Today, the office of Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced the indictment of a former Medfield public employee, Kevin Ryder, by the Norfolk County Grand Jury for alleged misappropriation of municipal funds and abuse of his official position. Ryder, who worked as the Parks and Recreation Director for the Town of Medfield from 2014 to August 2022, faces numerous charges, such as four counts of Larceny over $1200 by Scheme, one count of Larceny under $1200, one count of Accepting Illegal Gratuities, and two counts of the Use of Official Position to Secure an Unwarranted Privilege, according to the Office of the Attorney General.
In this case, the accountability of municipal employees and the mechanism for safeguarding taxpayers' money are brought to scrutiny. The case was initially brought attention to by the Town of Medfield and handed over to the Attorney General's Office. The investigation revealed that Ryder allegedly misappropriated over $100,000 from the town, mostly consisting of cash from entrance fees and concessions at the local Hinkley Swim Pond.
Further investigations uncovered additional instances of Ryder's reported corruption, such as the purchase worth thousands of dollars of personal items through the town's Amazon business account. The items ranged from merchandise for his side-business to electronic devices he allegedly resold on eBay, according to the press release. Furthermore, it's alleged that Ryder exploited his position multiple times for financial gain, by selling town-bought equipment and keeping the proceeds, and even receiving kickbacks totaling over $16,000 from a local gym after his department financially sponsored an exercise program there.
