Former Framingham State Employee Charged With Stealing $110,000

A former Framingham State University employee was arrested and charged with stealing more than $110,000, most of which was used to purchase cocaine, according to a statement from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office.

Robert Walmsley, 34, of Brockton, is facing three counts of larceny over $250 and two counts of presenting a fraudulent claim to employer for payment, He was arraigned in Framingham District Court Tuesday and held on $20,000 bail.

“We allege that the defendant abused his position at this university in order to steal tens of thousands of dollars from the institution to fund his drug use,” Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said in a statement. “He then allegedly submitted falsified records in order to conceal his theft.

Walmsley was fired by the university in June 2013, when the university discovered he may have charged more than $100,000 on his procurement card. He was employed as Framingham State’s assistant director of alumni relations.

Authorities allege that between July 2011 and May 2013, Walmsley used his University procurement card to purchase hundreds of prepaid VISA gift cards totaling more than $100,000.

The gift cards were traced back to individuals who allegedly sold cocaine to Walmsley multiple times per week, authorities said.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Sarah Bookbinder of Coakley’s Public Integrity Division.