Middlesex Corrections Officers Admit to Conflict of Interest Violations

Three Middlesex County Corrections officers admitted to using public resources in campaign fundraising efforts for then-Sheriff James DiPaola in 2009, State Ethics Commission Officials announced Wednesday.

Captain Eril Ligonde, Corrections Officer Richard McKinnon and Corrections Officer Heidi Ricci used Sheriff's department resources to coordinate a fundraiser at Tewksbury Country Club in October 2009, used department computers to generate lists of Sheriff's office employees, and repeatedly solicited co-workers for donations, according to a press release from the commission.

Each admitted to violating the state's conflict of interest law and were issued fines. Ligonde paid a $10,000 civil penalty for his actions, while McKinnon paid $3,000, and Ricci paid a $2,00o, the press release said.

Ligonde decided to hold a campaign fundraiser for DiPaola in the fall of 2009, and approached McKinnon and Ricci, who both agreed to assist him, according to the press release.

Ligonde contacted DiPaola’s staff and campaign staff to schedule the date of the fundraiser. Ricci arranged to hold the fundraiser at the Tewksbury Country Club on November 19, 2009.

Ricci also used an Sheriff's office computer to create two spreadsheets, one which listed 500 Sheriff's office employees, which she provided to Ligonde, and one which listed 50 employees, which she provided to McKinnon.

Ligonde and McKinnon used the lists to solicit MSO employees for campaign contributions, and to track how many tickets to the fundraiser each employee received and how much money each employee donated to the campaign. 

While on state time and within MSO facilities, Ligonde and McKinnon repeatedly solicited Sheriff employees for contributions for the political fundraiser, according to the agreement.

Ligonde mostly solicited from his subordinates, while McKinnon solicited peers and superiors, the agreement said. At the fundraiser at Tewksbury Country Club, Ricci gave DiPaola's campaign treasure an envelope with about $4,000 in contributions that were solicited by Ligonde and McKinnon.

. He had announced he would resign in January 

But days prior to his death, the . An investigation that remained open after his death.

Peter Koutoujian, a former prosecutor and state representative, was

The state's conflict of interest law prohibits a state employee from, knowingly, or with reason to know, using or attempting to use his official position to secure for himself or others unwarranted privileges or exemptions which are of substantial value and which are not properly available to similarly situated individuals.