A former Quincy official admitted in federal court to a scheme that funneled city money into personal purchases, cash pickups and stolen receipts, with sentencing set for June 17, 2026.
Thomas F. Clasby, Jr., 61, pleaded guilty this week in Boston federal court to embezzlement, mail and wire fraud, and interstate transportation of stolen property linked to his time as Director of the Quincy Department of Elder Services. The judge set sentencing for June 17, 2026. Clasby led Elder Services from roughly 1999 until April 2024.
Federal prosecutors say the misconduct began in 2019 when Clasby used the city’s purchasing process to pay for things that were not city business. He routed payments through vendors and a consulting company tied to an associate to create cash that he then collected. The indictment that followed alleged a steady pattern of using official channels to cover personal expenses.
Specific charges list multiple personal purchases made with city funds, including $8,950 to a music studio for recordings of Clasby singing, $2,236 to food vendors for 153 pounds of bourbon steak tips, $4,800 for a Toyota Prius, and $1,658 for a signature, lacquered, mounted and framed self-portrait. Prosecutors also say Clasby arranged for the City to pay over $38,000 to a New York consulting company owned by a friend. That company allegedly provided no services to any city department.
The government’s account describes the friend cashing city checks and handing the proceeds to Clasby at multiple locations, including a rest stop in Framingham, a ferry terminal in Bridgeport, and the friend’s apartment in New York. Beginning in June 2021, Clasby is accused of taking the majority of cash receipts collected at the Kennedy Center in Quincy. Those steps formed the backbone of the alleged fraud scheme.
The legal exposure related to the plea is significant: embezzlement carries up to 10 years in prison, mail and wire fraud carry penalties of up to 20 years, and interstate transportation of stolen property carries up to 10 years. Each offense also carries up to three years of supervised release and potential fines up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by the federal judge under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable statutes.
Authorities announced the case this week, citing work by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. The Quincy Police Department provided valuable assistance during the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina E. Barclay from the Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit is handling the prosecution.
Editor’s Note: Do you enjoy Townhall’s conservative reporting that takes on the radical Left and woke media? Support our work so that we can continue to bring you the truth. Join Townhall VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
