The former executive director of the Burlington Housing Authority allegedly used her work credit card for personal expenses including veterinary bills, dental work and expenses related to her son's education and her daughter's wedding, according to the Middlesex District Attorney's office.
Maureen Lynch, 53, of Burlington, Massachusetts, was released on personal recognizance bail following her arraignment on Wednesday. She was indicted by a grand jury on July 30 for allegedly using the housing authority's credit card to pay for her own personal purchases.
"Public officials have a duty to the citizens they serve to work with integrity and honesty," Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said. She added that Lynch "disregarded the very essence of what it means to be a public servant."
Police allege that in June of 2012, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development did a review of the Burlington Housing Authority and found that a housing authority credit card issued in Lynch's name was being used for personal expenses.
"My client was not charged with a crime of theft, the grand jury investigated this matter, they were able to bring charges of larceny or embezzlement or conversion or some other type of theft crime and they did not," said Lynch's attorney, David Yannetti.
Lynch was sent a letter directing her to cease using the credit card for personal expenses. She later reported to state officials that she had complied with their direction, but in the next few months she allegedly used the card for personal expenses such as veterinary bills, dental work, her son's education and her daughter's wedding.
The district attorney's office said Lynch would occasionally reimburse the housing authority for some of the personal expenses she charged. But an investigation conducted by the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General and the Burlington Police Department revealed personal expenditures during an 18-month period that maxed out the housing authority credit card to its limit of $20,000.
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Lynch became executive director of the Burlington Housing Authority in 2003. She resigned from her job last month.
Interim Executive Director Paul Johnson says while these expenses will be absorbed by Burlington and not the entire state, people are still getting paid and checks are still going out to Section 8 landlords.
"It does just affect Burlington in regards to this issue, however, there's more than enough money in the bank to pay our bills," said Johnson.
Lynch was released on her own recognizance. She is due back in court Sept. 28.
