A federal judge ordered Massachusetts state Rep. Chris Flanagan, a Democrat from Dennis Port facing fraud charges, to refrain from gambling, accruing credit card balances over $5,000, or opening any new lines of credit above that threshold without prior court approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flanagan was arrested in April on allegations that he embezzled tens of thousands of dollars from a former employer, concealed the thefts, and used the funds to cover personal expenses. He pleaded not guilty and was released under the condition that he maintain his current employment or actively seek a new job, the Boston Herald reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a July 22 filing, however, attorneys from U.S. Attorney Leah Foley\u2019s office asked the court to tighten Flanagan\u2019s release conditions by restricting his ability to gamble and incur substantial credit card charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe government believes that certain conditions related to the defendant\u2019s finances are necessary in this case,\u201d federal prosecutors said in the document, according to the outlet<\/a>. \u201cThe government has conferred with the counsel for the defendant regarding the addition of certain financial conditions, and the parties agree (to the new conditions).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Greg Henning, Flanagan\u2019s attorney, noted that the gambling and credit-card restrictions were included in the original release conditions but were only formalized in the recent filing by prosecutors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also Read : Waters Ordered To Pay Massive Fine For Violating Campaign Finance Laws<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Flanagan is accused<\/a> of stealing tens of thousands of dollars \u201cto fund personal and political expenses,\u201d including \u201cpsychic services.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He was charged with five counts of wire fraud and one count of falsifying records. He pleaded not guilty to all charges in federal court in Boston on Friday afternoon and was released, CBS News reported<\/a> in June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to his job as a state lawmaker, Flanagan served as the executive director of the Cape Cod Home Builders Association (HBA). According to the U.S. Attorney, that work paid him up to $81,600 last year, on top of his state compensation of $100,945.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the two jobs, Foley stated in her charging document that Flanagan was \u201cfacing personal financial difficulty, with thousands of dollars in outstanding credit card debt, missing mortgage payments, and hundreds of dollars in bank overdraft fees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the accusation, he stole $36,000 from the HBA via five distinct wire transfers between November 2021 and January 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cToday\u2019s charges against Massachusetts State Representative Christopher Flanagan reveal an appalling breach of public trust,\u201d Foley said in a press release<\/a> posted to the Department of Justice\u2019s website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAccording to the indictment, Mr. Flanagan defrauded the very organization he was supposed to serve \u2013 allegedly funneling tens of thousands of dollars into his own pockets to pay off personal bills, buy luxury items and bankroll his political campaign. He allegedly stole money and then went to extraordinary lengths to cover it up, going so far as fabricating fake personas to mislead those who questioned his conduct. This alleged scheme was calculated on every level. No one is entitled to power by way of fraud, and the people of Massachusetts deserve better,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n