Former Mayor's Assistant Pleads Guilty, Faces 5-7 Years in Jail

A one-time city solicitor and aide to former Mayor Richard Howard could face large fines and 5-7 years in prison under a deal struck with prosecutors this week, the Boston Globe's Jarret Bencks reported Monday. 

Charles Toomajian, 55, pleaded guilty to larceny and accessory after the fact to a felony in Middlesex County Superior Court this week. 

In exchange, prosecutors dropped a number of other charges facing the Malden lawyer, including conspiracy and receiving stolen property. 

His sentencing is scheduled for May 28. 

The original indictment was part of a larger sting against a reputed organized crime ring run by Mark Rosetti of East Boston. Prosecutors said Toomajian was involved in a scheme with Charles Davis, of Salem, N.H., to embezzle money from Randstad Professionals, a professional staffing agency where Davis worked.

Toomajian reportedly helped him launder over $1.8 million to help finance gambling debts. He was also accused of personally stealing $659,525 from the company.

At the time, then-Mayor Howard kept Toomajian as a "special asisstant" in the Mayor's office. The criminal charges were related to Toomajian's private law practice, unrelated to his work in city hall. 

"I have decided to not change Charlie's status with my office in order to allow him the time to sort through these allegations with his personal legal counsel," wrote Howard in a statement at the time.

"...Everything we know about Charlie and his work over the years is inconsistent with his alleged association to these matters." 

Read the Globe's story here.