Ex-Housing head charged federally for falsely reporting bloated salary

BOSTON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) The former head of the Chelsea Housing Authority was charged in federal court on Wednesday for falsely reporting his salary in required annual budgets.

Former Executive Director Michael E. McLaughlin, 67, of Dracut is facing charges that include four counts of falsifying a record in a federal agency matter with intent to impede and obstruct that matter.

Federal officials claim McLaughlin concealed and falsified entries in records and documents including in the annual fiscal year budgets of the Chelsea Housing Authority between 2008 and 2011.

McLaughlin is accused of stating his annual salary was $151,945, when his actual salary for 2008 was at least $242,908 under his contract. This alleged false reporting continued for three more years.

The 67-year-old is faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty, which would be followed by three years supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each count.

Former director Michael McLaughlin was forced to resign in 2011 after it was revealed he hid his inflated paycheck and cashed in unused sick and vacation days despite working only 15 full days in 2011.

The former housing authority head was involved politically with Lt. Gov. Tim Murray. The lieutenant governor reportedly helped McLaughlin's son get a job on the state Board of Appeals. His son was later fired amid allegations that he falsified time sheets.

In a surprising decision, Lt. Gov. Murray announced last week that he will not run for governor in 2014 due to his responsibility to family.

Cox Media Group