Aug 20, 2008 2:26 pm US/Eastern
Official Caught Stealing Suspended Without Pay
CAMBRIDGE (WBZ) ―
-
-
Prosecutors say surveillance video shows Buonomo taking money from cash and copy machines.
WBZ
-
-
John Buonomo in Cambridge District Court August 7.
WBZ
The elected official in Middlesex County accused of stealing has been suspended without pay. Prosecutors say Register of Probate John Buonomo was caught stealing thousands of dollars from copy and cash machines in the Registry of Deeds in Cambridge.
Authorities say Buonomo, 56, was caught on surveillance video committing the alleged crimes. Police say the thefts occurred in June, July and August.
Buonomo pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Cambridge District Court. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered to return his county keys and to stay away from the Registry of Deeds and the Registry of Probate.
Watch: Theft surveillance video
"It is highly troubling that a public official would engage in the kind of brazen theft of public monies that we allege here," District Attorney Gerry Leone said. "We believe that Mr. Buonomo violated the public's trust by regularly accessing these cash machines without authority and stealing taxpayer money."
Buonomo's attorney, Michael Natola, says the tapes don't tell the entire story.
According to prosecutors, Buonomo first denied being near the copy and cash machines. They say once he was shown the surveillance video, he admitted being near the machines, but denied stealing money. Prosecutors say Buonomo then admitted taking money, but said it was to buy office supplies.
"I have a defense. I was taking that money to buy supplies for the court because I can't get money any other way for that," Assistant District Attorney John Verney quoted Buonomo as telling state police.
The thefts were discovered when the Registry of Deeds noticed monthly shortages in receipts received from their copy machines - estimated to be as much as thousands of dollars over a period of months. To catch the culprit, police installed surveillance cameras.
Buonomo is charged with 18 felony counts of breaking and entering into a depository, eight felony counts of theft of public property by a city/town/county officer and eight misdemeanor counts of larceny under $250.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments