Haverhill City Councilor Robert H. Scatamacchia, accused of stealing $72,000 in funeral prepayment money from 13 families, was held on $5,000 cash bail following his arraignment Tuesday.
Salem Superior Court Judge Timothy Feeley agreed to the $5,000 bail amount suggested by Scatamacchia’s attorney, Scott Gleason of Haverhill. First Assistant District Attorney John Dawley argued for a higher amount, suggesting the sale listing of Scatamacchia’s 11 Revere St. home made him a potential flight risk, according to Carrie Kimball-Monahan, spokesperson for District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett. Scatamacchia was arrested Tuesday morning by Massachusetts State Police detectives following an eight-month investigation. A plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.
Kimball-Monahan said 13 families sought to obtain refunds of their funeral pre-payments when Scatamacchia sold his funeral home interests in 2014. “They were never able to get it. Those people complained to various agencies.” She said prepayments are supposed to be kept in separate accounts. Any pre-payment amounts prior to 2013 are outside of the state’s statute of limitations and won’t be investigated, Kimball-Monahan said.
In addition, the district attorney said, Scatamacchia illegally kept $200,000 in payments between 2010 and 2014 when he was in a partnership with another funeral home. “He was receiving payments during that time and depositing them into his personal account,” she said.
Complaints were filed with Board of Registration of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, state police and eventually the district attorney’s office.
Scatamacchia is set to appear again Salem Superior Court on Aug. 7.
Jack he broke the law.
No Rich. He is accused of breaking the law. See there’s this pesky ,little concept called the Constitution of the United States where innocence is presumed.
Really? If he refused to give the money back and illegally put the money in his private account.
from the story above……If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.
Kimball-Monahan said 13 families sought to obtain refunds of their funeral pre-payments when Scatamacchia sold his funeral home interests in 2014. “They were never able to get it. Those people complained to various agencies.” She said prepayments are supposed to be kept in separate accounts. Any pre-payment amounts prior to 2013 are outside of the state’s statute of limitations and won’t be investigated, Kimball-Monahan said.
13 families? Anything before 2013 is off the table?
Sorry he’s not a nice guy Ralph. Maybe he has a gambling or drug problem but thats for him to take care of but what about those 13 elderly families he refuses to reimburse?
He is still afforded due process.
Then again, the rule of law in this country is such a mess, lets just convict him on the internet!?
I agree Duncan but he was investigated very well on this and there are 13 families involved. He was also given the opportunity to refund the families money. If it was one family then its questionable but 13? He will get his day in court.
Complaints were filed?
By who? Customers? His business partner?
Were customers denied funeral services because he made the deposits to his personal account???
He should resign – or be asked to resign the council ASAP.