Man Who Stole $175,000 from Framingham Soccer Club Pleads Guilty

WOBURN – Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan has announced that Scott Vermilya, 43, of Framingham, pled guilty today in Middlesex Superior Court to four counts of fiduciary embezzlement, five counts of larceny over $250, and false entry into corporate books.

Judge Kathe Tuttman sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment in the Billerica House of Correction, to be followed by a period of three years probation, during which time he is ordered to pay restitution totaling over $ 176,000 to reimburse for stealing monies from the Framingham United Soccer Club, of which he was the treasurer.

In May of 2012, Vermilya, an employee of ReMax/Destiny in Cambridge, began overseeing condominium associations for his firm. His responsibilities included collecting rent and association dues, paying taxes on the properties, overseeing repairs, maintenance, snow clearing, and landscaping work. Vermilya maintained sole authority over numerous bank accounts used by the real estate company to collect and hold company dues and to pay condominium expenses. An investigation into his activities showed that he would commingle funds and monies from the various accounts and shift money from one account to another to compensate for a shortfall in a second account, without a realistic plan for replacing the funds taken. On occasion monies taken were spent for his own personal benefit.

In January of 2014, Vermilya became the treasurer of Framingham United Soccer Association, Inc., in Framingham. Working in a volunteer capacity, Vermilya issued checks from the association totaling over $175,000 to cover shortfalls in his real estate management business, diverting funds from the soccer association to compensate for clients’ money that he had diverted from other accounts. The defendant also used the soccer club debit card for personal expenses.

“This case is a reminder that all businesses and non-profits should carefully monitor their financial transactions and remain vigilant in examining company funds. If something seems amiss, stop activity in the account and seek an accounting of the transactions,” said District Attorney Ryan.

This incident was investigated by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.

The prosecutor assigned to this case was Assistant District Attorney Doug Cannon.