Former Massachusetts town official pleads guilty to wire fraud in Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A former Board of Tax Assessors chairwoman for a town in Massachusetts pleaded guilty in Rhode Island Monday to wire fraud, federal prosecutors said.

U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha said Cheryl Sullivan, 68, admitted that she used a River Island Condominium Association debit card 58 times to withdraw cash between January and November of 2019, when she went to Plainfield Park Casino in Plainfield.

At the time of the incident, Sullivan, said Cunha, was a Dedham town official and a property manager at River Island Condominium Association in Woonsocket.

From Jan. 4 to Nov. 19 of that year, Cunha said casino records show that Sullivan, who’s from Dedham, gambled at the casino 176 times — almost every day.

The condominium association’s bank records also revealed that the 68-year-old used the ATM 68 times to withdraw money during this time period — 58 of those happened at the casino.

Cunha said Sullivan tried using her personal debit card at the casino to take money out, but her card was declined. The condominium association’s card was then used.

An investigation by the FBI and police in Plainville and Woonsocket found that she defrauded the condominium association of nearly $49,156. About half of that money has been paid back to the association by Sullivan, said Cunha.

Sullivan is scheduled to be sentenced in September.