Former Harvard Employee Charged With Stealing Over $80,000 From The University

WOBURN – Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan has announced that Shawn Bunn, 44, of Waltham, was arraigned today in Woburn Superior Court on charges of larceny, false entry in corporate books, and uttering of forged documents in connection with allegedly using his Harvard University employee credit card to pay for personal purchases. 

Clerk Magistrate Michael Sullivan released the defendant on his own recognizance after being fitted with an electronic monitoring bracelet. The defendant is subject to a curfew from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m and he is prohibited from leaving the state without the permission of the court. The next scheduled hearing in this case is Wednesday, October 28.

“This is a breach of trust by a school employee,” said District Attorney Marian Ryan. “Over a period of four years the defendant is alleged to have made personal purchases in excess of $80,000 therefore diverting resources from the students and faculty of Harvard University.”

Shawn Bunn worked as a computer lab manager for Harvard University for 17 years. During that time he was issued a credit card by the university for the express purpose of making purchases for a computer lab. The defendant was required to submit a receipt of all purchases over $75 and explain the nature of the purchase, as well as the applicability of the acquired item to his division. The defendant allegedly used the credit card for personal purchases and submitted false receipts to the university that were inconsistent with the items that the defendant allegedly bought.

The defendant is further alleged to have purchased multiple Apple products through a university purchasing program that he billed to Harvard but appropriated for personal use. A review by Harvard University’s finance department found hundreds of unauthorized purchases on the defendant’s Harvard credit card and a search warrant executed by the Harvard Police Department on the defendant’s home and office allegedly yielded many of those items including televisions, Lego sets, iPads, a table saw, and a garbage disposal.

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

This case has been investigated by the Harvard University Police Department.

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Kristen Noto.