THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JAnUAry 3, 2025 Page 9 Saugus man charged with embezzling more than $180,000 (Editor’s Note: The following is a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston.) A Saugus man has been arrested and charged for allegedly embezzling bank funds while working as a teller at TD Bank. Derek Aut, 28, has been charged by criminal complaint with embezzlement by a bank employee. Aut was arrested Dec. 18 and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston. According to the charging documents, Aut allegedly stole from the bank accounts of two TD Bank customers. When one of the victims noticed money missing from her account, Aut allegedly attempted to cover up his theft by taking money from the other victim’s account and depositing it into the first victim’s account. In total, Aut is alleged to have taken more COVER STORIES | FROM PAGE 2 gin of 44-0 with one abstention. The Annual Town Meeting approves an article introduced by Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta designed to make the rail trail safer for runners and walkers – who worry about getting hit by motorized vehicles. The new bylaw, if enacted, includes a 15 mph speed limit for motorized vehicles. Several signs promoting WIN Waste Innovations’ landscaping at Saugus Town Hall have disappeared recently. WIN Waste says it is reevaluating the Town Hall landscaping project, while a company critic said WIN Waste is upset that the town manager won’t sign the host community agreement that would support expansion of the ash landfill in return for $20 million from the company over the next 20 years. JUNE During the final session of than $180,000 from the victims’ accounts. The charge of embezzlement by a bank employee provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a $1 million fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. the 2024 Annual Town Meeting, members voted overwhelmingly in support of five zoning articles crafted by Selectman Michael Serino that would add more restrictions to the Route One Business Highway Sustainable Zoning District bylaw. The articles were designed to protect residents from Route 1 development. A state Land Court ruling paves the way for talks between the town and a company seeking to start a retail pot business in Saugus. A judge in the case dismissed part of a lawsuit that challenged the S-2 permit issued to Sanctuary Medicinals – the lone company out of seven applicants that obtained a special permit from selectmen to locate a retail marijuana dispensary in town. Saugus native and career educator Carla Scuzzarella – a 1976 Saugus High School graduate – returns to Saugus High School as Associate Principal. WIN Waste Innovations’ participation is still uncertain as the town’s newly created Ash Landfill Closure Committee Birthdays are special at the Senior Center DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS: The Saugus Senior Center recognized 17 residents who celebrated their birthdays collectively last Friday during a special celebration at the Saugus Senior Center. Pictured from left to right: Front row: Betty Dormer, Phyllis Marchioni, Clara Cotta, Dale Coogan, Maryanne Arcerero, Diane Nelson, Eleanor Bourque, Jean Lyons and Paul Gage; back row: Bill Pothier, Victor Bruno, Faye Lagrassa, Marcia Pollack, Fred Lewis, Mary Kinsell, Jay Agnew and Joan Nun. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate) O nce again, the Saugus Senior Center held its monthly birthday celebration on Friday, Dec. 27. Each month The Senior Center likes to recognize the senior birthdays with a collective birthday celebration. Each birthday recipient receives a free pizza lunch, cake, ice cream and a souvenir group photo to take home. begins its work. JULY Halfway through 2024, a majority of selectmen are proud of several accomplishments by the town. They cited the approval of another balanced budget by the Annual Town Meeting, which maintains the town’s fiscal stability, the issuance of two new liquor licenses to local restaurants and the appointment of several experienced professionals to volunteer boards. WIN Waste Innovations gives its official “no thank you” to an offer from the Ash Landfill Closure Committee to participate as a nonvoting member in the committee’s discussions about the future closure of the ash landfill Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree briefs selectmen on priority projects he has high hopes of completingby year’s end, including a plan to resurrect Anna Parker Playground with a state-of-the-art street hockey rink and six new pickleball courts. A recent Route 1 apartment proposal may help the town meet its 10 percent affordable housing requirement. Until that happens, the town will be virtually powerless to prevent the development of so-called 40B apartment projects. AUGUST The Town of Saugus continues its struggles to hire and keep Planning & Economic Development staff. Saugus Police have maintained a bicycle presence on the Northern Strand Community Trail for the second consecutive summer as they await approval from the state Attorney General’s Office on a new bylaw passed by Town Meeting that will empower them to fine people for operating unauthorized vehicles or speeding on the 2.5-mile segment of the trail that runs through Saugus. The three members of the state legislative delegation that represents Saugus have more than $160,000 in their campaign war chests available to spend on the fall state elections. But it appears they won’t need to spend anything because they lack opposition on the ballot for the Sept. 3 state primary and the Nov. 5 general election. Lawyers representing two nonprofit advocacy groups claim an admission policy approved by the Saugus School Committee a year ago constitutes an illegal barrier to immigrant students seeking to obtain an education. Next month’s state Primary Election results will determine which Republican candidate faces U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren in the Nov. 5 general election and whether Essex County Clerk of Courts Thomas Driscoll wins his fifth six-year term. SEPTEMBER The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has increased the West Nile virus risk level to high in Saugus following the announcement of two more human cases of WNV in Massachusetts. Long-time town Educator Brendon SulCOVER STORIES | SEE PAGE 12
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