Former Campaign Treasurer From Farmington Accused of Embezzlement

FARMINGTON, CT — The treasurer of a failed election bid for a state Senate candidate was arrested Tuesday on a warrant, accusing him of embezzling more than $10,000 from the campaign treasury nearly five years ago.

William J. Baker, 45, was charged with second-degree larceny after a lengthy investigation into the finances for the William Wadsworth for State Senate Campaign. Wadsworth, a Republican, had been seeking the 5th District seat held by Democrat Beth Bye, but received 41 percent of the vote to Bye's 59 percent.

Following the Nov. 4, 2014 election, the Wadsworth campaign was selected randomly for an audit by the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC). The SEEC complaint summary stated Baker, the campaign treasurer, had refused to cooperate with the SEEC Audit Unit and has failed to supply the required documentation to support the campaign's expenditures. Attempts to contact Baker received no response, according to an affidavit supporting Baker's arrest.

The Wadsworth campaign had qualified for, and received, a grant of $94,690 from the Connecticut Citizens Election Program on July 28, 2014. Wadsworth cooperated with the SEEC audit and investigation, but had limited involvement in the campaign's finances, the affidavit states.

Investigation revealed Baker failed to file three SEEC reports by the required deadlines. The audit and investigation identified six checks and one cash withdrawal as personally benefiting the Baker, which were not authorized, nor supported, by any written agreement between Baker and the campaign committee. Wadsworth told authorities he was unaware of any written agreement to pay Baker for acting as campaign treasurer, believing him to be a campaign volunteer, according to the affidavit.

Search and seizure warrants were granted and executed for the campaign's Bank of America account, as well as Baker's home in the Unionville section of Farmington. The search warrant for Baker's home was executed on July 24, 2018, and Baker was very cooperative during the search, and directed inspectors to the location in the house where, as campaign treasurer, he kept the documentary records of the Wadsworth for State Senate Election Committee campaign records as well as electronic devices which were within the scope of the warrant. Baker provided passwords for the electronic devices and the records were seized, as were the electronic devices. Baker declined to be interviewed regarding the investigation, the affidavit states.