The Associated Press
BOSTON- A federal investigation found that Massachusetts’ top U.S. marshal broke the law by skipping out on work and using his government vehicle for personal errands.
The report by the Justice Department’s inspector general followed a 2004 investigation by The Boston Globe that found Anthony Dichio spent an average of four hours, 22 minutes at his office during a 10-day period last fall.
“We believe that Dichio’s actions warrant discipline, including consideration of whether he should remain as the U.S. marshal,” says the 35-page report released to the Globe on Wednesday.
Dichio, 45, leads a staff of about 120 federal agents responsible for securing courthouses, protecting federal judges, juries and witnesses, capturing fugitives and transporting prisoners.
In a statement Wednesday, Dichio, who is paid $130,300 a year, said he believed he was following the rules and no fault had been found with his performance. He cited a 51 percent increase in the arrests of fugitives over the past two years, as well as “significant improvements” to the security of federal courthouses.
On each day that Globe reporters tailed Dichio last fall, he was credited with a full eight hours of work, according to time sheets. When he was not at his office at the federal courthouse in Boston, he often was doing errands or was at his home in Westford, 36 miles northwest of the city.
Dichio, a former state police officer who served on the security detail of former Republican Gov. Paul Cellucci, was appointed by President Bush in 2002.
The report by the office of Inspector General Glenn A. Fine is being reviewed by the Justice Department, spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said. The White House would have to sign off on any disciplinary action, officials said.