Ethics Commission Rules Against Ex-Peabody Treasurer

PEABODY, MA —Former Peabody Treasurer Jeanne Carnevale used her position to benefit from the sale of three tax-delinquent properties, according to a ruling by the Massachusetts Ethics Commission.

Carnevale signed an admission and paid a $50,000 fine. She also agreed to not contest the commission's findings. Carnevale, who retired in 2012 after five years in the position, is the daughter of former mayor Peter Torigian.

The Ethics Commission report said Carnevale used her foreclosure power to steer the sale of a delinquent property to Melo's Construction, a contractor that had worked on her home. She had the contractor use her real estate broker, Janet Howcroft.

Melo's paid $195,000 for the property and eventually resold it for $625,000 after making $90,000 in improvements. Howcroft collected $9,750 in fees.

The commission also said Carnevale used her position to get the daughter of the deceased owner of one of the houses placed in Peabody public housing to quicken one of the house sales. In another deal, her daughter purchased a delinquent home for $125,000 and Howcroft collected $4,000 in fees. Carenevale's daughter resold the home to Melo's for $210,000 five days after purchasing it.

The Ethics Commission did not, however, suggest additional enforcement, saying "the public interest would be served by the disposition of this matter without further enforcement proceedings."