Danvers Woman Sentenced For Perjury, Obstruction of Justice

Danvers resident Melanie “Maria” Abbruzzese, 31, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release, at the U.S. Boston District Court on March 14.

Abbruzzese, a former Boston paralegal employed at Denner Pelligrino, was charged for perjury and obstruction of justice, after knowingly and willfully falsely testified under oath at a May 19, 2010, court hearing held in U.S. District Court in Boston.

Abbruzzese, who was part of the defense team in United States v. Eric L. Levine, et al., was learned to have had a telephone conversation on May 18, 2010, with Joseph McGonagle, an inspector with the United States Postal Inspection Service who had been assigned to the prosecution team.

When the defense counsel alerted the government and the Court of the conversation between Abbruzzese and McGonagle, Judge O’Toole held a hearing to determine whether there was any breach of confidentiality. Abbruzzese testified at the hearing under oath, stating that she had no social out-of-office meetings with McGonagle, that her email contacts with him were limited to about four brief emails which were "of a professional nature," and that they had only exchanged a few phone calls.        

Contrary to her statement, reports stated the court learned Abbruzzese had numerous social, out-of-office meetings with McGonagle during the Levine, et al. trial, including drinks on three occasions all within 10 days preceding her May 19, 2010, testimony.  Further, on the evening of May 13, 2010, following their visit to the Bell and Hand, Abbruzzese and McGonagle were observed by a co-worker in McGonagle’s car while parked in front of Denner Pelligrino’s office.  

In addition, reports stated documentary evidence, to include cell tower information from Abbruzzese’s cell phone, would have proven that Abbruzzese had overnight visits at McGonagle’s Danvers’ apartment the evenings of May 14 and May 16, 2010. 

Abbruzzese pleaded guilty in Dec. 2011 and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns on March 14.