Press Release  Former Treasurer of Newton PTO Pleads Guilty, Sentenced to Jail in Connection with Stealing Money

Boston — A Boston woman has pleaded guilty to charges in connection with a scheme to steal tens of thousands of dollars in false insurance claims, providing incorrect information on tax refunds, and stealing more than $14,000 from the Newton Parent Teacher Organization Council (Newton PTO), Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Today, Rebeca Craig, 37, of Boston, pleaded guilty in Suffolk Superior Court to presentation of False Claims (11 counts), Making a False Statement to the Tax Commissioner (11 Counts), Submitting a False Insurance Claim (3 counts), Forgery (1 Count), and Larceny over $250 (2 Counts). She was sentenced by Judge Robert Tochka to a year and a half in the House of Corrections, followed by two years of probation with several requirements including that she pay restitution and perform community service.

On March 4, Craig pleaded guilty to Larceny over $250 (1 Count) in Middlesex Superior Court and was sentenced by Judge Kathe Tuttman to two years in the House of Corrections, with one year to serve and the remaining balance suspended for three years.

From 2014 through 2019, Craig engaged in various fraudulent schemes and thefts. Several of her alleged schemes involved the submission of falsified or altered documents in support of insurance claims. Craig also submitted falsified tax returns, resulting in her receipt of tax refunds totaling $13,208 to which she was not entitled. Finally, Craig, who served as the Treasurer for the Newton PTO from 2013 to 2014, funneled $14,593 from the organization to her own personal accounts. After being indicted by a Statewide Grand Jury in March 2019, Craig was arrested and arraigned in August 2019.

AG Healey’s Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Unit works to protect consumers and the integrity of the insurance system by investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against all types of insurers, including the Commonwealth’s unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation systems.

This case was referred to the AG’s Office by the Massachusetts Insurance Fraud Bureau. In the AG’s Office, this case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General John Reynolds and Investigator Michelle Silva, both of the Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Unit of the AG’s White Collar and Public Integrity Division, with assistance from Senior Victim Witness Advocate Megan Murphy, Director Chris Kelly and Digital Evidence Analyst Jobal Thomas of the Digital Evidence Lab in the AG’s Office, the Boston Police, The Massachusetts Department of Revenue, the Insurance Fraud Bureau, and the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office also provided significant assistance in this case.

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