Chelmsford Woman Stole $150K+ in Role as Tax Collector: AG

A North Chelmsford native who was the former tax collector for Blandford has been indicted in connection with allegedly stealing more than $150,000, Attorney General Maura Healey announced Tuesday.

LeeAnn Thompson, 47, of North Chelmsford, was indicted Friday by a Hampden County Grand Jury on the charges of embezzlement by a public officer, larceny over $250, and use of an official position to secure an unwarranted privilege.

“We allege that this defendant abused her role as a tax collector to steal thousands of dollars from the town of Blandford and its taxpayers, using various schemes to undermine the integrity of local government and the trust placed in her as a public official,” said Healey.

The AG’s Office began investigating in 2014 and the Inspector General’s Office joined in 2016.

Thompson was the Blandford tax collector from 2002 to 2011. She allegedly stole more than $150,000 from taxpayers and the town through "larcenous schemes" between 2006-2011, authorities allege. The AG’s Office expects that figure to increase.

Thompson allegedly took taxpayer cash payments, did not deposit them into the town bank account, and attempted to cover it up with other her taxpayer payments.

She also allegedly took cash payments, used escrow checks to pay off stolen funds, gave credit to taxpayers without having money to back up the credit, and took overpayments from town taxpayers without applying monies to their taxes, the AG's Office said.

Blandford’s new tax collector saw something was wrong when requesting a turn over report to account for missing monies. The town would later employ a forensic auditor, who uncovered more "larcenous schemes."

Thompson will be arraigned in Hampden Superior Court at a later date.