⏱ 2 min read
Helen Murray, a 41-year-old former executive secretary at the Boston Housing Authority (BHA), has pleaded guilty to falsifying overtime forms, collecting approximately $72,131 in fraudulent overtime pay between January 2023 and August 2024 in Boston, MA. Murray, of Malden, worked as an executive secretary at BHA from 2017 to 2024, and was responsible for collecting weekly timesheets and overtime forms from other BHA employees. She would submit false overtime forms, forging her supervisor’s signature, to collect overtime pay she didn’t earn.
Murray’s scheme involved entering overtime hours she didn’t work and then falsifying her supervisor’s signature on the form without their knowledge or permission. She would then submit the falsified overtime forms directly to BHA Payroll via email, resulting in her receiving fraudulent overtime pay in her weekly paycheck. In total, Murray submitted over 100 falsified overtime forms, leading to her guilty plea to one count of wire fraud.
The charge of wire fraud carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani has scheduled sentencing for July 7, 2026. Murray’s case is a prime example of public corruption, where an individual in a position of trust abuses their power for personal gain.
The investigation and prosecution of Murray’s case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to holding individuals accountable for their actions, especially those in positions of public trust. As the case moves forward to sentencing, it will be interesting to see how Murray’s actions will be punished and what message it will send to others who may be tempted to engage in similar behavior.
Related Federal Cases
- FDIC, Risky Pay Structures Crackdown, Washington DC, 2023 · Washington
- Viviane Cazeau, Bank Fraud Scheme, Massachusetts, 2023 · Florida
- Cedric Cromwell, Major Drug Trafficking, Massachusetts, 2020 · Massachusetts
- Brian J. Garrahan Ordered to Pay $4.4M in Fraud Scheme, Delray Beac… · Utah
- Carla Douglas Conigliaro, Cash-Withdrawal Scheme, Massachusetts 2023 · Washington
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Massachusetts
- Location: MA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News