United States (Massachusetts) - A former Boston Fire Department personnel clerk has pleaded guilty to perjury for her role in allegedly helping a former 39-year veteran Boston firefighter from Billerica and another Boston firefighter commit fraud by attempting to collect on accidental-disability pensions. Erica Boylan, 31, recently pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge George O'Toole Jr. to one count of perjury and a count of obstruction of justice. Federal prosecutors allege that Boylan made false statements when asked about delaying accidental disability retirement forms.

When she is sentenced March 16, Boylan faces up to 10 years in prison on the obstruction charge, followed by three years supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each count.

Boylan's role was part of an alleged scheme in which federal officials claim Boston firefighter James Famolare, 65, of 34 George Brown St., Billerica, falsely claimed he suffered a career-ending injury while moving a box of files.

Authorities also allege that a second Boston firefighter, Albert Arroyo, 47, of Boston, falsely claimed he suffered a permanent disability after a fall while walking in a fire station in Jamaica Plain. Yet, investigators have photos of Arroyo in body-building competitions.

From June 19, 2006, through Aug. 11, 2008, when investigators officially began scrutinizing Famolare's case, he was out on injured leave and collected more than $300,000 in tax-free benefits.

Famolare and Arroyo

each face up to 20 years imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $25,000 fine on each count of mail fraud. Famolare is charged with six counts of mail fraud.

Famolare's next court date is Feb. 2, 2010.

Written by The Sun