The Associated Press
BOSTON - The U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation into the work habits of the U.S. marshal for Massachusetts, in the wake of a Boston Globe report that Anthony Dichio rarely put in a full day’s work during a period when reporters tailed him.
For each of the days Dichio was followed, he was credited with a full eight hours of work, according to time sheets obtained by the Globe. However he averaged just four hours and 17 minutes, the Globe said. 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.
The surveillance between Sept. 28 and Oct. 20 was conducted by two reporters, who sometimes were joined by a Globe photographer.
Initially, Donald Hines, a spokesman for U.S. Marshals Service director Ben Reyna, said Monday that the agency would conduct an investigation of Dichio through its internal affairs unit. However Tuesday, Hines said that Department of Justice officials decided to take over the probe, with Renya’s agreement. The Marshals Service is part of the Justice department.
Also Tuesday, William G. Young, chief judge of the U.S. District Court in Boston, called for a full written report on Dichio from U.S. Marshals Service headquarters in Washington. Young said in an interview with the Globe that he sent the letter to Renya on behalf of all 17 federal judges in Massachusetts.
Hines said Young’s letter would be referred to Glen A. Fine, inspector general of the Department of Justice, who will head the probe.
Hines also said the investigation would include a review of cell phone and computer records, and the electronic security system at the federal courthouses in Boston, Worcester and Springfield to check the times Dichio entered and exited.
“I’m sure they will exhaust all leads and look for all the documentary evidence they can,” Hines said.
As marshal, Dichio, 44, is paid $129,000 a year, and is responsible for protecting federal judges, juries, witnesses and other court officials, as well as for capturing fugitives and transporting prisoners.
In addition to his federal salary, Dichio, 44, receives an annual pension of $45,000 from the state for his 22 years as a state police trooper, according to the state treasurer’s office.
Approached by a Globe reporter Tuesday, Dichio did not dispute the accounting of the number of hours he spent at work during the days he was watched by the Globe, but said he could not comment on them, and referred questions to the U.S. Marshals office in Washington.
“When the investigation comes out, then you can talk to me,” he said. “It’s under investigation now, so you’ll have to call Washington.”
Also Tuesday, Diane LeBlanc, regional administrator of the National Archive and Records Administration, contacted the Globe to say that on Oct. 12, one of the days the Globe had Dichio under surveillance, he did not go directly to the federal courthouse, but started his day at the Thomas P. O’Neill federal building in Boston. He attended an 8:30 a.m. meeting of the federal executive board, a panel that coordinates federal initiatives. The Globe had recorded Dichio as entering the courthouse at 9:22 a.m. that day.
Dichio was appointed by President Bush in August 2002, despite objections from the state’s congressional delegation. Dichio had the strong backing of former Gov. Paul Cellucci, then U.S. ambassador to Canada.
On Tuesday, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., released a statement saying:
“I urge the Marshals Service to conduct an immediate investigation into the Globe’s shocking report. It’s difficult to believe that after the controversy over Mr. Dichio’s initial appointment, he would so cavalierly violate the public trust.”