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Since 2003 Hopkinton Online Press^TM "The News Starts Here!" 24 Main Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748 Editor@HopNews.com 508-435-5534 Updated: July 13, 2010 03:00:45 PM

Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission Investigator Arraigned

On Attempted Extortion And Bribery Charges

MALDEN- July 13, 2010 — An inspector for the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) has been arraigned on charges in connection to the distribution of a State liquor license in exchange for personal financial gain, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.

             Arthur Hitchman, 39, of Melrose, was arrested this morning and arraigned this afternoon in Malden District Court on charges of Attempted Extortion, Bribery, and Improper Storage Of A Firearm (2 counts).  Hitchman was ordered held on $3,000 cash bail with the conditions that he is to have no firearms and must stay away from the victim.

His next court date is August 11 for a probable cause hearing.

            According to authorities, the defendant contacted an individual who wanted to open a restaurant in Everett. The individual was ineligible for a pouring license because he was a convicted felon and, therefore, planned to run the business through the name of a female relative. The defendant, who had knowledge of the individual’s criminal history and the plan to run the business under a different name, told the man he would get him a liquor license in the female relatives name for $3,000, requiring the payment be made to him in cash.

            On May 18, 2010, an undercover State Trooper, posing as the female relative’s husband, met the defendant and handed him $3,000 in cash. The defendant accepted the money.

            The investigation by Massachusetts State Police Special Service Section, Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, as well as attorneys from the Middlesex District Attorney’s PACT Unit, has uncovered numerous conversations between the undercover State Trooper and the defendant. In these conversations, the defendant admitted that he had made changes to the affidavit filed by the female relative in order to ensure the license will be approved by the ABCC. 

             Additionally, in the course of these conversations, the defendant, unprompted, offered to sell the undercover State Trooper illegal video poker machines worth thousands of dollars and suggested that the undercover State Trooper could use them to generate illegal revenues at the bar and grill.

            A search warrant was executed this morning in Melrose and, during the search, State Troopers recovered two 9mm semi-automatic pistols, one of which was loaded.  Neither pistols were secured in a locked container or had safety device of any kind.  

             The ABCC has cooperated fully with the investigation

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

       The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney David Solet, a prosecutor with the office’s PACT unit.

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Last Update for this page:  07/13/2010 03:00:45 PM

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