Former attorney Sean O’Donovan, accused of orchestrating a bribery scheme aimed at securing approval for a client’s recreational marijuana business in Medford, Massachusetts, has been convicted by a federal jury in Boston. O’Donovan, who once operated out of Somerville, was found guilty on two counts of honest services wire fraud and one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. The prosecution revealed that O’Donovan attempted to bribe Medford Police Chief Jack Buckley through a $25,000 offer to a relative, to influence the Chief’s official decision on a marijuana business application. However, the behavior was immediately reported the corrupt proposal to federal authorities, leading to O’Donovan’s arrest and conviction. O’Donovan now faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and an additional 10 years for the federal funds bribery count.
According to reporting from CommonWealth Magazine, O’Donovan was acting as a consultant for Theory Wellness, a cannabis company hoping to establish its presence in Medford. According to the press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, O’Donovan had an agreement with the company that would guarantee annual six-figure payments from the profits of the business. In pursuit of his own personal gain, O’Donovan tried to manipulate the approval process, pressuring the local mayor and trying to influence Chief Buckley. Sean O’Donovan is scheduled for sentencing on February 7, 2024.
Find the full press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Massachusetts here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/former-attorney-convicted-bribery-scheme
Additional information about this story is available from WWLP 22 News here: https://www.wwlp.com/news/crime/former-attorney-convicted-of-bribery-in-boston/
