Press Release  Two Former Employees Plead Guilty in Connection With Stealing Nearly $200,000 From Buzzards Bay Water District

Barnstable — A former treasurer and a former technician from the Buzzards Bay Water District have pleaded guilty in connection with stealing nearly $200,000 from the agency, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Caitlin McGuire, age 36, of Forestdale, and John Ethier, age 29, of Buzzards Bay, each pleaded guilty to the charge of Larceny Over $250 (one count each) in Barnstable County Superior Court yesterday. They will be sentenced on November 2.

“These former Buzzards Bay Water District employees abused their positions to cut personal checks and steal thousands of dollars for their own use,” said AG Healey. “This was a betrayal of their positions and the public’s trust. We thank the Inspector General’s Office for working with us to investigate and put an end to these fraudulent actions.”

The AG’s Office began an investigation in June 2015, after a referral from the Inspector General’s Office. The Buzzards Bay Water District is a public agency that provides water to approximately 2,500 residents of the district for home usage and fire protection. 

“In response to a suspected case of fraud reported to our hotline, our office investigated and found that the water district’s treasurer had written dozens of extra payroll checks to herself and another employee of the department,” said Inspector General Glenn A. Cunha. “We worked quickly with the Attorney General and the Massachusetts State Police to stop the illegal activity. We encourage the public to call our office’s hotline to report cases of fraud committed against government agencies.”

Rochleau worked as the treasurer and clerk for the Buzzards Bay Water District from her appointment in 2009 to July 2015. As treasurer and clerk for the Water District, McGuire was responsible for overseeing the agency’s finances including the budget, payroll and weekly expenses. She had the authority to issue checks on behalf of the agency and had access to the agency’s vault.

Ethier worked as a technician for the Water District from January 2013 to July 2015. As a technician for the Water District, Either’s duties included operating and maintaining the district’s pumping stations and other equipment.

Authorities found that McGuire used her position as treasurer of the water district to steal approximately $198,000 from the Water District from approximately April 2014 to June 2015 by writing checks to herself and to Ethier in addition to their weekly paychecks. Investigation further revealed that Ethier and McGuire used this stolen money to purchase Percocet illegally. Ethier and McGuire were indicted in November 2015.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Kristen Stone of AG Healey’s White Collar & Public Integrity Division. The investigation was conducted by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office and Investigator Michelle Silva, of AG Healey’s Financial Investigations Division.   

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