Crime & Safety

Beacon Hill Church Director Indicted

Edward J. MacKenzie Jr. faces federal charges including racketeering and extortion.

 

The director of a Beacon Hill church has been indicted on numerous felonies including racketeering, extortion and bribery, according to a report on Boston.com.

Edward J. MacKenzie Jr., 54, of Weymouth, was indicted by a federal grand jury on these charges after an investigation into his conduct as director of the Boston Society of the New Jerusalem, which operates the Church on the Hill on Bowdoin Street.

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The indictment alleges MacKenzie and several others seized control of the church with the intent of steal its financial assets, according to Boston.com.

MacKenzie appeared in court Wednesday, Boston.com reported, and he was ordered held without bail pending a detention hearing.

Find out what's happening in Beacon Hillfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt, rather, it means a grand jury has found sufficient evidence to warrant a trial.

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