Worcester News

Developer gets 37 months in prison Worcester fraud case

  • Posted by Worcester News March 31, 2021 - Filed in News - #James Levin  #5 May Street  #Jacklyn M. Sutcivni  - 5,771 views

    James Levin pleaded guilty to swindling $2.3 million for May Street apartment building

    James Levin was sentenced to 37 months in prison for his role in swindling the government out of $2.3 million in a failed Worcester real estate deal.

    On Tuesday in Worcester, “Levin … was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 37 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture to be determined at a later date,” according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston.

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    In September, “Levin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and false claims,” the release reads.

    5 May Street (google)

    The case involved the City of Worcester and a property at 5 May St.

    Levin obtained federal money from the city to rehab the apartment building at 5 May St.

    “Levin submitted seven payment requests to the City for work he fraudulently claimed he completed on the building and associated costs. Despite not completing the work he claimed in the payment requests, Levin obtained over $2.3 million in funds for the 5 May Street project, which the City of Worcester was required to pay back to the government.”

    Levin co-defendant was former city housing official Jacklyn M. Sutcivni. According to a September article in the Telegram & Gazette, “Sutcivni was chief of staff for economic development to former City Manager Michael V. O’Brien, a job that required her to oversee the distribution of public funds for housing projects.”

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