CongressionalBadBoys.com | home | Mavroules Nicholas J. Mavroules Democrat, Massachusetts (1979-1992) The Honorable Nick Mavroules, Democrat-Massachusetts, was the subject of a federal probe of numerous allegations that go back thirty years.  He pleaded guilty in 1993 of committing crimes, including accepting illegal gifts and failing to pay taxes on a bribe.  Mavroules had been the mayor of Peabody, Massachusetts, and served for fourteen years in the U. S. House of Representatives before being voted out of office.  Mavroules served his time, and died in December 2003.             Mavroules came under federal scrutiny in 1980 after winning a tough fight for his first re-election.  An FBI informer claimed that he gave Mavroules a $25,000 bribe to help get a liquor license;  federal prosecutors, however, did not prosecute that case.   His career ended in 1992 when the feds launched a 22-month investigation into his alleged misuse of office for private gain.   Mavroules also branded his ex-son-in-law's allegations during a federal probe as a "con job", cooked up by an unscrupulous criminal.   Mavroules pleaded guilty to 15 (of 17) charges and a federal judge sentenced him to 15 months in prison and a $15,000 fine.  Among the charges:  not reporting as income the receipt of free lease cars from a North Shore, Massachusetts, auto dealer and a beach house from a developer. Another charge he pleaded guilty to accepting $12,000 in payoffs from a family of a federal prisoner he said he could get transferred to a "softer" prison.  More serious charges of running a criminal enterprise were dropped. Mavroules, to the federal judge:  "I've been in public office for 30 years and I can say I have never taken a bribe, requested one, extorted or been involved in racketeering."  (Click here for other examples of "Lyin' Through Their Teeth"). The federal judge said "This was not a minor violation, it was an abuse of public trust.      He was also required to pay back taxes, penalties and interest to the IRS. The Jailbird Count:  15 months in a minimum security prison. Mavroules became a member of the Congressional Prison Caucus.    Sources:  David Abel, Obituary of Nicholas Mavroules, Boston Globe, December 26, 2003;  Jack Meyers, "Ex-Rep. Mavroules Slams 'Con Job' by Ex-Son-In-Law," Boston Herald, December 12, 1996;  Jack Meyers, "Mavroules 'To Rest' After Serving Jail Term," Boston Herald, September 2, 1994;  Matthew Brelis and Brian McGrory, "15 Guilty Pleas by Mavroules," Boston Globe, April 16, 1993.