NEEDHAM TAX ASSESSOR CHARGED WITH FELONY TAX EVASION
BOSTON, Mass. - The elected Chairman of the Needham Tax Assessors Office was arrested and charged today in federal court with felony tax evasion.
KEVIN FOLEY, 54, of Needham, was charged in a indictment with three counts of felony tax evasion. The indictment alleges that FOLEY misappropriated approximately $492,000 in funds belonging to a Needham resident and failed to file taxes reflecting not only the misappropriated funds, but also the income he legally earned from the Town of Needham, for tax years 2007, 2008 and 2009.
"The public expects their elected officials to maintain high moral and ethical standards. The conduct alleged today, is an affront to the residents of Needham who elected Mr. Foley to support and uphold the very laws he broke," said United States Attorney Carmen Ortiz.
If convicted on these charges, FOLEY faces up to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $100,000 fine.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz, William P. Offord, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation - Boston Field Office and Needham Police Chief Thomas J. Leary, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Fisher of Ortiz's Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
