Woman indicted for stealing $30K from South Royalston water district
A Wayland woman is accused of stealing $30,000 from a
non-profit that runs a tiny public water district in Central
Massachusetts.
Vickie Paine, 55, of Wayland, is former treasurer of the South Royalston Improvement Corp. On Thursday, a Worcester County grand jury indicted her on charges of larceny and false entry in corporate books.
According to the office of Attorney General Maura Healey, Paine wrote checks to cash, which she signed and endorsed. She allegedly withdrew from corporate accounts and transferred money to her personal accounts.
The alleged thefts took place between 2009 and 2014, and were discovered after she left the organization.
"Employees who abuse their positions for personal gain by stealing money will be held accountable by our office," Healey said in a statement.
The South Royalston Improvement Corp. was established in 1959 and dissolved in 1964 for failure to file annual reports with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, state records show. However, the water district kept operating.
Paine in 1999 petitioned the state for corporate reinstatement, saying she had been secretary/treasurer of the corporation for 12 years, and did not know about the annual filing requirement. The reinstatement was granted, and annual reports were filed through 2013.
"I devote my time to make sure the people on our system have good quality water," Paine wrote in her application. "This is my baby, I would hate to see it dissolve."
Vickie Paine, 55, of Wayland, is former treasurer of the South Royalston Improvement Corp. On Thursday, a Worcester County grand jury indicted her on charges of larceny and false entry in corporate books.
According to the office of Attorney General Maura Healey, Paine wrote checks to cash, which she signed and endorsed. She allegedly withdrew from corporate accounts and transferred money to her personal accounts.
The alleged thefts took place between 2009 and 2014, and were discovered after she left the organization.
"Employees who abuse their positions for personal gain by stealing money will be held accountable by our office," Healey said in a statement.
The South Royalston Improvement Corp. was established in 1959 and dissolved in 1964 for failure to file annual reports with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, state records show. However, the water district kept operating.
Paine in 1999 petitioned the state for corporate reinstatement, saying she had been secretary/treasurer of the corporation for 12 years, and did not know about the annual filing requirement. The reinstatement was granted, and annual reports were filed through 2013.
"I devote my time to make sure the people on our system have good quality water," Paine wrote in her application. "This is my baby, I would hate to see it dissolve."
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Records show Barre officials were warned of problems with tax collector
Former Hubbardston tax collector sentenced to jail, restitution for thefts
Stolen Public Funds
What safeguards can be out into place to ensure the findings from the FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT LETTER are corrected?
What safeguards can be put into place to ensure the LAW is followed?
"Illegal
interfund borrowings were used to fund annual operations in at least two years."
Management
Letter p.4, Tony Roselli, CPA April 25, 2017.
It is said, any difference in what we think is an account balance, and what they say it is, is because our books are screwed up. We should expect this to happen for how long ? Just maybe it is due to people playing games ! Funny how that happens ! All the grief in the world for a lousy $30,000. It doesn't make any sense it me, but how would anyone know if money was missing ? Especially if there is a built in excuse ! Think about it. Bev.
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