OIG 2022 Letters, Reports and Recommendations

On December 20, 2022, a Hampden County grand jury issued an indictment charging Mr. Dombek with one count of perjury and one count of larceny over $1,200.

Manual Duran, the former CEO of Casa Nueva Vida, Inc., (CNV) pleaded guilty on September 29, 2022, in Suffolk Superior Court to charges of perjury, larceny, and making false entries in corporate books.

The town of Stow’s former treasurer was arraigned on September 16, 2022, on embezzlement, forgery and other charges following a joint investigation by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Inspector General.

A company that sold electricity to Massachusetts customers has paid more than $1.65 million to resolve allegations that it knowingly failed to make payments to the Commonwealth under three state environmental programs, Attorney General Maura Healey and Inspector General Glenn A. Cunha announced.

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) investigated allegations that the owner of a disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) did not qualify as economically disadvantaged, in accordance with federal regulations.

The former town accountant for Uxbridge, who was indicted in 2020 and 2021 in connection with the alleged theft of $930,000, pled guilty to all 18 charges against him in Worcester County Superior Court on May 25, 2022.

Consistent with the OIG’s mandate and mission, Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, May 2016 to February 2020, focuses on leadership and oversight during the four years before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic at the Home.

A federal grand jury indicted two founders of Violence in Boston (VIB), a Boston-based non-profit, on March 14, 2022. The indictment alleges that two of the founders illegally diverted VIB donations and grants and used the money for car repairs, groceries, a vacation and other personal expenses.

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the Office of the Attorney General (AGO) filed suit on March 14, 2022, against three former Massachusetts State Police (MSP) troopers to recoup over $44,000 they received for unworked overtime.

Genoveva Andrade pleaded guilty on March 7, 2022, to lying to federal agents investigating Jasiel F. Correia II, the former mayor of Fall River convicted last year of extortion and wire fraud.

An arbitrator ruled on January 7 that a controversial contract raising the pay of Methuen’s top ranking police officers by as much as 183 percent was not binding on the city.

The company agreed to return overpayments and undertake compliance and billing oversight measures.

Following a joint investigation by the OIG, MBTA Transit Police Department and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, two former Transit Police officers have been placed on pre-trial probation and have paid approximately $12,000 in restitution to the MBTA in connection with receiving pay they did not earn

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and Office of the Attorney General (AGO) have reached settlements with two additional former Massachusetts State Police (MSP) troopers to repay the Commonwealth a total of $8,921 for overtime they allegedly did not work.

Linda Nathan, a retired Boston Public Schools headmaster, agreed to repay $34,498 to the Boston Retirement Board to settle allegations that she failed to comply with state laws limiting the compensation a retired public employee can earn from a public employer.

On December 23, 2022, the Internal Special Audit Unit (ISAU) for the Office of the Inspector General (Office) issued a report detailing its review of the MBTA’s contract with IXP Corporation (IXP) to staff the Transit Police Department’s (TPD) dispatch center.

On October 17, 2022, the Internal Special Audit Unit (ISAU) for the Office of the Inspector General (Office) issued a report detailing its review of the MBTA’s absence management contract with Workpartners.

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) examined the post-retirement earnings of Linda Nathan, a former Boston Public Schools headmaster, and found that she exceeded her post-retirement earnings cap and owes more than $67,000 to the Boston Retirement Board.

The Office of the Inspector General conducted a review and found that the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home and the Home’s Board of Trustees did not comply with state laws, follow sound management practices or employ adequate fiscal controls over three specific categories of public funds.

Acting Inspector General Natalie Monroe urged Governor Charles Baker to veto House 596, An Act Relative to School Operational Efficiency. The bill creates a special and unnecessary exception for school districts in the Uniform Procurement Act, Chapter 30B of the Massachusetts General Laws (Chapter 30B).

Inspector General Glenn Cunha wrote to the legislature regarding a bill that proposes to create a theater tax credit program similar to the state’s film tax credit program, but with even fewer safeguards.

The Inspector General recommended that the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing strengthen House 4298 to promote effective management of the Commonwealth’s Veterans’ Homes and enhance the superintendents’ direct accountability.

In 2021 the OIG’s work – which included investigations, reviews, partnerships and trainings – spanned numerous areas of state and local government, including education, healthcare, human services, public administration, public safety and transportation.

In 2021 the DSPO conducted independent audits of both overtime shifts and eight-hour paid details, as well as providing investigative and analytical support to the OIG’s civil actions to recover unearned compensation from former troopers who worked in Troop E.

The ISAU's 2021 annual report includes information on the unit's continued review of the Merit Rating Board’s operations and funding, review of MassDOT lease agreements with private companies and investigations into alleged time theft by three former police officers for the MBTA Transit Police Department.

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) maintains a healthcare unit to conduct focused reviews of the Massachusetts Medicaid and Health Safety Net (HSN) programs. The OIG issued the 2022 annual report on MassHealth and the HSN.