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Former Stoughton detective charged with lying to FBI

E-mail|Link|Comments () November 20, 2009 03:40 PM

By Shelley Murphy, Globe Staff

A former Stoughton police detective was charged today with making false statements to FBI agents during an ongoing corruption investigation.

Arlindo Romeiro, 37, who resigned from the force Thursday, was charged with one count of making false statements and representations while being interviewed by the FBI on July 13. He is charged in a federal information, which generally signals that a defendant has already reached a plea agreement and waived his right to have evidence presented to a grand jury.

FBI agents seized two stolen flat-screen televisions from the wall of a Portuguese social club on Washington Street in Stoughton a few months ago as part of an ongoing federal grand jury investigation into allegations of theft and possible corruption involving Stoughton police officers.

Romeiro's attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.

In a press release announcing the charge this afternoon, US Attorney Carmen Ortiz said, "The integrity of our justice system requires police officers to be truthful when questioned regarding any subject, and particularly in corruption matters. Allegations of a police officer making false statements are serious charges and undermine the public's confidence in our criminal justice system.''

Romeiro was not arrested. He has been ordered to appear in US District Court in Boston on Dec. 7 for arraignment.