BOSTON — The former head of the Massachusetts State Police and a lobbyist have been arrested on conspiracy and extortion charges.

According to a Twitter post from the FBI, former State Police Association of Massachusetts (SPAM) President Dana Pullman and lobbyist Anne Lynch were arrested Wednesday morning at their homes in Worcester and Hull.

Pullman had stepped down as head of SPAM in September 2018 following a federal investigation into campaign donations allegedly being reimbursed to union members. The union cited personal reasons for his departure.

Federal authorities allege that for at least six years, Lynch and others were involved in a bribe to defraud the union's members and the state. Pullman received illegal bribes and kickbacks from Lynch's firm, attorneys say. The two were also allegedly involved in an attempt to defraud two companies doing business with the state.

FBI/Twitter.
FBI/Twitter.
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U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling says the State Police Association of Massachusetts (SPAM) was an association consisting of more than 1,500 troopers and sergeants from the Massachusetts State Police.

SPAM acted as the exclusive bargaining agent between its members and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts regarding the terms and conditions of SPAM members’ employment. Pullman, who was an MSP trooper from 1987 to at least 2018, was the President of SPAM from 2012 until his resignation on Sept. 28, 2018.  Lynch’s lobbying firm represented SPAM during the same time period, in exchange for monthly retainer payments.

It is alleged that, from at least 2012 until Pullman resigned as the President of SPAM in September 2018, Pullman, Lynch and others were involved in a conspiracy to defraud SPAM members and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of their right to honest services from Pullman through fraud and deceit. This included illegal bribes and kickbacks that Pullman received from Lynch and her firm. Pullman, Lynch and others were also allegedly involved in a scheme to defraud two different companies that sought to do business with the Commonwealth.

In addition, Pullman is also charged with wire fraud in connection with his alleged embezzlement and misuse of SPAM funds for personal use by (1) submitting expense reimbursement checks to SPAM without receipts; (2) circumventing and bypassing SPAM’s governing Executive Board; and (3) using a debit card tied to a SPAM bank account. Specifically, Pullman used the SPAM debit card to pay for thousands of dollars of meals, flowers, travel, and gifts for an individual with whom Pullman was having a romantic relationship.

The charges of fraud and conspiracy each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of obstruction of justice provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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