homeowner’s financial situation dramatically and save the home from foreclosure. The temporary restraining order prohibits the New York company and its employees from contacting Massachusetts homeowners to offer foreclosure-related services, taking any advance fees for its services, and publishing any false, deceptive, or misleading advertisements concerning its ability to offer loan modifications for homeowners.

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Today, an East Freetown man was arraigned on charges he schemed to collect over $18,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Girard Pike, age 40, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (51 counts) and Larceny Over $250 (3 counts).

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has issued two civil citations against Dr. Robert M. DuWors, age 56, of Cotuit, and his company Mashpee Mental Health, located in Mashpee, for violating the Massachusetts Payment of Wage and Record Keeping Laws. The citations require DuWors and his company to pay nearly $33,000 in restitution to the affected employees as well as $9,000 in penalties to the Commonwealth.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has named veteran local attorney James Barretto, of North Reading, as the new chief of her office’s Business, Technology & Economic Development Division (BTED). Barretto joined the Attorney General’s Office on March 18, 2009.

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Today, a Middlesex Superior Court Jury convicted a New Hampshire railway company, and three of its subsidiaries, of failing to report a hazardous spill and contamination on its rail yard property in Ayer. Pan Am Railways, Inc., of Nashua, NH, a privately-owned freight railroad that services northern New England, from Mattawamkeag, Maine, to Rotterdam Junction, New York was found guilty of violating the Massachusetts Oil and Hazardous Material Release Prevention Act (2 counts). Also found guilty were three subsidiary companies based in North Billerica, Massachusetts. The Maine Central Railroad Company, which owns the locomotive from which the spill occurred; the Boston & Maine Corporation, which owns the Ayer rail yard; and the Springfield Terminal Railway Company, which is the operator of both the locomotive and the rail yard, were also found guilty of violating the Massachusetts Oil and Hazardous Material Release Prevention Act (2 counts). Pan Am, and its three subsidiaries, are expected to be sentenced on March 30, 2009.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has cited a Texas-based property management company and its president for failing to pay employees vacation wages after those employees left the company. As a result of the citation, JPI Partners, LLC (JPI Partners), doing business in Massachusetts as Jefferson at Bellingham, LP, of Bellingham, and its president, Robert Page, of Irving, Texas, paid over $52,000 in back vacation wages to 26 former workers, as well as a $7,500 penalty to the Commonwealth.

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Yesterday, a Worcester County Grand Jury returned indictments against a Worcester woman who allegedly stole over $202,000 from her former employer while working as the company’s financial controller. Karen Peryea, age 43, is charged with Larceny over $250 by Continuous Scheme (2 counts), Unemployment Fraud (19 counts), Fraudulent Use of Corporate Credit and Making False Entries in Corporate Books.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed a complaint in Suffolk Superior Court against a Weymouth company and its president for failing to pay a $108,000 civil administrative penalty assessed by the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for violating numerous environmental laws at properties in Middleboro and Wareham. The complaint seeks up to three times the amount of the assessed penalty.

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Today, a Middlesex Grand Jury returned indictments against a Wilmington man in connection with stealing millions of dollars from a national entertainer Dane Cook. Darryl McCauley, age 43, is charged with Larceny over $250 (8 counts), Forgery, and Larceny by Continuous Scheme.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a consent judgment against Winthrop Healthcare Investors, L.P. d/b/a Governor Winthrop Nursing Home, Westburg Healthcare Investors, L.P., and HP/Salisbury, Inc., all owners of the Winthrop-based Governor Winthrop Nursing Home, for their roles in the mismanagement of the facility that eventually led to the emergency appointment of a temporary receiver in 2006. In a separate but related action, the Attorney General’s Office also entered into an Assurance of Discontinuance with Douglas Mittleider, the corporate officer of these entities. The consent judgment, entered last Friday by Judge Charles T. Spurlock in Suffolk Superior Court, and Assurance, resolve allegations that the defendants financially abandoned and mismanaged the long term care facility, endangering the health, safety and welfare of the patients.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a civil rights injunction against a Pittsfield woman, Tammy L. Haddad, accused of harassing, threatening and intimidating a family living next door on the basis of their race.

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Yesterday, a Franklin County Grand Jury returned indictments against a former Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) employee and her niece in connection with allegedly stealing the identities of five individuals and using that information to steal nearly $7,000 from the state. Linda Gilmore, age 60, of Greenfield, and her niece, Tracy Warner, age 36, also of Greenfield, are both charged with Conspiracy, Larceny, Electronic Funds Transfer Violation (5 counts), Identity Fraud (5 counts), and Department of Transitional Assistance False Representations (5 counts).

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Today, a Foxboro couple and Hanover man pled guilty in Stoughton District Court in connection with staging a motor vehicle theft. David Cross, age 47, of Hanover and Mary Muraca-Parker, age 42, of Foxboro, both pled guilty to charges of Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Motor Vehicle Fraud and Attempted Larceny. Ronn Bravetti, age 38, of Foxboro, also pled guilty to charges of Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Motor Vehicle Fraud, Attempted Larceny, and Filing a False Stolen Motor Vehicle Report. After the changes of plea from not guilty to guilty had been entered, District Court Judge Francis Crimmins sentenced each of the three defendants to serve one year of probation on all charges, with the sentences to run concurrently. Judge Crimmins also ordered each of the three defendants to perform 40 hours of community service.

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Yesterday, a Somerville woman pled guilty in Middlesex Superior Court to stealing funds from her former employer while working as the company’s senior accountant. Patrice McClintic, age 51, pled guilty to the charges of False Entries in Corporate Books, Forgery, and Larceny over $250 by Continuous Scheme. Following the change of plea from not guilty to guilty, Superior Court Judge Geraldine Hines sentenced McClintic to serve five years of probation on each of the charges, with the sentences to run concurrently. Judge Hines also ordered McClintic to pay $126,000 in restitution to her former employer.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office is strongly advocating for the reinstatement of the insurance surcharge hearings function of the Board of Appeals (the Board) in order to protect consumers. The Attorney General’s Office supports legislation to reinstate the board as a critical tool to protect ratepayers in a deregulated automobile insurance market. In addition, the Attorney General’s Office is urging the Division of Insurance (DOI) to reinstate the Board in anticipation of potential legislative action on this issue. Attorney General Coakley sent a letter to Commissioner Nonnie Burnes today making this request and expressing her office’s concerns about the impact on consumers.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has cited Building Products, Inc. (Building Products) and its president, Joseph Silvano, III, age 47, of Boston, for violating the Commonwealth’s wage and hour laws by failing to pay employees in a timely manner and failing to furnish payroll records to the Attorney General’s Office for inspection. The citation orders Building Products and Silvano to pay over $20,000 in restitution to five employees, along with $7,000 in fines for the violations.

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A Dorchester man has pled guilty for his role in conspiring to steal over $211,000 from a Hopkinton company for which another co-defendant formerly worked. Troy Parks, age 38, of Dorchester, pled guilty in Middlesex Superior Court to charges of Conspiracy and Larceny over $250 (2 counts). Following the change of plea from not guilty to guilty, Judge Thomas A. Connors sentenced Parks to serve 18 months of probation and also ordered him to pay a $1,400 fine to the Commonwealth.

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A Rhode Island man was indicted yesterday on charges he schemed to collect over $12,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Jason Orville Lee, age 34, of Providence, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (26 counts), and Larceny Over $250.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has obtained a judgment in Suffolk Superior Court against Boston-based process server Stokes & Levin, Inc. and its sole officer and director, Darren Stokes, both of whom engaged in a pattern of falsifying service of legal papers and filing those documents with state and federal courts. Judge Bruce Henry of the Suffolk Superior Court has issued a court order permanently prohibiting both Stokes & Levin and Mr. Stokes from acting as process servers or otherwise serving legal papers. Additionally, the court ordered the payment of $10,000 in civil penalties for violations of the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Law and $9,542.40 for the costs of investigation and attorneys’ fees.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has filed a housing discrimination complaint against Russell Tremaine, the owner of a three-unit building in East Boston, for refusing to rent an apartment to a couple and their infant daughter. The complaint, filed last week in Suffolk Superior Court, alleges that Tremaine violated state anti-discrimination and consumer protection laws by refusing to rent to a family with a child because he wanted to avoid the obligation to abate lead hazards in the rental unit.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley issued the following statement today regarding Governor Deval Patrick’s nomination of Assistant Attorney General James Milkey, Chief of the Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Division, to fill a vacancy on the Massachusetts Appeals Court:

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed a preliminary set of comments with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding California’s request for a “waiver” for its state motor vehicle emission standards for greenhouse gases. Under a directive from President Obama, the EPA is reconsidering the agency’s decision last year to deny the waiver. Massachusetts and many other states across the country have adopted the California standards, and, under federal law, these states need the EPA to grant California the waiver for their own standards to be effective.

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Today, a Lynn man was indicted on charges he schemed to collect over $16,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Gary Gaglione, age 43, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (28 counts), and Larceny Over $250.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office issued a request to the Division of Insurance (DOI) to initiate an administrative rate proceeding to review the auto insurance rates of a new company entering the market in Massachusetts. Occidental Fire and Casualty Insurance Company of North Carolina (Occidental) is asking to charge Massachusetts drivers rates that are based on the rates companies charge “high risk” drivers. The company is also seeking to add additional fees and surcharges that further increase costs for many potential drivers. In its rate filing, Occidental did not provide the required supporting data to justify the rates it seeks to charge its policyholders, including good drivers, and did not justify its proposed fees and surcharges.

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Yesterday, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office hosted the first Cyber Crime Initiative Quarterly Meeting of 2009 at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston. The half-day cyber crime certification training was attended by 180 law enforcement personnel and focused on the seizure of mobile phones in criminal investigations. After introductory remarks, the training began with a session designed to assist law enforcement in solving crimes involving mobile phones. Yesterday’s training is part of an ongoing partnership between the Attorney General’s Office and the Massachusetts Computer Forensic Advanced Technology Education (CFATE) program.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed a formal notice of opposition, known as a “protest,” with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), to a proposal put forth by Weaver’s Cove Energy, LLC to construct a “berthing station” for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Mount Hope Bay. Under the company’s proposal, ships would off-load LNG at a permanent facility in Mount Hope Bay, from which it would be transported by pipeline to its proposed land-based facility in Fall River. The company originally proposed to off-load LNG at the land-based facility, but that plan was voted down by the Coast Guard, who concluded that the Taunton River was unsuitable for the proposed LNG tanker traffic.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley applauded the United States Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in Wyeth v. Levine, which held that a Vermont woman’s state law tort suit against a drug-maker was not pre-empted by the federal law governing drug labeling.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached an agreement with an Arlington painting company to settle allegations that the company intentionally violated the Massachusetts Wage and Hour and Prevailing Wage Laws. Homer Contracting, Inc. (Homer Contracting), and its president, Ekaterini Bouboulis, age 54, will pay over $253,000 in restitution and $20,000 in fines for failing to pay the prevailing wage. The company will also pay more than $39,000 in restitution and $10,000 in fines for the overtime violations, a $10,000 fine for failing to submit true and accurate certified payroll records, a $10,000 fine for failing to maintain true and accurate general payroll records and a $10,000 fine for failure to provide its employees pay stubs. As a result of the violations, Bouboulis and Homer Contracting have also agreed to an 18 month debarment, which prevents them from bidding on, contracting with, and working on any new public works construction projects in the Commonwealth for a period of 18 months.

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Yesterday, a Somerville man and a Lawrence woman pled guilty in Boston Municipal Court in connection with submitting false motor vehicle insurance claims for benefits that they were not entitled. Jose Miguel Melgar, age 24, of Somerville, and Ligia Lara, age 43, of Lawrence, both pled guilty to charges of Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Motor Vehicle Fraud. Lara was also pled guilty to an additional charge of Attempted Larceny. District Court Judge Thomas C. Horgan sentenced Melgar and Lara each to 18 months of supervised probation on all of the charges. Both of the defendants’ sentences will run concurrently.

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BOSTON – Earlier today, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (“GLAD”) filed a civil action on behalf of fifteen Massachusetts residents in federal district court challenging the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”), which limits the federal definition of marriage to a legal union between one man and one woman. The lawsuit alleges that DOMA, as applied to several federal programs, denies equal protection of the laws to married individuals in same-sex relationships by precluding them from obtaining legal rights and protections available to all other married individuals.

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Today, a Brookline man was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court in connection with allegedly submitting false dental injury reports to insurance companies in order to receive cash settlements. Tod Schaffer, age 42, is charged with Insurance Fraud (19 counts), Larceny over $250 (10 counts) and Attempted Larceny Over $250 (11 counts).

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed a brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit to defend the Commonwealth’s buffer zone law on Wednesday. The buffer zone statue protects public safety and patient access to reproductive healthcare facilities by creating a 35-foot buffer zone around clinic entrances and driveways.

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Today, a Fall River woman was arraigned in Fall River District Court in connection with allegedly trying to defraud an insurance company by claiming she was injured in an alleged elevator fall. Gaile Sparshott, age 48, is charged with Insurance Fraud, Attempted Larceny and Conspiracy.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office, along with 26 other Attorneys General and the District of Columbia, announced a settlement with Coke, Nestle and Beverage Partners Worldwide (Coke/Nestle). The settlement, entered in Suffolk Superior Court today, resolves claims relating to Coke/Nestle’s statements that Enviga, a green tea beverage, causes weight loss by burning more calories than it contains. The companies have agreed to pay $650,000 to the states and add prominent disclosures to Enviga’s packaging. Under the terms of the settlement, the Massachusetts Consumer Aid Fund will receive $15,800.

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Today, an East Freetown man was indicted on charges he schemed to collect over $18,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Girard Pike, age 40, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (50 counts) and Larceny Over $250 (3 counts).

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has issued citations against three construction companies, and has also reached settlement agreements with two other construction companies which performed work at several sites developed by AvalonBay Communities, Inc., a national company headquartered in Virginia with offices in Massachusetts. The construction companies violated the Massachusetts Independent Contractor/ Misclassification Law and the Massachusetts Wage and Hour Laws.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has issued a civil citation against Patrick Gilrane, age 47, of Cos Cob, Connecticut, former manager of a home design and manufacturing company, Empyrean International, located in Acton, for failing to pay 13 employees. The citation requires Gilrane to pay the affected workers over $36,400 in restitution, as well as a $5,000 fine to the Commonwealth for the violations.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office reached a settlement with The Chubb Corporation (“Chubb”) resolving allegations that Chubb’s compensation practices offered improper incentives and enabled Boston-based insurance brokerage firm William Gallagher Associates Insurance Brokers, Inc. (“WGA”) to direct business to Chubb. As part of the settlement, Chubb will pay $182,815 to WGA customers and $56,196 to the Commonwealth.

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A West Roxbury man pled guilty at arraignment in West Roxbury District Court to charges he schemed to collect over $8,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Thomas Curran, age 47, pled guilty to charges of Unemployment Fraud (21 counts), and Larceny over $250. Following the plea, West Roxbury District Court Judge Mary Ann Driscoll sentenced Curran to one year in the House of Correction, six months to serve with the balance suspended for three years. Curran was also ordered to serve three years probation, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,885.

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A Suffolk Superior Court Jury returned a verdict late last week against Hakim DeFreitas of Dorchester ordering him to pay $8,200 in restitution for discriminating against a prospective tenant who would have used a Section 8 housing voucher to pay her rent.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has appointed two experienced litigators as the new chiefs of her Public Protection and Advocacy Bureau, and her Consumer Protection Division. Attorney General Coakley has named Christopher Barry-Smith as the new Chief of the office’s Public Protection & Advocacy Bureau (PPAB), and Scott Schafer as the Chief of the Consumer Protection Division, which falls within that bureau.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has filed a housing discrimination complaint against City Realty Group, Inc. (“City Realty”), a Brighton-based real estate company, and one of its real estate agents for refusing to rent an apartment to a tester from the Boston Fair Housing Commission who represented that she was looking for an apartment for herself and her three-year-old child. The complaint, filed late last week in Suffolk Superior Court, alleges that City Realty violated state antidiscrimination and consumer protection laws by refusing to rent to a prospective tenant with a child because it would have created an obligation to abate lead paint hazards in the rental unit.

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The Mayo Group Development LLC, a real estate investment, development, and management company headquartered in Boston, was arraigned today in Worcester Superior Court on charges it violated the Clean Air Act for failure to file notices of asbestos removal with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) (2 counts), failure to comply with procedures for asbestos emissions control (2 counts), and improper disposal of asbestos waste (1 count). At arraignment, the Mayo Group entered a plea of not guilty.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a consent judgment against Dorchester-based At Home Real Estate, Inc. (“At Home”), Edward Denney and Watershed Properties, Inc. (“Watershed”), resolving claims that the real estate company, landlord and property owner discriminated against two African-American women by refusing to rent them an apartment because the defendants wanted to avoid their obligation to de-lead the apartment under Massachusetts lead paint laws. The consent judgment, entered yesterday by Judge Charles T. Spurlock in Suffolk Superior Court, requires the defendants to attend fair housing training, pay $7,500 to the victims, and for the property owner to de-lead the property.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office filed charges in Boston Municipal Court against a former court reporter who allegedly stole over $17,000 from the Commonwealth. Karen Anderson, age 48, of Middletown, Rhode Island, is charged with Larceny over $250 by False Pretenses (2 counts) and Presentation of False Claims (6 counts).

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WOBURN –A New Hampshire man pled guilty to charges of failing to report hazardous materials that were buried on the pig farm he owned in Hudson, MA. Thomas Zina, age 49, pled guilty yesterday to 17 counts of Failure to Report the Threat of a Release of Hazardous Materials in Middlesex Superior Court. Judge Kathe M. Tuttman sentenced Zina to three years of probation and ordered him to pay a fine of $25,000.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_02_19_energy_website&csid=Cago 2009-02-19T00:00:00Z 2009-02-19T00:00:00Z

In an effort to help consumers better understand their utilities bills, the utility rate setting process and get access to information on energy efficiency and conservation programs, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has added a dedicated “Energy and Utilities” link to the office’s webpage. The new features and content explain the utility rate setting process, the Attorney General’s role in the process and provides information on home heating tips, low income programs and protections as well as information about energy conservation programs. The new link also has an enhanced feature designed to explain, line by line, how utility companies calculate each separate service charge on utility bills. The goal of launching the new content and features is to empower consumers with information regarding their utilities costs so that they may make informed decisions on options and programs available to help reduce usage and lower monthly bills.

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Yesterday, George V. Wattendorf, 53, of Swampscott, and his East Boston general contracting business, G.V.W., Inc. (G.V.W.), pled guilty in Suffolk Superior Court for failing to pay the prevailing wage, failing to pay overtime, and failing to submit true and accurate certified payroll records on various public works projects in the Commonwealth. After the guilty pleas were entered, Superior Court Judge Regina Quinlan ordered both Wattendorf and G.V.W. to pay over $151,000 in restitution to six former employees and a $30,000 fine to the Commonwealth. Judge Quinlan also sentenced Wattendorf to unsupervised probation for a period of one year. Both Wattendorf and his company were also debarred from contracting or working on public works projects for one year.

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Today, a Worcester man was arraigned on charges he schemed to collect over $13,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work. Donald Bullard, age 40, was charged with Unemployment Fraud (21 counts) and Larceny Over $250.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley issued the following statement today regarding President Barack Obama’s foreclosure relief plan:

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has cited Yi Wen Yu, age 46, of Malden, owner of both Sing Kee One Seafood Restaurant, doing business as Big Fish Restaurant, formerly of Chinatown, and Wen Construction, Inc.,, also located in Chinatown, for violating the Commonwealth’s wage and hour laws by failing to pay employees in a timely manner, failing to provide a suitable pay slip to employees and failing to furnish records for inspection. The citations order Yu and Big Fish Restaurant to pay over $19,000 in restitution to four employees of the restaurant, along with $7,000 in fines to the Commonwealth. In addition, Yu and Wen Construction were ordered to pay over $16,000 in restitution to four different individuals employed by Wen Construction, as well as $7,000 in fines to the Commonwealth.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has cited TMT Hospitality Group, LLC, doing business as Boston Public Restaurant, which had been located in Boston and is now closed, and its owner Olzhas Tugelbayev, age 32, of Quincy, for violating the Commonwealth’s wage and hour laws by failing to pay employees in a timely manner and failing to keep true and accurate payroll records. The citation orders Tugelbayev and his restaurant to pay nearly $22,000 in restitution to 12 employees, in addition to $5,200 in fines to the Commonwealth for the violations.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_02_12_mattel_rfp&csid=Cago 2009-02-12T00:00:00Z 2009-02-12T00:00:00Z

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office is now accepting grant applications from qualified licensed community health centers, government agencies and non-profit organizations to support programs that prevent childhood lead poisoning. Funding will be awarded in the form of up to 10 one-year grants in the range of $30,000 to $50,000 and will be distributed to geographically diverse community health or non-profit organizations throughout Massachusetts. The funding for the grants stems from a December 2008 multistate settlement between 38 Attorneys General and toy maker Mattel, and its subsidiary Fisher Price that resolved a months-long investigation into a voluntary recall of the companies’ toys for excessive lead paint in 2007. Under the terms of the settlement, Attorney General Coakley’s Office received $500,000 to dedicate to combating childhood lead poisoning.

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Yesterday, the state’s highest court found that a 2006 order approving a rate recovery formula increasing gas and electricity rates for the customers of Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company, doing business as Unitil, was contrary to the regulatory statutes and harmful to customers. Finding that the failure to hold a public hearing and notice to consumers was improper, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) vacated the Department of Public Utilities’ (DPU) order and sent the case back to the DPU for further proceedings.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has awarded over $1 million in grants to non-profit community health centers in an effort to provide wider access to prescription medications to those populations where private or public financial assistance is unavailable. The grant funding was awarded to community health centers for the purpose of providing free or significantly discounted prescription medication or co-pay assistance to low income and uninsured individuals in Massachusetts. The funding for the grants stems from a series of multistate settlements with pharmaceutical companies that authorized Attorney General Coakley’s Office to direct settlement proceeds to benefit low-income, disabled or elderly consumers of prescription medications.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced that it has begun posting online the names, locations, and contact persons of charitable organizations that consistently fail to register or file reports with the office as required by law. The website postings can be found at www.mass.gov/ago/noncompliant_charities. The first is a list entitled Non-Compliant Public Charities, and it includes organizations that may be still operating, but which have failed to register or file required reports after multiple notices. The second entitled De-Activated Organizations, includes organizations that are likely inactive, but which have failed to dissolve or to notify the division that they have ceased operations.

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As part of her ongoing effort to address unmet health needs in the Commonwealth, Attorney General Martha Coakley today issued new Community Benefit Guidelines for non-profit, acute care hospitals and health maintenance organizations (HMOs). The guidelines are the product of a year-long review by an Advisory Task Force of key stakeholders who share the common goal of improving the health of communities across the state. Under the guidelines, hospitals and HMOs submit annual reports to the Attorney General on their community benefit programs and expenditures, enabling both Attorney General oversight and public scrutiny of non-profit health care institutions.

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A Somerville man was arraigned today in connection with making threatening statements directed toward Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, as well as making a bomb threat to the Lynn District Court. Alfred Messenger, age 41, was charged with threatening to use a deadly device (2 counts), threatening to commit a crime (2 counts), and falsely reporting a crime.

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Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office, along with 26 other states, reached an agreement with Bayer Corporation that supplements the requirements of a 2007 court-entered judgment concerning the advertising of Bayer products. The 2007 agreement involved allegations of deceptive advertising of products, including non-disclosure of safety risks associated with its marketing of Baycol. Today’s stipulated judgment, filed in Massachusetts’ Suffolk Superior Court, resolves allegations that Bayer’s 2008 marketing of the oral contraceptive Yaz violated the terms of the 2007 agreement by not disclosing the uses the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved for Yaz. Today’s judgment requires Bayer to submit all television advertisements to the FDA for pre-approval, and to comply with all changes suggested by the FDA.

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A Wrentham man has pled guilty in connection with failing to file payroll records and for not properly paying employees on public construction projects. On January 30, 2009, Michael Federico, age 51, pled guilty in Wrentham District Court to charges he failed to file true and accurate certified payroll records on three public works projects, and he also admitted to not properly paying the prevailing wage rate to workers on those same projects. Judge Emogene Johnson-Smith sentenced Federico to serve 15 months of probation, and ordered Federico to pay $15,000 in fines for the violations. Federico has also been debarred for a period of one year, which prohibits him and his company from bidding or working on public works projects in the Commonwealth.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley applauded President Obama for issuing a memorandum reversing a Bush-era directive that imposed tight restrictions on the ability of states to cover children through the State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP). In 2008, Attorney General Coakley and Connecticut Attorney General Blumenthal filed an amicus brief challenging a Bush Administration revocation of federal reimbursement for this program.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached an agreement with an asbestos abatement, demolition and insulation company to settle allegations that it intentionally failed to pay 81 employees the proper prevailing wage, 50 of those employees overtime, and failed to submit true and accurate certified payroll records. Excel Insulation Co. (Excel Insulation), of Wayne, New Jersey, and its corporate officer, Goce Gjoroski, have agreed to pay over $496,000 in restitution and $25,000 in fines for failing to pay the prevailing wage. The company will also pay more than $102,000 in restitution to the employees who were not paid overtime, in addition to $12,000 in fines for the violation. In addition, the company will pay a $25,000 fine for failing to submit true and accurate certified payroll records. Gjoroski and Excel Insulation have also agreed to a one-year debarment, which not only prevents them from bidding on any public construction projects, but also from accepting any contracts for public work, for a one-year period in the Commonwealth.

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Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley leads an 18 state coalition, the Corporation Counsel for the City of New York, and the City Solicitor of Baltimore, urging Environmental Protection Administrator Lisa Jackson to act in response to the 2007 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA. This multi-state letter was sent to Administrator Jackson today.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office filed a complaint in Suffolk Superior Court against a Concord company that formerly manufactured specialized metals, including depleted uranium munitions, and is licensed to possess radioactive substances. The complaint filed today alleges Starmet Corporation violated a 2007 Administrative Consent Order it reached with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health requiring Starmet to permanently vacate the Superfund site it occupies at 2229 Main St. on or before October 31, 2007. The complaint filed today seeks a permanent injunction ordering Starmet to vacate the Concord site at 2229 Main St. by June 31, 2009.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2009_02_02_charity_filings&csid=Cago 2009-02-02T00:00:00Z 2009-02-02T00:00:00Z

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office today announced that the annual reports of public charities operating in Massachusetts will now be available to the public online. The Public Charities Annual Filing Document Search is a new feature on the Attorney General’s website and is part of a comprehensive effort by the Attorney General’s Office to provide more online capabilities for both non-profit professionals and the donors who support them. The new online search function launched today contains annual financial reports filed with the Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division by the more than 22,000 charitable organizations operating in Massachusetts. Those annual reports provide a valuable source of information regarding a charitable organization’s programs, activities, and finances. Annual filings typically include a Form Public Charity (Form PC), a copy of the organization’s federal tax filing and financial statements.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley obtained a consent judgment against Wai On Chan and Qi Ling Huang-Chan, the owners of a three-bedroom rental property in Malden, resolving claims that they discriminated against a prospective tenant by allegedly refusing to rent to a prospective tenant with a child under the age of six years old because it would have required the landlords to abate any lead paint in the rental unit.

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Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached a settlement agreement with Connecticut printing company Iris Media Group, LLC, doing business in Massachusetts as Mansir Holden, to pay full restitution to employees to settle claims that the company did not pay employees for work performed at their plants located in Holyoke and South Deerfield. Mansir Holden’s CEO and President, Paul LaCerda, age 55, of Medfield, the company’s manager, Samuel Occhipinti, age 62, of Kensington, Connecticut, and the company have agreed to pay over $62,000 to the employees to compensate them for their final week’s wages as well as accrued vacation pay.

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Today, a former certified nurse assistant (CNA) pled guilty in Plymouth Superior Court in connection with the sexual assault of a 93 year-old patient. Steven Laroche, age 69, of Brockton, pled guilty to Indecent Assault and Battery on an Elderly Person. Superior Court Judge Carol Ball sentenced LaRoche to two years in the House of Correction, with the sentence suspended for a probationary period of two years. During the probationary period, Judge Ball ordered that LaRoche wear a GPS monitoring bracelet and that he also register as a sex offender. LaRoche is also barred from working as a caregiver during the two year probationary period.

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Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley along with m