Former Register of Probate Sentenced to Prison, Probation

Buonomo Pleaded Guilty to Theft of Public Monies, Campaign Funds

– Allison Goldsberry

A former county official has been sentenced for the theft of public money and campaign cash.

The former Middlesex County Register of Probate has been sentenced for operating two separate schemes in which he stole thousands in taxpayer money and more than $100,000 in campaign funds, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone announced in a joint statement.

In total, Buonomo has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison and ten years probation for his crimes. He also was fined $1,000.

Buonomo, 57, of Newton, pleaded guilty last month to two counts of larceny over $250, two counts of personal use of campaign funds, and willfully misleading investigators in connection with the theft of campaign funds. He also pleaded guilty to eighteen counts of breaking and entering into a depository with intent to commit a larceny, eight counts of theft of public property by a public officer, and eight counts of larceny under $250.

“John Buonomo blatantly violated the trust bestowed in him by the people of the Commonwealth by committing these thefts of public monies. By pleading guilty and receiving his sentence today, he is now held fully accountable for his brazen crimes,” Middlesex County District Attorney Leone said in a statement. “I also want to commend the members of our PACT Unit for their comprehensive investigation, including the installation of surveillance cameras to capture the crimes committed on tape, which built the irrefutable proof that led to both of these cases and these pleas of guilt regarding the theft of public monies.”

“The fraud committed in this case was a serious violation of the public’s trust and we are pleased that Mr. Buonomo was held accountable for his actions. Particularly during such difficult economic times, the theft of public monies will not be tolerated,” Attorney General Martha Coakley said. “Our office would like to thank the Massachusetts State Police and the Office of Campaign and Political Finance for the tremendous amount of hard work and resources both dedicated to this case.”

The Middlesex County DA’s PACT Unit launched an investigation in June 2008 when the Registry of Deeds noticed monthly shortages in receipts from their copy machines that are estimated to be up to as much as thousands of dollars.

Prosecutors say surveillance video caught Buonomo pocketing cash for himself on at least eight different occasions. According to the Registry of Deeds, Buonomo, a county-wide elected official, had no authority to access the cash machines or copy machines on the Registry of Deeds side of the building nor did he have the authority to remove money from the machines.

Buonomo was also found to have used his campaign funds for personal use, which is prohibited by law. The investigation found that Buonomo wrote checks to himself out of his campaign fund and altered and forged bank record and invoices to appear as though he was reimbursing himself for campaign services such as postage and printing.

Buonomo was first elected Register of Probate in 2000 to finish an unexpired term and was then re-elected in 2002 to a full 6-year term. Buonomo has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Northeastern and has been a public official for twenty-two years, including five years as County Administrator and more than a decade on Somerville’s School Committee and Board of Alderman.

Buonomo resigned just before the September 16, 2008 primary election for his seat. Medford resident Tara DeChristofaro, a Democrat, was elected to the position and is currently serving as Middlesex County Register of Probate.