Lead Backer Pulls Out Of Group That Wants To Build Wilmington Drug Addiction Treatment Facility

WILMINGTON, MA -- David Ray, a key partner in a group that wants to build a drug addiction treatment facility in Wilmington released a statement Wednesday saying he was stepping away from the group proposing the controversial project. The full text of Ray's email to reporters and town officials follows:

"Although the discussed potential detox project is much needed and worthwhile, it has become a major point of contention centered around me and my involvement. I was asked by a larger group of partners and Mike Caira to lead the presentations but unfortunately the project has become synonymous with me.

"I am withdrawing any involvement on all levels and wish the group success in any future endeavors they may have.

"Many of the statements made about me are unfounded, untrue and disrespectful. I am deeply saddened that all of the work over the past several years has been boiled down to this type of negativity."

On Monday, Ray outlined his plan to the Wilmington Board of Selectmen and more than 100 people who attended the meeting to speak for and against the project. Ray ran sober houses in Wakefield and Wenham, all of which closed in December 2015. The facility he was proposing for a vacant lot at 362 Middlesex Avenue in Wilmington would have been a medical facility where people in the early stages of drug withdrawal would be stabilized before being referred to longer term drug treatment facilities.

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Earlier on Wednesday, Patch reported that the operator of a Wakefield drug treatment facility who knew Ray and the parent of one of Ray's former patients had sent letters to Wilmington Selectmen and raised concerns about his past business practices. Those concerns include questions about Ray's qualifications to run drug treatment facilities, allegations of financial mismanagement of his former businesses and the abrupt closing of the three facilities that left many patients scrambling for a place to live when Ray's company, which was called Number 16, abruptly closed in December 2015.

"As far as I'm concerned, David Ray is a snake oil salesman who had a good run," Richard Winant, who runs the Kelly House, a sober living facility in Wakefield and alerted Wilmington Selectmen of his concerns, told Patch. "He had a very niche market -- he targeted affluent people who were desperate because their kids were struggling with addiction."

Ray's withdrawal from the project does not, however, mean that the proposal is dead. Ray's statement leaves open the possibility that his other partners will be able to move forward with the proposal. Those partners include Wilmington builder Paul Kneeland and community former town manager Michael Caira, who told selectmen Monday that he was working with the ownership group as a volunteer consultant and would not be paid for his work.

The proposal has divided Wilmington. On one side, residents are worried about the impact a detox facility would have on the neighborhood and surrounding property values. On the other side, many residents -- including Wilmington Police Chief Michael Begoni supported the project and see the detox center as a crucial tool to address an opiate epidemic that has hit Wilmington and other Massachusetts towns.

"The most important reason I’m here is because I’m tired of going to wakes and funerals. I’m tired of talking to friends who have lost family members -- particularly sons and daughters" to addiction, Caira said. "We recognize there is a problem in Wilmington...and this is a town-wide issue that is taking away four, five and six young people every year."

Even as questions about Ray's involvement were raised, residents continued to debate whether or not Wilmington should green-light the project. On Wednesday, the most recent revelations had only served to intensify the debate on social media:

At Monday's meeting, Selectmen Michael L. Champoux, Gregory Bendel and Kevin Caira indicated that they were in favor of the project, while Selectmen Edward Loud and Michael McCoy spoke against it. The selectmen do not have approval authority over the project, but the group proposing the detox center was seeking the boards endorsement as they move through the approval process.

Ray is a recovered alcoholic who grew up in North Reading but has moved to Florida after the sober houses he ran in Wakefield and Wenham closed. According to the Massachusetts Secretary of State, Number 16 was formed in 2007 by Ray and other partners. An IRS form 990, a financial disclosure form which nonprofits are required to file annually and make available to the public, shows that Ray earned more than $144,000 as CEO of the Wenham house in 2015. It was not clear if that salary was just for his work at the Wenham facility or for his work at Number 16 as well. Disclosure reports for the Wakefield facilities were not available.

Even as troubles seemingly mounted at Ray's Wakefield facilities, he continued to portray himself as an industry expert. Ray appeared on the "Today Show" in 2014 with Matt Lauer to talk about the rising problem of synthetic marijuana and the dangers facing the younger generation. Also in 2014, NBC Nightly News filmed a segment at Number 16's Wakefield sober house.

Screenshot from David Ray's 2014 appearance on NBC's Today Show.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851.