Press Release  Former Ware Fire Chief Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Over $20,000 from the Town of Ware and Three Regional Nonprofit Fire Associations

Ware, MA — The former fire chief of Ware will pay $20,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to embezzlement charges in Hampshire County Superior Court on Tuesday.

Former town of Ware Fire Chief Thomas Coulombe pleaded guilty to four counts of larceny over $1,200 for submitting false and inflated reimbursement requests to the town of Ware and for stealing funds from three regional nonprofit fire associations. Judge Jane Mulqueen continued the case without a finding for 2 years and ordered Coulombe to pay $20,000 in restitution to the town and the organizations. She also ordered him to stay away from the victims, not work or volunteer in any capacity relating to the financial affairs of a person or entity, and ordered him to not represent himself as a member of a fire department or fire organization.

Acting on a tip to its Fraud Hotline, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) investigated the matter and shared its findings with the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office referred the matter to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Coulombe served as the fire chief for the town of Ware from 2002 to 2019. From 2014 to 2019, Coulombe submitted reimbursement requests to the town for expenses that he did not incur and which overstated his expenses with false or altered receipts. As a result of this scheme, Coulombe stole more than $3,700 from the town. 

Overlapping with his service as Ware fire chief, Coulombe also served as the treasurer of three regional nonprofit fire associations. These associations were funded by area communities and provided training and services to the region. Between 2013 and 2020, Coulombe also embezzled more than $24,000 from these associations while serving as their treasurer.

“This individual held a position of trust and swore an oath to uphold the law and protect the safety of the public,” Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro said. “Instead, he used that position to enrich himself and divert public funds from their intended purpose. I am grateful to the Worcester County D.A.’s Office and the investigative team for holding him accountable and recovering a significant portion of the lost funds.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Maureen K. McNally of the Worcester County District Attorney’s Financial Crimes Unit.

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