ABCC Inspector indicted on bribery charges

Prosecutors have indicted an Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABCC) inspector on extortion and bribery charges for allegedly taking money from a restaurant owner trying to get a liquor license for a new restaurant in Everett, according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.

Arthur Hitchman, 39, of Melrose, allegedly contacted the new restaurant owner because he knew the restaurateur had a previous criminal conviction. According to prosecutors, Hitchman, while working as an ABCC inspector, told the restaurant owner that if he paid him $3,000, he could ensure the license would still be approved. State Police were alerted, and, in May, a trooper posing as a family member of the restaurant owner met Hitchman, and paid him $3,000, according to prosecutors.

Hitchman allegedly accepted the money and told police he would help secure the liquor license, according to the district attorney’s office. Also during conversations with police, he allegedly offered to sell the restaurant owner illegal video poker machines worth $1,000, the DA’s office said in a statement. State Police searched Hitchman’s Melrose home in July, and found two 9mm semi-automatic pistols. He was arrested that afternoon on gun charges, and arraigned in Malden District Court where he was held on $3,000 cash bail.

Hitchman was indicted Friday by a Middlesex grand jury on the charges of attempted extortion, soliciting and accepting a corrupt gift to influence an official act; solicitation to commit the receiving of stolen property; and two counts of improper storage of a firearm. He will be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn on Oct. 8.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1284733

Related Arthur Hitchman article Courtesy of WBZ

DA: Inspector Accepts Liquor License Bribe

MALDEN (WBZ)

Arthur Hitchman, 39, of Melrose.

An inspector for the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) is accused of accepting money in exchange for granting a liquor license, according to Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone said.

Arthur Hitchman, 39, of Melrose, is accused of granting a liquor license to a convicted felon in exchange for $3,000 cash and trying to sell illegal video poker machines to an undercover state police officer.

“This defendant is accused of taking advantage of his position of authority to grant a liquor license in exchange for personal gain,” Leone said.

Hitchman has been suspended without pay. He will be arraigned in Malden District Court on Wednesday on charges of attempted extortion, bribery, solicitation to commit a felony and filing a false official report.

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