For Immediate Release

Friday, July 12, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Statement of Town of Littleton Regarding Investigation into Town-Issued Credit Card

LITTLETON — The Littleton Board of Selectmen and Chief of Police Matthew Pinard seek to update members of the community on an investigation into possible misappropriation of Town finances.

On April 1, the Littleton Town Treasurer located a suspicious charge on the Town’s Bank of America-issued credit card. He then requested the detailed statement of the credit card transactions and located various questionable transactions. The Town forwarded the information to the Littleton Police Department, which initiated an investigation in cooperation with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.

The investigation has indicated that a large amount of credit card charges over several years, for goods and services that appear to be personal in nature, were attributed to a former Town employee.

The Town of Littleton has since been made aware that this former employee is now deceased. 

Due to the seriousness of this investigation and the allegations behind it, the Town has, to this point, been unable to comment publicly on this matter. However, the case has in the past week reached a point where a public comment is warranted and appropriate in the eyes of the Littleton Board of Selectmen.

The investigation into the former employee is closed, however the Littleton Police Department will complete a full and thorough investigation to ensure that there are no further discrepancies. 

The Board of Selectmen, Town officials and Town management take the use of taxpayer dollars very seriously. The Town is planning to hire an independent firm to review internal controls and conduct a full risk assessment.

As the Town of Littleton has grown and increased its staffing and leadership team, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Joseph Knox believes that they have strengthened their procedures and an incident of this nature should not repeat itself in the Town of Littleton.

The Town will provide further information as it becomes known and is appropriate given the ongoing investigation.

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