BOSTON, Oct. 4, 2012—A former MBTA employee today admitted to stealing union funds that fellow members trusted him to protect, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

BRIAN SHEEHY (D.O.B. 7/26/69) of Quincy admitted to three counts of larceny over $250 at a hearing at Suffolk Superior Court this morning.

Assistant District Attorney Benjamin Goldberger of Conley’s Special Prosecution Unit recommended a sentence of 18 months in a house of correction, with six months to serve and the remainder suspended for five years, and five years of probation. Judge Christine Roach sentenced Sheehy to nine months in the house of correction, with four months to serve and the rest suspended for five years and probation for a period of five years upon his release.

He was also ordered to pay restitution to the MBTA inspectors’ union, Local 600 of the Office and Professional Employees International Union, in the amount of $130,243.95. At the time of the thefts, Sheehy served as the union’s secretary treasurer – a position to which he was elected in order to protect the union’s funds.

Had the case proceeded to trial, Goldberger would have presented evidence to prove that Sheehy made unauthorized cash withdrawals from a union account that totaled more than $98,000, used a credit card intended for union expenses to pay for at least $3,000 in gas for a personal vehicle, and unlawfully inflated his pay while serving as Local 600’s secretary treasurer from 2005 to 2010.

The case was investigated by Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to Conley’s office. Sheehy was represented by attorney Paul Gannon.

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