There was some hope that public anger would ease after learning that former Chelsea Housing Authority Director Mike McLauglin could potentially avoid jail if he cooperates by providing information about other politicians to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
We are deeply dissatisfied with the deal reached by the U.S. Attorney’s office. In our opinion, McLaughlin should face time in prison. He misled federal and state auditors with blatant falsehoods, and his excessive salary of more than $300,000 annually may have taken resources away from some of our most vulnerable residents, denying them access to adequate housing. It is only a guess that certain repair projects were delayed to redirect funds toward McLaughlin’s compensation.
McLaughlin has admitted guilt to four charges that carry significant fines and potential jail sentences.
The once confident McLaughlin has been brought low.
We hope it is not too late for the U.S. Attorney’s office to ensure that this criminal receives the prison time he is due.
Currently, although McLaughlin is expected to lose his state pension, he will likely retain the majority of the improperly earned salary he received over the past five years, totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. Furthermore, he will recover all the money he contributed to the state pension system.
In our view, jail time in situations like this not only holds offenders accountable but also acts as a warning to others who might be tempted to break public trust. Crime should not be rewarded. However, McLaughlin has demonstrated that, in his case, it has been, due to the apparently unclear plea agreement from the U.S. Attorney’s office.