Former Harvard Employee from Waltham Charged With Stealing More Than $80,000

A Waltham man was arraigned on Wednesday on charges that he stole more than $80,000 from Harvard University, at which he was an employee.

Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan announced that Shawn Bunn, 44, was arraigned in Woburn Superior Court on charges of larceny, false entry in corporate books, and uttering of forged documents in connection with allegedly using his Harvard University employee credit card to pay for personal purchases.

Bunn was released on his own recognizance after being fitted with an electronic monitoring bracelet. He’s subject to a curfew from 9 a.m. to 7 a.m. and can’t leave the state without permission from the court.

The next scheduled hearing in this case is Wednesday, Oct. 28.

“This is a breach of trust by a school employee,” said District Attorney Ryan in a statement. “Over a period of four years, the defendant is alleged to have made personal purchases in excess of $80,000, therefore diverting resources from the students and faculty of Harvard University.”

Bunn worked as a computer lab manager for Harvard University for 17 years, during which time he was issued a credit card to make purchases for the lab. He was required to submit a receipt if he made purchases more than $75, and also explain the nature of the purchase. Allegedly, Bunn used the credit card for personal purchases and submitted false reports to the university.

Charges assert that Bunn bought multiple Apple products with university money, but were bought for personal use. Harvard’s finance department reviewed the transactions and found hundreds of unauthorized purchases on Bunn’s Harvard credit card.

A search warrant was executed by the Harvard Police Department, which yielded items such as televisions, Lego sets, iPads, a table saw and a garbage disposal.