Suffolk County Grand Jury Indicts Executive Director of Crispus Attucks Children’s Center for Financial Misconduct
The Suffolk County Grand Jury has returned six indictments against Maritza Juliao, the 52-year-old executive director of the Crispus Attucks Children’s Center (CACC) in Dorchester. Juliao is charged with stealing nearly $127,000 from the center and lying under oath to conceal her self-dealing. The Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General began investigating Juliao in 2021 in response to a complaint from a former accountant at the center.
- Joint investigation with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police alleged that Juliao employed multiple schemes to “unjustly enrich herself and her family members at the expense of CACC and its clients,”
- allegations that Juliao abused her control over CACC’s finances to give herself raises, retroactive pay, vacation pay, bonuses, and gift cards totaling nearly $100,000, of which the board neither knew about nor approved.
- the office charges that from February 2020 through August 2021, Juliao paid $13,900 to a cleaning service called “CJM Cleaning Services” (CJM) for carpet cleaning services that were never provided.
Located in Dorchester, the CACC provides daycare services for more than 200 children aged 6 weeks to 6 years old. The agency receives more than 99 percent of its funding from public sources, and most of its families receive some form of tuition assistance. As executive director, Juliao had control over and access to CACC’s operating funds and payroll system, managed CACC’s staffing, and determined each staff member’s compensation. The board of directors had exclusive authority to determine Juliao’s compensation.
| Period | Compensation |
|---|---|
| From 2019 to 2022 | Nearly $100,000 |
| February 2020 to August 2021 | $13,900 |
Juliao and her boyfriend, Wilfredo Ortiz, Sr., 53, of Brockton, are accused of using CACC’s operating funds to enrich themselves and their family members. The AG’s office alleges that Juliao paid $13,900 to a cleaning service called “CJM Cleaning Services” (CJM) for carpet cleaning services that were never provided. CJM was solely owned and operated by Juliao’s boyfriend, who was not disclosed as Juliao’s boyfriend at the time.
“Illegally obtained funds and used them for personal gain and the benefit of her boyfriend and their family, causing harm to CACC’s clients and its community,”
The AG’s office charges that Juliao and Ortiz, Sr. are responsible for using CACC’s operating funds to enrich themselves and their family members. The indictment alleges that Juliao gave herself raises, retroactive pay, vacation pay, bonuses, and gift cards totaling nearly $100,000, of which the board neither knew about nor approved. Juliao and Ortiz, Sr. are scheduled to be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on April 15.
Located in Dorchester, the CACC provides essential services to more than 200 children aged 6 weeks to 6 years old. The board of directors had exclusive authority to determine Juliao’s compensation.
The AG’s office alleges that Juliao abused her control over CACC’s finances to give herself and her family members unfair benefits. Juliao and her boyfriend, Wilfredo Ortiz, Sr., are accused of using CACC’s operating funds to enrich themselves and their family members. The indictment alleges that Juliao gave herself raises, retroactive pay, vacation pay, bonuses, and gift cards totaling nearly $100,000, of which the board neither knew about nor approved.
The AG’s office has stated that Juliao’s actions were motivated by personal gain and a desire to benefit her boyfriend and their family. Juliao and her boyfriend are scheduled to be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on April 15. The AG’s office has emphasized that the indictment alleges that Juliao used CACC’s operating funds to enrich herself and her family members, causing harm to CACC’s clients and its community.
Located in Dorchester, the CACC provides essential services to more than 200 children aged 6 weeks to 6 years old. The board of directors had exclusive authority to determine Juliao’s compensation.
Impact of Juliao’s Actions
The indictment alleges that Juliao’s actions caused harm to CACC’s clients and its community. The AG’s office has stated that Juliao’s actions were motivated by personal gain and a desire to benefit her boyfriend and their family. Juliao and her boyfriend are scheduled to be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on April 15.
The indictment alleges that Juliao gave herself raises, retroactive pay, vacation pay, bonuses, and gift cards totaling nearly $100,000, of which the board neither knew about nor approved. are accused of using CACC’s operating funds to enrich themselves and their family members. The AG’s office has emphasized that the indictment alleges that Juliao used CACC’s operating funds to enrich herself and her family members, causing harm to CACC’s clients and its community.
Juliao’s actions have had a significant impact on CACC’s clients and its community. The agency has been providing essential services to more than 200 children aged 6 weeks to 6 years old for many years. The AG’s office has stated that Juliao’s actions were motivated by personal gain and a desire to benefit her boyfriend and their family.
The Investigation and Charges
The Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General began investigating Juliao in 2021 in response to a complaint from a former accountant at the center. A joint investigation with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police alleged that Juliao employed multiple schemes to “unjustly enrich herself and her family members at the expense of CACC and its clients.”
The AG’s office has stated that Juliao abused her control over CACC’s finances to give herself raises, retroactive pay, vacation pay, bonuses, and gift cards totaling nearly $100,000, of which the board neither knew about nor approved. Juliao and her boyfriend, Wilfredo Ortiz, Sr., are accused of using CACC’s operating funds to enrich themselves and their family members.
Juliao and Ortiz, Sr. are scheduled to be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on April 15. The AG’s office has emphasized that the indictment alleges that Juliao used CACC’s operating funds to enrich herself and her family members, causing harm to CACC’s clients and its community.
Response from the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General
The Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General has stated that Juliao abused her control over CACC’s finances to give herself raises, retroactive pay, vacation pay, bonuses, and gift cards totaling nearly $100,000, of which the board neither knew about nor approved. Juliao and her boyfriend, Wilfredo Ortiz, Sr., are accused of using CACC’s operating funds to enrich themselves and their family members.
The AG’s office has emphasized that the indictment alleges that Juliao used CACC’s operating funds to enrich herself and her family members, causing harm to CACC’s clients and its community.
Response from the Massachusetts State Police
The Massachusetts State Police has stated that Juliao employed multiple schemes to “unjustly enrich herself and her family members at the expense of CACC and its clients.”
The AG’s office has emphasized that the indictment alleges that Juliao used CACC’s operating funds to enrich herself and her family members, causing harm to CACC’s clients and its community.
Response from the AG’s Office
The AG’s office has stated that Juliao abused her control over CACC’s finances to give herself raises, retroactive pay, vacation pay, bonuses, and gift cards totaling nearly $100,000, of which the board neither knew about nor approved.
