Former Watertown Police Officer Convicted Of Passing False Prescriptions Using Another’s Identity

BOSTON - A Framingham man pleaded guilty today in federal court in connection to crimes committed while in his official capacity as a Watertown police officer.

Joseph Deignan, 58, was convicted of unlawful possession of a controlled substance by fraud and fraud in connection with identification documents.

At today’s plea hearing, the prosecutor stated that Deignan, a former Watertown Police Officer who retired in February 2012, used the identity of another person to obtain oxycodone and other controlled substances by forging prescriptions in the other person’s name. Deignan stole the driver’s license of the person in 2010 while he was working as the traffic supervisor for the Watertown Police Department. From 2010 through December 2013, using various doctors’ information, Deignan forged over 100 prescriptions for controlled substances and used the stolen identity to fill the scripts.

The maximum sentence under the identity theft count is 15 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Judge Douglas P. Woodlock set sentencing for November 15.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and John Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division made the announcement today. The DEA was provided assistance from the Marlborough Police Department. The Watertown Police Department has been cooperative during the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia Carris of Ortiz’s Public Corruption Unit.