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Massachusetts Attorney General

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Retired State Police Captain In Western Mass Indicted On Child Porn Charges: AG Retired State Police Captain In Western Mass Indicted On Child Porn Charges: AG
Retired State Police Captain In Western Mass Indicted On Child Porn Charges: AG A retired Massachusetts State Police detective captain was indicted this week on multiple child pornography charges, authorities announced. Francis "Frank" Hart, 62, of Amherst, faces seven counts of possession of child porn and one count of disseminating the offending material, the Massachusetts Attorney General announced on Thursday, Dec. 22.   Police began investigating Hart in January 2021 after they received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an email registered to him had uploaded a file containing numerous images of suspected child p…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Western Mass Business Owner Accused Of Scheme To Defraud State Of Sales Tax Western Mass Business Owner Accused Of Scheme To Defraud State Of Sales Tax
Western Mass Business Owner Accused Of Scheme To Defraud State Of Sales Tax A Western Massachusetts business owner has been indicted in an alleged scheme in which he sold software that allowed restaurants to delete cash sales from cash registers and keep meal taxes paid by customers. Hampden County resident Paul K. Backholm, age 53, of Westfield, was charged and arraigned on Friday, April 9, said Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. The AG’s Office alleges from 2010 to 2015, Backholm, who owns a company that sells cash registers, sold sales suppression software to restaurants for cash that enabled the restaurants to delete cash sales, keep the meals tax t…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
COVID-19: Beware Of These Vaccine Scams, Massachusetts AG Says COVID-19: Beware Of These Vaccine Scams, Massachusetts AG Says
Covid-19: Beware Of These Vaccine Scams, Massachusetts AG Says As more residents receive and become eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine, the Massachusetts Attorney General has issued an advisory about potential scams and misinformation intended to exploit the pandemic. The AG’s Office said on Tuesday, March 30, it had received reports about people getting spam or scam emails or texts after they’ve received vaccines or registered for vaccines through legitimate websites.  While there have been no reported breaches of patient information from legitimate vaccine websites, the AG’s Office urges people to remain cautious about vaccine scams. “Scammer…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Worcester, Hampshire County Accountant Accused Of Stealing $700K From Towns Worcester, Hampshire County Accountant Accused Of Stealing $700K From Towns
Worcester, Hampshire County Accountant Accused Of Stealing $700K From Towns A former town accountant for Hadley, Hatfield, and Uxbridge has been charged with stealing more than $700,000 from Massachusetts municipalities. Justin Cole, 38, allegedly stole from Uxbridge, Millville, and Monterey (in Berkshire County), according to the Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. Cole was the Hadley and Hatfield town accountant as recently as 2019 when Cole announced he was closing his business, Bay State Municipal Accounting Group, to focus on his family and health. Cole has been indicted on the charges of five counts of larceny over $250, two counts of larceny over $…

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by Kristin Palpini
Police & Fire
Charity Bails Out Rapist; AG Vows Investigation Charity Bails Out Rapist; AG Vows Investigation
Charity Bails Out Rapist; AG Vows Investigation The Massachusetts Bail Fund is under fire for using donations to spring a convicted rapist who is accused of raping a woman in July, just weeks after he was let out of jail. The fund posted $15,000 for the release of registered Level 3 sex offender Shawn McClinton who is facing aggravated rape, kidnapping, strangulation, and other new charges, according to Boston.com. McClinton is homeless in Roxbury, according to the registry. He was convicted of rape in 1994 and 2007. In a statement defending the decision, the Massachusetts Bail Fund called the bail system racist and said it targets the p…

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by Kristin Palpini