The Attorney General's Office has announced that Robert Dombek, a 53-year-old resident of West Springfield, has pleaded guilty to charges of perjury and larceny over $1,200. The plea was entered in Hampden Superior Court. Dombek received a sentence of two and a half years in the House of Corrections for his false statements, with one year to be served and the remaining time suspended for two years. Additionally, he was sentenced to two years for stealing $27,111 from the Hampden County Retirement Board (HCRB), which is also suspended for two years.
Dombek is required to undergo a mental health evaluation and counseling as part of his probation conditions. He must also pay restitution amounting to $27,111 and refrain from working with the elderly during his probation period.
Dombek had been responsible for caring for Norman Hannon, a former public pensioner who passed away in 2019. Under pension rules, Hannon’s benefits were not transferable after his death. Despite this, Dombek falsely claimed that Hannon was still alive by swearing an affidavit before a notary in November 2019. He then delivered this false document to the HCRB office and requested that pension payments resume into Hannon’s bank account.
Using these funds for personal purchases after Hannon's death, Dombek managed to receive 13 unauthorized deposits totaling $27,111 between November 2019 and September 2020. The fraudulent activity came to light when the HCRB received confirmation of Hannon's death through his death certificate.
The investigation leading to Dombek's indictment in December 2022 was conducted jointly by the Attorney General’s Office, the Office of the Inspector General, and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant Attorney General Brad Tully from the AGO’s White Collar and Public Integrity Division handled this case.