According to the Boston Globe, former Massachusetts state senator Brian A. Joyce was charged in a federal indictment Friday with using his Senate office as a front to collect about $1 million in bribes and kickbacks that were laundered through his law firm, along with getting hundreds of pounds of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee for free.
This sounds like a very New England corruption scheme. Man, I do love Dunkin’s coffee.
“Defendant Joyce’s objective in conducting and participating in the affairs of the Senate Office . . . was to secretly profit from his position as State Senator [by] . . . accepting a stream of concealed bribes and kickbacks from private individuals and entities in exchange for his official action as specific opportunities arose,’’ the indictment reads.
“Joyce is also accused of collecting hundreds of pounds of coffee — along with $125,089 in “purported legal fees” — from a Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee. On one occasion in 2015, he collected 504 pounds of coffee, worth an estimated $4,278, for free, authorities allege,” the Boston Globe reports.
The indictment charges Joyce with “honest services mail fraud” for violating his oath of office, corruption, extortion, racketeering, and IRS charges including money laundering and embezzlement.
Acting US Attorney William Weinreb estimates the scheme netted the former Democratic lawmaker about $1 million.
It wasn’t just coffee – free cars, sham retirement accounts and money laundering schemes are also alleged in the indictment.
For more information on alleged caffeinated criminals check out the story in the Boston Globe.