Saugus library theft suspect reveals strategy

SAUGUS – The lawyer representing a former Saugus library worker accused of stealing $800,000 said the money his client is accused of stealing was used for library expenses.Fred Riley, who is representing Saugus resident Linda Duffy, made his claim at a status hearing at U.S. District Court in Boston Tuesday afternoon.Riley also said he needs funds to hire a forensic accountant to look at the town records to see whether or not the town paid library expenses going back to 2007.?What we?re saying is, when the library was not funding vendors from June of 2007, but was funding part-time employees ? that had to be paid,” said Riley. “Her claim is that she paid most of, if not all of the expenses to operate the library.”Federal agents arrested Duffy in December for allegedly stealing more than $800,000 in library fees and donations over a seven-year period while an employee there, according to her indictment. The 65-year-old is charged with four counts of mail fraud, 10 counts of money laundering and one count of aggravated identity theft.Riley pointed to the ongoing forensic audit of the town?s finances to show that money may not have been properly spent on the library and said that if the town was not paying library expenses, then “someone had to” and he said that person was Duffy.Riley, who stepped down from the Library Board of Trustees over the summer to represent Duffy, also said he may want to seek funds to hire a mental health expert to examine Duffy.?That?s a possibility, but it?s premature,” said Riley.Riley said this could show that Duffy is either “not in the condition” to appreciate the “wrongfulness” of her action or could be used to “mitigate sentencing.”Riley requested an additional 90 days to review the prosecution?s evidence, which includes financial spreadsheets, Duffy?s work email and hard drive, and two boxes of files from her 1993 conviction for mail fraud and conspiracy. He also said he wants to see files from the recent $100,000 insurance settlement paid to the library.However, Judge Robert B. Collings said 90 days was too long and set May 30 at 3 p.m. for a final status hearing.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].