Former Framingham State Employee Pleads Guilty to Stealing More Than $110,000

A former employee of Framingham State University has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail in connection with stealing more than $110,000 from the university, announced Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, in a statement.

Robert Walmsley, 34, of Brockton, pleaded guilty Friday, March 6, in Middlesex Superior Court to charges of larceny over $250 (3 counts) and presenting a fraudulent claim to employer for payment (2 counts).

After the plea was entered, Judge Thomas Billings sentenced Walmsley to 2.5 years in the House of Correction, with five years of probation to serve upon his release.

Judge Billings also imposed probationary conditions including drug testing and drug treatment as necessary. A restitution hearing will be held on May 19.

The Attorney General’s office began an investigation in June 2013 after the matter was referred by officials at Framingham State University.

Walmsley, an Framingham State graduate, began working in Framingham State University’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations in 2008 until his termination in June 2013. His responsibilities entailed networking with alumni and at times, planning events for them.

The investigation revealed that between July 2011 and May 2013, Walmsley stole more than $110,000 from the University by using an Framingham State--issued procurement card for personal purchases. The University issues these cards to some staff to use for department-related purchases.

In order to conceal this theft, Walmsley then falsified some of the explanations for the purchases on the receipts. He signed and submitted those fraudulent documents along with his monthly expense reports to Framingham State, falsely claiming they were for work-authorized purchases.

Walmsley was arrested on August 5, 2014 without incident by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Attorney General’s Office.

He was indicted by Statewide Grand Jury on August 7, 2014.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Erika Anderson of the AG’s Public Integrity Division.

It was investigated by Sallyann Nelligan, Director of the AG’s Financial Investigations Division, Victim Advocate Megan Murphy, State Police assigned to the Attorney General’s Office, and the AG’s Digital Evidence Lab.

Officials at Framingham State University fully cooperated throughout this investigation.