Another Democrat Politician Busted In Million-Dollar Scandal – using his office to gain about $1 million, 700 pounds of coffee

A former Massachusetts state senator was arrested on charges of extortion and fraud after allegedly using his office to gain about $1 million, 700 pounds of free coffee and a Jeep.
Former state Sen. Brian A. Joyce, 55, federal authorities say, received up to 700 pounds of free coffee, and roughly $125,000 in alleged kickbacks, from a Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee owner, who later claimed it was in exchange for legal services.

‘No decaf,’ Joyce told the franchisee owner in a December 2014 email for one request, according to the indictment. ‘We like k cups (sic) at my office if possible.’
He also allegedly created a shell company used to collect kickbacks from an energy broker in exchange for pressuring officials to hire the broker for contracts.


The massive 113 count indictment also alleges Joyce came up with a bogus IRA account with fake legal fees- which led to additional charges including racketeering, 20 counts of extortion and seven counts of money laundering.
Prosecutors say Joyce also pressured a local planning board to approve a waiver sought by a developer, who gave Joyce a Jeep from one of the developer’s car dealerships.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5162667/Former-Massachusetts-senator-arrested-extortion-fraud.html

Joyce ran his Senate office as a criminal enterprise,’ acting U.S. Attorney William Weinreb said at a press conference.
He added that Joyce’s alleged schemes started in 2010. He left the legislature in January.
Hank Shaw, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston office, called Joyce ‘greedy, plain and simple.’


Joyce was arrested at his Westport home shortly before sunrise Friday, hours before authorities unsealed the indictment stemming from a two-year investigation that charges the Democrat with racketeering, extortion, wire fraud and money laundering.
‘He had a duty to serve (his constituents) honestly, and he violated that duty by accepting bribes and kickbacks in exchange for his official action,’ Weinreb said.
Joyce pleaded not guilty in Worcester’s federal courthouse Friday before being released on $250,000 bond.

His attorney, Howard Cooper, said after Joyce’s court appearance that ‘he’s innocent of all of these charges.’


Republican Gov. Charlie Baker called the allegations against Joyce disturbing.
‘People in public life need to respect the offices they hold and that means not using them for personal gain, and if the feds believe there’s enough there to justify an indictment then the investigation needs to be thorough and move forward accordingly,’ Baker said.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2017/12/ex_pol_faces_113_counts_of_fraud_and_extortion