Ex-Lawmaker Seeks Return of $800K Pension in Court

Former Massachusetts lawmaker David Nangle wants his pension restored, several years after a federal fraud conviction ended his political career.

He Diverted $70,000 to Gamble and Play Golf 

The now 65-year-old represented Lowell in the state legislature for over two decades, but his career unraveled in 2021 when he pleaded guilty to charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, and filing false tax returns. He was later sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Prosecutors said Nangle diverted more than $70,000 from his campaign account to cover personal expenses. These included gambling losses, a golf club membership, rental cars used for trips to casinos, and gifts such as flowers. 

Despite earning more than $100,000 a year, he still struggled financially due to frequent gambling at casinos in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, as well as online betting.

Authorities also said he misled a bank to secure roughly $300,000 in loans and filed inaccurate tax returns over several years.

Personal or Official?

The conviction ended his time in public office and led to the loss of his state pension. Under Massachusetts law, public officials can forfeit pensions if their crimes are tied to their role in office. 

The current legal battle focuses on whether Nangle’s actions were connected to his position as a lawmaker. The final decision will determine if the ex-lawmaker can obtain his pension of over $800,000. 

In a recent appeal to the Massachusetts Superior Court, Nangle argued that his actions were “personal in nature” and not related to his official duties. He also claims that losing the pension would leave him “destitute.”

A lower court rejected that argument earlier this year. Judge Pacinco DeCapua ruled that Nangle had abused the trust placed in him as an elected official, adding that it was “only because he had been a member of the House of Representatives at the relevant time that he was in a position to illegally withdraw funds from his campaign account.”

DeCapua also questioned the claim that Nangle faces financial hardship, noting that he currently holds three jobs. These include working with an anti-gambling advocacy group and mentoring people recovering from addiction.

While acknowledging those efforts, the judge said Nangle is on “a road of redemption,” but added that he had “dishonored his title as a State Representative.”

The court now needs to decide whether his pension can be reinstated.