Will the City of Melrose still pay the pension and health insurance of the Mayor's Godfather Thief, Mike Hughes?
He should go to jail. Melrose Patch said he worked with a municipal employee. Who?
The coverup has been successful thanks to the total apathy of Melrose citizens. Where is the outrage? Where are the citizens demanding answers from the aldermen and mayor? Where are the investigations into all of the activities of Hughes since he was intimately connected with the top echelons of the city governing for so many years, as chief of staff and then cemetery superintendent? It's easy to see why the mayor would be silent, but there is no excuse for the citizens not demanding answers to this major corruption scheme. Where is the demand for accountability?
Could it be that the straw owners/sellers are being "protected"?
Call your representative on the BOA and and ask if they have seen the police report, if they say they have not tell them they do not get your vote next election since this is all they care about. They dont care about the constituents they only do what RD tells them, wake the hell up.
So, the Godfather and campaign manager of Melrose Mayor Dolan got two years probation and must pay back the city for the money he pocketed in his disgraceful scheme to re-sell burial plots at Wyoming Cemetery.
No request for Mayor to comment...
These Everett hacks just keep skating on being held responsible.
Business as usual.
Maybe there is a seat for him on felon row AKA Melrose School Committee.
What a visual...sitting next to Dolan at the meeting.
Just can't make this stuff up.
BTW..weren't there accomplices?
Smellrose...[Wacko]
So disgraceful. Anyone else would be in jail and fined much more heavily.
This guy was Doughboy's Chief of Staff (and nasty as all get-out, at that!) for more than a decade, and then Cemetery Superintendent, and Godfather! Who were the co-conspirators (since there clearly were some)???? What kind of wheeling and dealing did city employees do on his behalf? Did the late PJ S have anything to do with this? Were oil tanks buried/hidden in plots? Just exactly what were the disgusting facts of this case? The public absolutely has a right to know, as this was not only a city employee, but someone in charge, and the city cemetery and services were involved!
And just how exactly did they decide that the guy only has to pay back $74,900 when that was the value of what he stole? Why aren't there substantial fines as well? This creep took advantage of people during their most vulnerable times, and he gets to skate on this kind of easy deal???? How about if this guy had been one of those Rob labels as a "hater"? Would they have gotten off this easy???? Not bloody likely!
http://melrose.wickedlocal.com/news/20170420/melrose-cemetery-administrator-pleads-guilty-in-scheme-to-sell-burial-plots
Posted Apr 20, 2017 at 7:15 PM
Melrose cemetery administrator pleads guilty in scheme to sell burial plots
John Hughes, 71, of Revere, pled guilty Thursday in Middlesex Superior Court to five counts of larceny over $250 and receiving outside compensation by a municipal employee in connection with a scheme to sell unused cemetery burial plots, owned by the city of Melrose, to unsuspecting buyers.
Judge Peter Krupp sentenced the defendant to two years probation and ordered the defendant to spend the first 90 days of his probation in home detention. Judge Krupp also ordered the defendant to pay $74,900 in restitution to the city of Melrose during the two year probation period.
The defendant was appointed cemetery administrator of the Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose in 2007. Beginning in 2011 the defendant began telling individuals looking to buy burial plots for later use, that they could purchase previously sold burial plots within the cemetery at discounted rates.
The defendant sold 13 burial plots, thereby diverting funds from the City of Melrose, and netting approximately $75,000.
This case was investigated by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and the Melrose Police Department with the cooperation of the city of Melrose.
The prosecutors assigned to this case were Assistant District Attorney Doug Cannon and Assistant District Attorney Cyrus Chung.
Submitted by Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan’s office.
Of course there were accomplices, those posing as the owners of the plots. But now it appears we'll never know who they were, which we should know!
This whole thing, including the administration/BOA coverup, reeks of pervasive criminality. It did not and could not have happened in isolation. This guy had significant power and influence going all the way to the top. Why should the citizens trust one iota of what is being stated publicly, especially with all that has not been said at all? Where are all the mayor's sycophants loudly telling us all that everything is wonderful? They are silent, which speaks volumes. Clearly there is a gag order here, and that should not be tolerated by the aldermen or the citizens! The truth will eventually come out, and the coverup will result in worse consequences than the events themselves, as disgusting as those most certainly are.
How can Hughes continue to receive his pension and healthcare for life paid for by Melrose taxpayers?
I agree with another poster. The condition of Wyoming is a mess and no one in the City Government cares.
Please dont bang your fists on the table and say we'll never know, the report is public record through either the police department or court records. We'll never know because people couldnt be bothered with looking into the truth. There is no cover up if no one cares about the truth. Where are our crack local reporters, seems like a good story for a young reporter to look into, if they bother to come out of broduer and clarks a**es.
WOBURN, MA -- A former administrator of a Melrose cemetery pleaded guilty today to pocketing nearly $75,000 in a burial plot scam.
John Hughes, 71, of Revere, pled guilty today in Middlesex Superior Court to five counts of larceny over $250 and receiving outside compensation by a municipal employee in connection with a scheme to sell unused cemetery burial plots, owned by the City of Melrose, to unsuspecting buyers.
Judge Peter Krupp sentenced Hughes to two years probation and ordered Hughes to spend the first 90 days of his probation in home detention.
Hughes was also ordered to pay $74,900 in restitution to the City of Melrose during the two year probation period.Hughes was appointed Cemetery Administrator of the Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose in 2007.
Beginning in 2011 he began telling individuals looking to buy burial plots for later use, that they could purchase previously sold burial plots within the cemetery at discounted rates.
Hughes sold 13 burial plots, thereby diverting funds from the City of Melrose, and netting approximately $75,000.By Lisa Redmond (Patch Staff.
It's important people know who the co-conspirators are. I'm willing to do the work but don't know the procedure. What is it? Are the police required to answer? Is the DA? Will someone retaliate against me for asking? Do reporters have any more access to the information than the public? Are there police officers who could find out??
It is even more important to know whether "The Godfather Thief" will continue to receive pension and health care benefits for life.
The State Retirement Board stops paying a pensioner's state pension when the crime constitutes a "violation of the laws applicable to his office or position," which is the standard for forfeiting a state pension. Hughes will lose his pension. If he doesn't, rest assured that the D-boy in the corner office pulled some strings for him, which quite frankly, would be a crime in itself worthy of a loss of office and pension.
That's correct, except I think you meant D-bag in the middle office.
Retirement Board will vote on Thursday regarding revoking MH's pension. What about taking away his Health Insurance for life?
I'd like to see that. Where did you get that information? It's not specified in the agenda and there is no agenda packet.
Never mind - Wicked Local.
[o:)] Bruce, I find you to be a fascinating fellow, would you consider being my "Life Coach".
I'll consider it. Are you a team player?
Please dont bang your fists on the table and say we'll never know, the report is public record through either the police department or court records. We'll never know because people couldnt be bothered with looking into the truth. There is no cover up if no one cares about the truth. Where are our crack local reporters, seems like a good story for a young reporter to look into, if they bother to come out of broduer and clarks a**es.