An East Windfall, R.I., man is due in a Boston courtroom later this month in a case alleging he defrauded MassChallenge whereas working for the nonprofit when he purchased 142 laptops with the group’s bank card and later stole most of them, in line with Suffolk District Legal professional Kevin R. Hayden’s workplace.
Jonathan Alexander Mateo, 38, was initially arraigned in South Boston Municipal Courtroom in July on a cost of larceny over $1,200 and launched on the time on private recognizance, in line with Hayden’s workplace and authorized filings. He pleaded not responsible.
Mateo’s subsequent listening to, Hayden’s workplace stated Tuesday, is scheduled for Sept. 20 on the South Boston courthouse.
Makes an attempt to achieve Mateo and his legal professional for remark weren’t instantly profitable on Tuesday afternoon.
Prosecutors allege that Alexander, a former worker of MassChallenge, purchased the Apple laptops with the group’s American Categorical card, however the nonprofit may solely account for twenty-four of them throughout a March audit, Hayden’s workplace stated.
The nonprofit tried unsuccessfully to contact Mateo, who by then had left the group, in line with prosecutors. Hayden’s workplace stated the worth of the lacking computer systems is estimated at greater than $100,000.
“Investigators are exploring the chance that Mateo used proceeds from the MassChallenge thefts to pay restitution associated to an analogous scheme in Rhode Island,” Hayden’s workplace stated.
Within the Rhode Island case, investigators discovered in 2019 that Mateo, then working at Windfall-based Upserve, Inc., had used that firm’s bank card to purchase a number of Apple computer systems, at the least one in all which he later bought on eBay, in line with authorities.
He pleaded responsible in that case to embezzlement, fraudulent use of bank cards, and larceny over $1,500, Hayden’s workplace stated.
Mateo within the Rhode Island case was sentenced to 5 years probation and ordered to pay $36,797 restitution, in month-to-month funds of $613.28, in line with authorized filings.
“This particular person apparently had the impression that the absence of greater than 100 Apple laptops would in some way go unnoticed,” Hayden stated in a press release on the pending case in Boston. “Like most others who try such schemes, he came upon simply how mistaken he was. He deserves to be dropped at justice for his brazenness, notably because it focused a non-profit that does nice work for entrepreneurs throughout Massachusetts.”
MassChallenge helps early-stage tech corporations get off the bottom all around the world.
It was based in 2009 in Boston and works to “equip daring entrepreneurs to disrupt the established order and create significant change,” its web site says.
Materials from prior Globe tales was used on this report. This breaking information story will probably be up to date when extra info is launched.
Travis Andersen may be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com.
