Former Quincy official accused of using city funds to buy self-portrait, steak tips and new car

QUINCY, Mass. — A city official on the South Shore is accused of embezzling funds in order to purchase extravagancies like a framed self-portrait, over 150 pounds of steak tips and a new car.

During his time as the Director of the Quincy Department of Elder Services between 1999 and 2024, Thomas Clasby, 60, allegedly used the city’s purchasing process to pay for numerous personal expenses. Clasby allegedly arranged for the City of Quincy to pay $8,950 to a music studio to produce recordings of Clasby’s singing; $2,236 to food service vendors for 153 pounds of bourbon steak tips; $4,800 for a Toyota Prius; and $1,658 for a signature, lacquered, mounted, and framed self-portrait, according to U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy.

An incitement levied against Clasby following his arrest Wednesday also alleges that the former Quincy official arranged for the City to pay over $38,000 to a New York consulting company owned by Clasby’s friend. Quincy never saw any services in return, according to Levy. Instead, Clasby’s friend allegedly cashed the checks and delivered the cash to Clasby at a rest stop in Framingham, Mass., a ferry terminal in Bridgeport, Conn. and at the friend’s New York apartment.

The indictment also alleges that beginning in June 2021, Clasby stole the vast majority of cash receipts generated by Elder Services at the Kennedy Center in Quincy.

“Thomas Clasby’s alleged betrayal of trust is not just a theft from the City of Quincy but an affront to the seniors he was sworn to serve and the taxpayers who funded these programs,” said United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “As Director of Elder Services, Mr. Clasby was entrusted with protecting vulnerable members of his community. Instead, he allegedly used his position to fund personal indulgences, from bourbon steak tips to a custom-framed self-portrait, and even went so far as to collect cash handoffs at ferry terminals and rest stops. Let this indictment serve as a reminder: public officials who exploit their positions for personal gain will be found out and held accountable for their crimes.”

“Stealing money from programs that are set up to help our seniors is utterly disgraceful,” Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division said Wednesday. “Today, the FBI arrested Thomas Clasby for allegedly padding his paycheck in a big way, using tens of thousands of dollars belonging to the city’s coffers as his own personal slush fund. In doing so, we believe he cheated the city of Quincy’s Department of Elder Services, the taxpayers who help fund it, and all the honest municipal workers who do the right thing, in the right way, every day. We’d like to thank the Quincy Police Department for its assistance in bringing Mr. Clasby to justice.”

Clasby was arrested at his home in Fitchburg on Wednesday. He will appear in federal court Wednesday afternoon on embezzlement, mail and wire fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property charges.

The charge of embezzlement provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of mail and wire fraud provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of interstate transportation of stolen property provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

©2025 Cox Media Group