Richard Evans, a 65-year-old retired Boston Police Captain from Hanover, was found guilty by a federal jury in Boston for orchestrating and participating in an extensive overtime fraud scheme at the Boston Police Department’s evidence warehouse, resulting in significant financial losses for taxpayers.
The jury convicted Evans on multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for June 20, 2024. Evans, arrested and charged in March 2021, faces severe penalties, including prison time and substantial fines.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy emphasized the importance of upholding the law in law enforcement and holding individuals accountable for betraying public trust. Levy highlighted that Evans’ actions did not reflect the integrity of the Boston Police Department or its dedicated officers.
Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division, underscored the FBI’s commitment to rooting out police corruption and ensuring accountability, while acknowledging the cooperation of the Boston Police Department in the investigation.
Evans, who served as the commander of the BPD’s Evidence Control Unit (ECU) from May 2012 to March 2016, abused his position by inflating overtime hours for himself and his subordinates. He approved hundreds of fraudulent overtime slips, falsely claiming hours not worked and misleading his superiors about the scheme.
The scheme involved officers billing for a full four-hour shift when they only worked approximately two hours, and later leaving hours early while still claiming full shifts. Evans himself received over $120,000 in fraudulent overtime payments during his tenure, in addition to his base salary.
The charges against Evans carry significant penalties, including imprisonment of up to 20 years for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, and up to 10 years for theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on sentencing guidelines and statutory factors.