Press Release  Merrimac Father and Son Charged with Attempted Larceny, Illegal Firearm Possession, Intent to Distribute Narcotics

BOSTON — A Merrimac man has been indicted in connection with a running a scheme to steal money from Plainridge Park Casino and illegally possessing firearms, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today. This defendant and his son have also been indicted in connection with running a large-scale marijuana growing and THC processing operation out of their home.

Joseph Clement, 51, was indicted Thursday by a Statewide Grand Jury on the charges of Possession of a Firearm without a License (10 counts), Larceny over $1,200 by False Pretense (1 count), Conspiracy to Commit to Larceny over $1,200 by False Pretenses (1 count), and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class C substance (1 count). He will be arraigned in Essex and Norfolk Superior Courts at later dates.

Jacob Clement, 28, was indicted Thursday by a Statewide Grand Jury on the charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class C substance (1 count) and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class D substance (1 count). He will be arraigned on the charges in Essex Superior Court at a later date.

These charges arise from an incident that occurred at the Plainridge Park Casino when the Massachusetts State Police Gaming Enforcement Unit was alerted by one of the cashiers that an individual had attempted to cash a “free play” voucher, which later was determined to be counterfeit. A State Police investigation revealed that Joseph Clement had been conducting a counterfeiting scheme where he was making fraudulent casino “free play” vouchers and had conspired with other individuals in an attempt to redeem those fraudulent vouchers for cash totaling over $1,200.

During the execution of a search warrant at the Clements’ Merrimac home, members of the State Police and Merrimac Police Department recovered approximately 400 marijuana plants within the home, a large-scale THC processing operation, and ten firearms in a barn on the property. 

All of these charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

AG Healey’s Gaming Enforcement Division has a dedicated group of prosecutors and investigators who enforce the state’s Expanded Gaming Act of 2011 and investigate and prosecute illegal activity such as gaming-related financial crime, organized crime, corruption and money laundering, including the majority of criminal activity occurring at the state’s casinos.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Kristyn Dusel Kelly and Assistant Attorney General Canan Yesilcimen, both of AG Healey’s Gaming Enforcement Division, with assistance from Digital Evidence Analyst Jobal Thomas of the AG’s Digital Evidence Lab. The case was investigated by the Massachusetts State Police Gaming Enforcement Unit at Plainridge Park Casino with assistance from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, Plainridge Park Casino, and the Merrimac Police Department.

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