The jury in U.S. District Court in Springfield began deliberating the case of Joseph Buffis Thursday afternoon following closing arguments.
The former police chief of Lee, Massachusetts is facing federal extortion, fraud and money laundering charges. Each of the 11 counts he faces carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Buffis is accused of stealing more than $120,000 from the Edward J. Laliberte Toy Fund, which he controlled, over the course of 12 years. He is also accused of coercing a Lee couple to donate $4,000 to the fund in exchange for dropping prostitution charges against them. Buffis was on the witness stand Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Court reporter Bob Dunn of The Berkshire Eagle says under cross examination on Tuesday Buffis admitted he lied to state investigators in 2012 about how he used the fund’s money.
“And was put in a position where he was on the stand and had to admit that much of that information that he gave to investigators simply wasn’t true,” said Dunn.
Buffis says he would buy toys with his own money and then reimburse himself through the fund. Buffis’ attorney Lori Levinson says the former police chief is simply an incompetent bookkeeper.
The jury resumes deliberations at 9 a.m. Friday.
