Former EMC Worker Indicted on Five Counts of Larceny

From the Middlesex District Attorney's Office

A Webster woman was indicted today for allegedly using company money for hundreds of thousands of dollars of unauthorized personal expenses including elaborate trips, limo rides and plastic surgery, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.

Madeline Vinton, 35, of Webster was indicted on five counts of larceny over $250. An arraignment date in Middlesex Superior Court has not yet been set.

“This defendant knowingly and fraudulently stole from her employer, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on unauthorized personal expenses,” District Attorney Leone said. “She took advantage of her position of trust within the company.  We and take such clandestine larcenous activity extremely seriously.”

According to authorities, in April of 2006, Vinton was hired as an administrative assistant at EMC in Hopkinton.  In early 2012, EMC investigators noticed a pattern of travel and expense activities that were inconsistent with Vinton’s role and assigned duties and began an investigation.

Further investigation by EMC, Hopkinton Police and the Middlesex District Attorney discovered that Vinton had illegally used a company-issued credit card for more than $155,000 in personal expenses.  According to authorities, Vinton spent company money on limousine rides, Boston Celtics tickets, purchases on Amazon.com, hotels, meals and rental cars.  She allegedly used the company credit card for more than $500 on plastic surgery.  She also made fraudulent purchases on her boss’s company credit card. The defendant also claimed payments for more than $48,000 in overtime for which she never worked.

 Vinton was terminated by EMC in February 2012.

These charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case was investigated by Hopkinton Police, the Middlesex District Attorney’s PACT Unit, and EMC.

The Assistant District Attorney is Stephen Gilpatric.

The Middlesex District Attorney’s PACT Unit, established when District Attorney Leone took office, is dedicated to the investigation and prosecution of cases of public protection (including white collar, narcotics and organized crime), anti-terrorism, corruption, and cyber/technology. The Unit has investigated and prosecuted multiple cases in each of these areas, including the following white collar crime cases: 

• Commonwealth vs. Brian Dalphonse, in which the defendant, the CFO of St. John’s Preparatory School, pleaded guilty on larceny charges for stealing $80,000 from the school.
• Commonwealth vs. Josephine Nealley and Raymond Rodriguez, former employees at Tufts Universitywho pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $1 million from the university.
• Commonwealth vs. Peter Limone, et al, in which more than 140 indictments were brought against 20 men in connection with their involvement in organized crime activities, all of whom pled guilty.
• Commonwealth vs. John Buonomo, in which the defendant, the former Register of Probate, pled guilty to the theft of thousands of dollars of public monies.
• Commonwealth vs. Paul Camilli, the former Superintendent of Public Works in the town of Maynard, found guilty of soliciting cash payments from a private developer in exchange for relaxing the permitting and inspection process for a construction project.
• Commonwealth vs. Albert Bellamy Lovering, who pled guilty to charges after stealing over $200,000 from four different victims he met on social dating websites.
• Commonwealth vs. Arthur Hitchman, a former inspector for the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) who pled guilty to charges that he used his position of authority to extort money from a business under his jurisdiction.
• Commonwealth vs. David Hilaire, a Lowell building inspector convicted on charges of larceny for inducing his 86-year-old neighbor into signing her home over to him.