BOSTON, Oct. 17, 2012—The former director of a Jamaica Plain non-profit organization was arraigned today on charges that he stole almost $20,000 in funds intended to benefit the businesses and residents of Hyde and Jackson squares, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

CARLOS SCHILLACI (D.O.B. 10/7/54), formerly of Jamaica Plain but now a resident of Easthampton, was formally charged today with two counts each of larceny over $250 and larceny by scheme for allegedly using funds from the Hyde-Jackson Square Main Streets Program for his own benefit. Both offenses carry a maximum penalty of five years.

Schillaci walked into Suffolk Superior Court this morning after his Sept. 25 indictment by the Suffolk County Grand Jury. Clerk Magistrate Gary Wilson released him on his own recognizance.

Assistant District Attorney Michele Granda of Conley’s Special Prosecutions Unit told the court that Schillaci embezzled $19,490.65 from HJSMS between April 2009 and July 2011, when he was suspended from his position as the program’s executive director.

The theft, prosecutors say, took the form of 42 separate unauthorized ATM withdrawals totaling $11,714 using the HJSMS debit card, 119 unauthorized purchases made on that debit card totaling $4,971.23, and two unauthorized HJSMS checks made out to himself totaling $2,805.42.

“The evidence suggests this defendant was putting funds intended to help the community to purely personal use,” Conley said. “Instead of promoting a vibrant neighborhood, it was paying for his parking tickets and computer accessories.”

The HJSMS board of directors discovered the serious financial irregularities at about the time Schillaci was preparing to move to western Massachusetts. In July 2011, they reported the missing funds to Boston Police, leading to an investigation that ultimately ended with Schillaci’s indictment.

Schillaci was represented today by attorney Colin Keefe. He will return to court on Dec. 7.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.