I-Team: Burlington Official Indicted For Misuse Of Taxpayer Funds
BOSTON (CBS) – A Burlington official is under investigation and now indicted for using her publicly issued credit card for personal expenses.
The I-Team has been investigating Maureen Lynch for weeks.
She abruptly resigned as executive director of the Burlington Housing Authority in late August. Sources told the I-Team the reason was misuse of taxpayer funds.
Burlington Housing Authority operates independently of the town and oversees public housing for elderly and low income residents. It is funded by state and federal taxes.
A Middlesex County Grand Jury indicted Lynch for charging "personal purchases on a BHA credit card, which was not otherwise authorized by statute or regulation."
Lynch allegedly maxed out the BHA credit card to its limit of $20,000, using the card for personal expenses such as veterinary bills, dental work and expenses related to her son's education and daughter's wedding.
Inspector General Glenn Cunha has also been investigating Lynch's spending with the Burlington Housing Authority.
Lynch ignored four phone messages and an email from WBZ-TV. When I-Team Reporter Lauren Leamanczyk confronted her at her Burlington home she sped away in her car without answering questions.
Later, another woman came out of the house saying that it was none of WBZ's business and that Lynch did not steal any money.
Residents at the Housing Authority said they didn't know the details of Lynch's abrupt resignation.
When WBZ showed Burlington resident Marjorie Fino the indictment, she was shocked. She mentioned that the money allegedly spent by Lynch could have been used to repave a cracked sidewalk that caused the elderly residents to fall.
"To take advantage of seniors like that, it's wrong," Fino said.
The I-Team requested copies of Lynch's expense reports and her BHA credit card statements, which are public records. Thus far, neither Lynch nor the Housing Authority has been able to produce them.
Lynch earned more than $79,000 per year in her role as Executive Director. The Burlington Housing Authority is governed by an elected board.
They offered no statement except to say that they had asked for and accepted Lynch's resignation.
Lynch will be formally arraigned on Wednesday. Her lawyer tells WBZ he will have a statement after the arraignment.