Press Release  Ethics Commission’s Enforcement Division Alleges that a Former Sheriff and a Former State Employee Each Violated the Financial Disclosure Law

Failed to Timely File 2010 Financial Disclosure Statements

Boston, MA — The Enforcement Division of the State Ethics Commission issued two Orders to Show Cause (“OTSC”) alleging that former Nantucket Sheriff Richard Bretschneider (“Bretschneider”) and former Pension Reserve Investment Management Board Director of Information Technology David Landy (“Landy”) each violated General Laws Chapter 268B, the Financial Disclosure Law, by failing to timely file their respective Statement of Financial Interests (“SFIs”) for calendar year 2010. 

According to the OTSCs, Bretschneider and Landy were required to file their SFIs for 2010 by May 2, 2011.  They failed to file their SFIs by that date. They were then each sent Formal Notices of Lateness notifying them that they had 10 days to file or they would be subject to civil penalties.  Neither Bretschneider nor Landy filed within the 10 day grace period.  Bretschneider did not file his SFI for 2010 until September 21, 2011, and Landy did not file his SFI for 2010 until August 1, 2011.  According to the Commission's penalty schedule, Bretschneider owes a civil penalty of $1,200 for filing 116 days late, and Landy owes a civil penalty of $800 for filing 73 days late.  Both Bretschneider and Landy have failed to pay the civil penalties owed by them.

The Financial Disclosure Law requires elected state and county officials, candidates for state office and “designated major policy makers” at the state and county level to annually disclose their financial interests and private business associations by filing an SFI with the Commission each year. 

The Commission will schedule hearings on each matter within 90 days.

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