U.S. Attorney's Office
District of Massachusetts
August 6, 2024
Defendant took numerous government-funded personal trips, including 31 trips to Orlando, Florida
BOSTON – An Uxbridge man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for conspiring to defraud the government of thousands of dollars between 2014 to 2018.
Thomas Bouchard, 61, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 12 months and one day in prison followed by one year of supervised release. In July 2022, Bouchard pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and 10 counts of theft of government funds. Bouchard was arrested and charged in July 2020 along with co-defendant Chantelle Boyd.
“Those of us who are privileged to work in public service owe a duty to the taxpayers to act with integrity at all times. This defendant clearly failed in adhering to this solemn oath and abused his position of trust to line his own pockets, hire a friend into a phantom position and enjoy junkets all on the taxpayer’s dime. He will now pay the price for his inexcusable conduct,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.
“GSA OIG special agents are committed to working with DOJ and investigative partners to ensure that taxpayer dollars are properly spent and protected," said Special Agent in Charge Joseph Dattoria of the GSA Office of Inspector General, Northeast Division.”
“Investigating individuals who hold positions of trust and misuse Department of Defense (DoD) funds is a top priority for the DoD Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS)," stated Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty, DCIS Northeast Field Office. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates our commitment to work with the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners to protect DoD assets and programs.”
Bouchard was the Contracting Officer in charge of the U.S. Army Natick Contracting Division, a full-service contracting organization for the Department of Defense. In 2014, Bouchard used his long-standing relationship with Evolution Enterprise, Inc., a government contractor, to have Boyd hired for a “no show” job as an assistant that specifically supported Bouchard. Boyd’s position cost the Department of Defense more than $490,000 during her time at Evolution from 2014 to 2018, during which Boyd performed little if any useful function.
Bouchard and Boyd took numerous government-funded trips, ranging in duration from two to 15 days, under the guise that they were work related. This included 31 trips to Orlando, Fla., among other locations such as Clearwater Beach, Fla., and Stafford, Va., during which Boyd performed little if any work. For many of the trips, Bouchard and Boyd stayed in the same hotel room and spent time at the pool and Disney parks – all during business hours. In order to conceal the personal nature of the trips, Bouchard altered, created and approved false travel to reimburse the Boyd for out-of-pocket expenses.
On April 3, 2023, Boyd pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, 10 counts of theft of government funds and false declarations. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 14, 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; GSA OIG SAC Dattoria; DCIS SAC Hegarty; and Michael Conner, Special Agent in Charge of the Army Criminal Investigation Division Major Procurement Fraud Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil J. Gallagher, Jr. of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office press release
