BOSTON, MA – Robert Kennedy, a former detective sergeant for the Stoneham Police Department, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for falsifying rental applications and intentionally withholding rent payments. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled Kennedy’s sentencing for January 4, 2024.
Kennedy, 54, was indicted in April 2023, following his arrest in March. The defendant defrauded his last three landlords by providing false information on his rental applications. After securing the apartments, he would intentionally fail to make rent payments, despite earning between $141,000 and $187,000 annually from his role in the police department. By doing so, Kennedy took advantage of the slow eviction process to live rent-free.
In his most recent scheme, Kennedy bypassed tenant screening that required a credit and eviction history check. Instead of providing his personal information, which would have revealed his poor financial history, Kennedy used the information of a relative who shared his name. The landlord then approved Kennedy’s application based on this fraudulent information. Kennedy further violated the lease terms by issuing bad checks for rent and a security deposit. He lived in the apartment for about four months without making rent payments, accruing approximately $14,000 in unpaid rent.
Each wire fraud charge Kennedy pleaded guilty to carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case was announced by Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. The Stoneham Police Department provided valuable assistance. Prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elysa Q. Wan and Dustin Chao.