For Immediate Release: June 26, 2008                                    
Contact: Corey Welford/Jessica Venezia 781-897-8325

Lowell Police Officer Indicted For Extortion, Gambling Charges

WOBURN – Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today that a Lowell Police officer has been indicted on extortion and gambling charges.

David Annis, 33, was indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury today on charges of Extortion, Keeping a Place for Registering Bets or Dealing in Pool, Unauthorized Access to a Computer System, and Unlawfully Obtaining Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI).

It is alleged that Annis gambled on sporting events using a website run by a bookmaker from Westford. It is further alleged that Annis built a debt in the thousands of dollars and, in an effort not to pay that debt, used his authority as a police officer to unlawfully access CORI information and intimidate the bookmaker from collecting his debt.

“We allege that David Annis violated the trust and authority bestowed on him as a police officer to commit these crimes,” District Attorney Leone said. “I want to thank the Lowell Police Department for discovering these alleged crimes and then stepping forward to refer this case to us for a full and thorough investigation.”  

“This indictment alleges serious crimes committed by Officer Annis,” Lowell Police Superintendent Kenneth Lavallee said. “He will have his day in court, but if these allegations prove to be true, Officer Annis will have betrayed his oath of office and his badge. Public trust is critical to the law enforcement mission. Criminal behavior cannot be tolerated at any level.”

Based on a cooperative investigation by Lowell Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s PACT Unit, it is alleged that Annis began gambling in August 2007 on sporting events utilizing a website run by a Westford bookmaker. He built up gambling debts in the thousands of dollars.

Ultimately, Annis built a debt of $5000, which was the maximum debt he was allowed to incur by the bookmaker. In September 2007, the bookmaker arranged to meet Annis so that he could collect the money owed. During that exchange, it is alleged that Annis showed the bookmaker his badge and indicated that he may be investigating gambling cases. Annis is alleged to have indicated to the bookmaker that wouldn’t be arrested and that “things could go smoothly for him.” Annis then never paid the bookmaker his debt and warned him not to blow his cover. Annis is also alleged to have shown the bookmaker CORI records of the bookmaker and others during this conversation.

During the investigation, Annis gave admissions that he was not doing an official investigation into gaming crimes.

An arraignment date has not yet been set.

These charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by John Verner, Chief of the Middlesex District Attorney’s PACT Unit. The case was investigated by the Lowell Police and the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the PACT Unit.

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