Two Former Local Officials Charged in Connection with Stealing $675,000 After Joint Attorney General-Inspector General Investigation

BOSTON — Two former top officials of the Carver, Marion, Wareham Regional Refuse Disposal District (District) have been indicted on larceny charges in connection with stealing more than $675,000 in District funds, Attorney General Maura Healey and Inspector General Glenn Cunha announced today.

Former District Executive Director, Ray Pickles, 85, of Marion, and former District Board Chairman Robert Tinkham, 57, of Carver, were indicted today by a Statewide Grand Jury.

Pickles was charged with Larceny over $250 (6 counts), and Tinkham was charged with Larceny over $250 (1 count) and Presentation of False Claims (1 count). Both defendants will be arraigned in Plymouth Superior Court at a later date.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and the Marion Police Department, in cooperation with the Towns of Carver, Marion and Wareham.

The investigation revealed that Pickles allegedly stole more than $610,000 over the course of six years in his position as District Executive Director. Authorities allege Pickles maintained two District bank accounts to which only he had access, and from which he wrote checks to himself. 

Pickles also allegedly established District accounts at two other banks that only he knew existed. Authorities allege he deposited checks intended for the District into these accounts, withdrew cash for personal use and made payments on his personal credit cards. Authorities further allege that Pickles billed the District for services he did not perform and used District funds to pay for personal expenses.

The investigation also revealed that Tinkham allegedly received payments from the District for inspection services he did not perform while he was the Chairman of the District Board. The payments were made from District accounts that only Pickles had access to and totaled approximately $65,000.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorneys General John Brooks and Ashlee Logan, of the Inspector General’s Investigations Division, with assistance from Chief Trial Counsel James O’Brien of the AG’s Criminal Bureau. Lead Investigator Logan Davis and Analyst/Investigator Will Bradford from the Inspector General’s Office investigated the case.

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