Bibo Morris Pleads Not Guilty To Embezzlement Charges
Prosecutors say Roy Patterson blew the whistle on alleged theft by former Parks and Recreation business manager.
Lauren Bibo Morris, the former business manager for the Tewksbury Parks and Recreation Department was arraigned Wednesday on larceny charges in connection with an alleged pattern of theft from the town’s recreation center.
Morris, 30, of Tewksbury was arraigned in Lowell District Court on two counts of larceny over $250. Lowell District Court Judge Elizabeth Cremens released Morris on personal recognizance with conditions to stay away from and have no contact with witnesses or Tewksbury town employees.
“This defendant, Lauren Morris, allegedly violated her position of authority within the town of Tewksbury and stole funds intended for the town’s youth who could have benefited from the center,” said District Attorney Gerry Leone. “We fully intend to hold the defendants accountable for their actions, which showed a disregard for the public service they were hired to do.”
Morris handled registration and finances for the Parks and Recreation Department. Prosecutors allege she stole more $52,000 from the center’s bank account in 2009 and 2010.
An investigation into the alleged theft was launched in 2010 after then Parks and Recreation Director Roy Patterson reported to Town Manager Richard Montuori a discrepancy in deposits for the recreation center.
The investigation revealed that Morris, who handled payments for recreational services and summer youth programs, allegedly stole cash payments made by Tewksbury families for their children’s program registration. From May 1 to Sept. 15, 2010, there were no cash deposits into the recreation department’s accounts despite cash payments from parents.
It is also alleged that Morris stole additional cash from families who made cash payments for daily lunches, field trips, and other fees associated with the summer recreation programs. According to investigators, Morris allegedly set up a payroll account in the name of a family member, and collected and cashed 11 paychecks without the family member having any knowledge or ever working for the town. In total, it is alleged that Morris stole $20,485 in 2009 and $31,457 in 2010 and used the money to fund a prescription drug habit.
Meanwhile, Patterson, 60, is also facing charges. Patterson is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 20 on charges of larceny under $250 and violating the municipal employees’ conflict-of-interest law.
Patterson allegedly added hours to employee paychecks and took the cash difference to pay other employees, including his son, a violation of state ethics laws.
The Assistant District Attorney assigned to the case is Rachel Perlman. The Victim Witness Advocate is Amanda Zacchilli.
Joe Bill
10:15 am on Thursday, September 13, 2012
I sincerely hope these 2 lowlifes end up in jail and have to pay the town back with interest.
Mary
11:03 am on Thursday, September 13, 2012
Both of these two are totally guilty. They should face maximum charges and have to pay back all the money that they embezzled plus interest. Also no pension money should be payable to Mr. Patterson. Even though he is being brought up on lesser charges, he should be treated as an accomplice to the crime.
Lori
11:22 am on Thursday, September 13, 2012
I have to agree with Joe and Mary. When people are hired to work for the town for the benefit of our youth and then they blatently violate conflict of interest laws, steal large sums of money from not only the town, but the parents of the very children they are supposed to be helping, action needs to be taken against these people. Every paycheck paid in violation of these laws should be paid back in full with interest to the town. Pensions should not be given to employees who steal from the town. It's that simple. Pensions are for loyal, long term employees who have served the town well, with honor and dignity.
Laryy
3:20 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
That means almost haft the town retirees should not be getting their pensions.
warren r
4:04 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
Isn't it strange how Roy decided to turn her in once the new town manager was in place . Roy was at the old town managers office almost every day , why didn't he bring up this problem that had ben going on for years with him ? Didn't Roy's wife work for the town also ?????
JoeC
7:42 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
true
JoeC
7:45 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
She has an oxycontin habbit and stole from all those people to feed her habbit. She has a new baby so I wonder if she was doing the drugs while pregnant. What a sad individual who manipulated and stole. Roy had to have known all about it. Sounds like he tried to save his own neck when he knew the heat was coming.
Jake P
9:11 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
yup @ DPW
Karyn
10:35 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
Isn't it always a "family affair" in Tewksbury? This isn't the first time.
HungryHippo
12:46 am on Friday, September 14, 2012
Roy ate the former town manager
Susie Q
8:11 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
LMAO isn't that the truth Hungry Hippo I do have to say that Patterson is as guilty as Lauren I am sure he was in on the whole thing.
Jon Pratt
3:12 pm on Friday, September 14, 2012
I'm sure they will make Roy go away. .He and his wife know to much about the players in town..Many benefited from the chartiy from Bank of Roy that kept no records. Roy will sing if it will save him.
Dan
5:29 pm on Friday, September 14, 2012
I wouldn't hold my breath as to getting any money back. Not sure, but I think that guy Daley who stole from the youth baseball league a Huge sum, never payed back a dime....
Mrs C
11:22 am on Monday, September 17, 2012
I just hope Lauren goes to jail...she was horrible and rude and nasty. So was she taking Oxy's while pregnant too? Sounds like it.....
JoeC
7:47 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
I bet she doesn't serve a day. This whole thing smells like a backroom deal will be done. SHe will get probation and community service. MAybe they will let her run another rec dept as her punishment. No mention of all the food that she was stealing for family and friends? Oh well
TewksTownie
10:03 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
I worked for years under both of them. Myself along with others knew that Roy had his son working illegally after he was released from jail, and told this to the authorities when questioned. Lauren did the drugs and smoked cigarettes while pregnant. I hope they both serve jail time
JoeC
12:20 am on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Waht about all the food? No cameras nobody kept track of the food that went to family and friends?
TewksTownie
8:47 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
There were plenty of people that were given free food, that probably amounted to thousands of dollars. It's unfortunate but as far as I'm aware, there were no records really of the food given out
dodie
8:48 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Here is the Lowell Sun Article with her pic included.
http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_21533011/not-guilty-plea-tewksbury-rec-center-theft
Karyn
2:20 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
From today's Lowell Sun:
Former Tewksbury rec boss pleads not guilty to larceny charge
The Lowell Sun
Updated: 09/20/2012 12:50:18 PM EDT
LOWELL -- The former head of the now defunct Tewksbury Recreation Center was released on personal recognizance after pleading not guilty to charges in connection with the mishandling and mismanagement of the center's funds.
In Lowell District Court on Thursday, it took less than a minute for Roy Patterson, ex-Town Recreation Director, to plead not guilty to larceny under $250 and violation of the conflict-of-interest law.
His next court date is a pretrial conference on Nov. 13. Judge Thomas Brennan order Patterson to stay away and have no contact with Tewksbury town employees.
Co-defendant Lauren Bibo Morris was arraigned last week on two counts of larceny over $250 for the alleged theft of more than $50,000 in center funds for 2009 and 2010. She was also released on personal recognizance.
Read more: http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_21590961/former-tewksbury-rec-boss-pleads-not-guilty-larceny#ixzz2720dtlsc
JoeC
1:31 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Have they turned on eachother to save themselves?