Press Statement  Former Boston Fire Department District Chief Sentenced for Procurement Fraud, Larceny

Boston — A former Boston Fire Department District Chief has been sentenced to a three year probationary term and to 750 hours of community service after being convicted of procurement fraud and larceny charges in connection with two illicit schemes to enrich himself, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Today, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Christopher J. Muse sentenced Edward A. Scigliano, IV, age 46, of Kingston, to a three year probationary term and to 750 hours of community service. Judge Muse also ordered Scigliano to pay restitution to the City of Boston within two years. The Commonwealth recommended a sentence of two years in the House of Correction, with one year to serve and the balance suspended for a three year probationary term.

“This defendant abused his position as a public employee by stealing tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars that should have gone to serving the residents of the City of Boston,” said AG Healey.

On Feb. 9, following a two week trial, a Suffolk Superior Court jury found Scigliano guilty on charges of Procurement Fraud (five counts) and Larceny over $250 (five counts).

The AG’s Office began an investigation after the matter was referred by the Inspector General’s Office and the Boston Police Department’s Anti-Corruption Division, which conducted an initial investigation. Both agencies worked with the AG’s Office throughout the remainder of the investigation. Scigliano is a former Boston Fire Department (BFD) District Chief and previously served as a Drillmaster at the Boston Fire Academy (BFA).

“As a jury found, Scigliano betrayed the Boston Fire Department and violated the public’s trust,” said Inspector General Glenn A. Cunha. “I want to thank the Attorney General’s office for taking public corruption seriously and ensuring Scigliano faced a measure of accountability for his actions.”

Between 2008 and 2011, Scigliano used two separate schemes to enrich himself, including one in which he profited from checks from an emergency vehicle vendor that did business with the BFD, and another scheme to personally profit from items purchased by an equipment vendor used to supply the department.

The investigation revealed that Scigliano personally profited from checks from Greenwood Emergency Vehicles, Inc. (Greenwood), a fire apparatus and ambulance dealership that supplied fire trucks to the BFD. He was the principal contact between the BFD and Greenwood with regard to the acquisition of fire trucks.

Scigliano directed the company to issue checks totaling more than $32,000 to his personal credit cards. The money was from credit balances that were owed to the City of Boston relating to the purchase of fire apparatus from Greenwood. He falsely represented that he was authorized by the Fire Commissioner to receive these checks and claimed that the money was for items that he had purchased for the BFA.

Scigliano also orchestrated another scheme in which he profited from items purchased by Northeast Rescue Systems, Inc. (Northeast), a distributor of equipment to fire departments and emergency services agencies including the BFD. He arranged unauthorized “swaps” for items listed in purchase orders that Northeast had pending with the City of Boston.

The investigation revealed that Scigliano directed Northeast to purchase more than $17,000 worth of items for his personal use instead of what was listed in the original purchase order. These items included a 52-inch HD TV, a gas grill, a living room set, an elliptical machine, and gift cards for Home Depot and Lowes. The purchase orders were never revised to reflect the changes requested by Scigliano, and the City unknowingly paid Northeast, in full, for items that ultimately were not delivered.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Peter A. Mullin and Erika Anderson of AG Healey’s White Collar and Public Integrity Division with assistance from Victim Witness Advocate John Malone. It was investigated by Sallyann Nelligan, Director of the AG’s Financial Investigations Division, State Police assigned to the AG’s Office, the AG’s Digital Evidence Lab, the Massachusetts Inspector General’s Office and the Boston Police Department’s Anti-Corruption Division. The Boston Fire Department fully cooperated with the investigation.