Volunteer accused of stealing $120k from Watertown nonprofit

By Globe Staff

The former athletic director of a Watertown organization for Armenian youths was accused today of embezzling $120,000 from the nonprofit and blaming the missing funds on the Internal Revenue Service. Some of the money allegedly included deposits paid by young athletes so they could attend an Olympic-like competition in Athens.

Raffi Donoyan, 49, was indicted by a Middlesex grand jury on two counts of larceny over $250 for allegedly stealing from Homenetmen Eastern Region Inc., an international charitable organization. Donoyan, of Belmont, volunteered at Homenetmen from early 2003 to August 2005 and was athletic director and a board member.

According to press release from the state attorney general, Donoyan made cash withdrawals from the organization’s account and wrote checks payable to himself. The money included deposits for the Homenetmen’s World Athletic Games in Athens in July 2005.

In 2005, the treasurer and president of Homenetmen allegedly confronted Donoyan about irregularities in the bank account. Donoyan blamed the deficiencies on the IRS, saying the government had taken money out of the account, according to the attorney general.

Donoyan is to be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court in Cambridge on Dec. 5.

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