Robert Kennedy, a former detective sergeant for the Stoneham Police Department, has recently pleaded guilty to defrauding three landlords, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Kennedy has crafted a scheme to deceive landlords and maximize personal profit. He provided false and misleading information on rental applications, deliberately violating the terms of his leases, and withheld rent payments, thus taking advantage of the eviction process to live rent-free, as reported by NBC10 Boston.
Despite earning more than $187,000 in 2020, Kennedy still faced court judgments in excess of $24,000 in June 2021. Over a three-year period, records show Kennedy, has earned roughly $531,000 as a Stoneham police officer, according to NBC10 Boston.
In another NBC10 Boston article, it is revealed that after being placed on paid administrative leave, Kennedy submitted his notice to retire from the police department. However, his deception continues, with his current landlords, Peter and Aarti Goldstein, stating they've yet to receive any rent payments since he moved into their property in November 2022.
As the Stoneham Police Department conducted an internal investigation into Kennedy's conduct, the officers' retirement decision may render disciplinary measures irrelevant. Nevertheless, John Clifford, an attorney representing Stoneham, assured the public that an investigative report would be produced, addressing any substantiated misconduct. He further acknowledged that the allegations would be referred to the Middlesex District Attorney and the Attorney General, with the town fully cooperating in any resulting investigation or criminal prosecution, according to NBC10 Boston.
