Alleged Scam Artist Roger Williamson Arraigned on Multiple Charges in Salem

Alleged scam artist Roger Williamson was arraigned on a multitude of charges in Salem Superior Court on Thursday.

Williamson, 53, of either Revere or Rhode Island, was held on $250,000 bail on the charges, which stem from allegedly swindling his investors and landlord out of thousands of dollars related to a proposed Boston Street business.

Local residents might also remember Williamson as the owner of a Peabody restaurant in 2011 where he claimed that Adam Sandler, who was in the area filming a movie, stiffed him on a bill for catering services.

Only, according to law enforcement officials, Williamson then went by the name George Meehan and the claim was part of an alleged extortion plot.

Thursday’s charges were not tied to the 2011 incident.

According to prosecutors, the charges stem from Williamson attempting to convince investors to pay him money in return for a part of the “Soprano’s Cafe” restaurant and cafe. He also allegedly failed to pay his Salem landlord thousands of dollar.

Williamson was arraigned on three counts of larceny over $250, perjury, forgery, uttering a false writing, witness intimidation, criminal harassment, money laundering, and identity fraud, according to Carrie Kimball Monahan of the Essex County District Attorney’s office. Prosecutors believe Williamson may have used as many eight different names in the past.

The district attorney’s office had Williamson’s address as in Revere, but according to Williamson’s attorney, that was his mother’s address and he was living in Rhode Island with his girlfriend.

Williamson was arrested as a fugitive from justice in Glocester, Rhode Island earlier this month.