John George federal sentencing delayed two weeks
The sentencing for former Dartmouth Select Board member John George, 68, who was convicted in April of federal embezzlement and conspiracy charges, has been pushed back from July 15 to July 29, according to his attorney William J. Cintolo.
“I needed more time,” said Cintolo. “I’m supposed to be some place else that same day.”
George, who owned the Union Street Bus Company, was convicted on both charges presented by the United States District Court in Boston.
Those included charges that he embezzled money from the company, which operated under the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) and was subsidized with taxpayer funds. The corruption charges were in relation to George using bus company workers for George Farms on Slocum Road and boosting his salary in order to receive and increased pension.
According to the United States District Attorney’s Office of Massachusetts, George “conspired with certain individuals to have various Union Street Bus Company employees work at the John George Farm during their assigned work hours.”
The farm work included plowing, loading produce, and operating a produce stand at John George Farm, all during Union Street Bus Company business hours.
“As part of the conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, George deployed Union Street Bus Company workers to John George Farm to repair George’s farm equipment, used Union Street Bus Company equipment and labor to provide personal out-of-state roadside assistance, and inflated his final yearly salary from $75,000 to $275,000 in an attempt to fraudulently boost his SRTA pension,” said the report.
According to the report, George faces up to 10 years in prison and up to $250,000 for the embezzlement charge. The corruption charge allows up for a five year prison sentence and another $250,000 in fines, though charges are typically less for such offenses.