John George Jr. ordered to pay $1.38 million forfeiture, fate of farm uncertain

Sep 24, 2015

U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper has ordered John George Jr. to pay a $1.38 million forfeiture to the federal government.

The forfeiture is in addition to a 70-month sentence and $688,772 owed in restitution to the Southeastern Regional Bus Company (SRTA). George was sentenced on conspiracy and embezzlement charges in July.

Prosecutors said that, from 2006 to 2011, he received $1.3 million in management fees and that “forfeiture should be based on management fees during the conspiracy.”

At the time George’s attorney, William Cintolo, argued that the prosecution failed to make an adequate connection between the management fees and the fraudulent acts and filed an opposition to the forfeiture. Cintolo could not be reached for comment.

George, who owned the Union Street Bus Company in New Bedford, was convicted on charges that he embezzled money from the company, which operated under SRTA and was subsidized with taxpayer funds.

The corruption charges were in relation to George using bus company workers for John George Farms on Slocum Road and boosting his salary in order to receive an increased pension.

George received 60 months on the corruption charge and 70 months on the embezzlement charge. The two sentences will be served concurrently. The sentencing states that George will have three years of supervised release following incarceration.

The fate of the 34-acre farm, which is worth about $2 million, is uncertain.

In the order of forfeiture, filed to electronic records on Sept. 21, Casper wrote that “The United States may, at any time, move…to substitute property…to satisfy the money judgment in whole or in part.”

“We are very concerned about the farm because it is a large parcel of land,” said Select Board Chair Shawn McDonald.

“We want to keep it as a farm. We wouldn’t like to see it developed into homes. It all depends on what the feds do,” said McDonald. “It’s an unfortunate situation for everybody concerned.”

However, there’s not much the town can do at this time.

“It’s not the town’s decision as to what happens with that land. The decision rests with the federal government,” said Town Administrator David Cressman.

After Casper had denied George bail, Cintolo had filed an emergency notice of appeal on Sept. 17. That appeal was denied by the First Circuit Court of Appeals on Sept. 22.

In a transcript from George’s sentencing, which was added to electronic records this week at the U.S. District Court in Boston, Casper said she had to consider the seriousness of his crimes and provide “adequate deterrence” for him and others.

“You previously served as a state representative and as a selectmen in your town, and you’re certainly a prominent business owner, not just through the bus company, but through ownership and operation of the farm that has been in your family for quite a long time,” Casper said back in July.

“Sadly, both of those companies, both of those positions, are at the heart of the crimes that you committed here.”

Prior to his sentencing, George’s friends, family and colleagues submitted 185 letters of support, which were referenced by Casper during George’s sentencing.

“They speak not just to the good deeds that you’ve done over the course of your life, but your character and your hardworking nature and your positive impact in the community,” Casper said of the letters during the sentencing.