The Southborough Police Department issued a press release on their detective’s support of a case against 6 people charged with defrauding a Southborough senior. (It also includes a scam warning.)
While I’m sharing that news, I’m also including other recent SPD highlights — like another MADD award.
Case against alleged fraudsters
Here is the statement that the SPD posted on the fraud case:
Southborough Police Investigation Contributes to Fraud Cause Resulting in Federal Charges
The Southborough Police Department is recognizing the work of Detective Anthony Vega, whose investigation into the financial exploitation of a resident contributed to a federal case that resulted in charges against six individuals.
An 81-year-old Southborough woman reported in March 2025 that she had been defrauded by individuals posing as representatives of a well-known sweepstakes organization. She had been convinced to send checks, financial information and other personal information to claim her winnings.
She ultimately lost approximately $85,000.
Detective Vega led the investigation for Southborough Police. He worked for more than a year alongside federal investigators to gather evidence, trace financial transactions, execute investigative subpoenas, coordinate with law enforcement agencies in multiple states, and identify information that helped advance the federal investigation.
On Thursday, June 25, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut announced federal charges against six individuals. According to federal prosecutors, the scheme defrauded seniors of millions of dollars.
The Southborough Police Department assisted the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Postal Inspection Services during the investigation.
“We are extremely proud of Detective Vega’s dedication and persistence throughout this investigation,” said Chief Ryan Newell. “What began as a report from one Southborough resident ultimately became part of a much larger federal investigation. Detective Vega’s work demonstrates the important role local law enforcement plays in identifying complex fraud schemes and working with our state and federal partners to hold those responsible accountable.”
The Southborough Police Department would also like to urge residents, particularly older adults and their families, to remain vigilant against scams.“No legitimate sweepstakes or organization will ever require someone to pay fees or taxes up front to claim a prize,” Chief Newell said. “If someone contacts you claiming you’ve won money but first demands payment or asks for your banking information, it is a scam. We encourage anyone who receives these types of calls to end the conversation immediately and contact their local police department.”
Families are encouraged to regularly speak with older relatives about common scams and to report suspicious activity before sending money or sharing personal financial information.
Returned Property
The above case wasn’t the only investigation the SPD successfully participated in. Earlier this month, the dept posted a follow up to their report of a custom bike stolen last August/September. “Thanks to the diligent work of our Detectives, it has now been recovered and returned to its (very happy) owner!”
MADD Award
Earlier this month, the SPD posted news about the award given to Officer Theo Davis:
Congratulations to Southborough Police Officer Theo Davis on being recognized today with the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) OUI Excellence Award at the annual MADD Law Enforcement Recognition Ceremony at Fort Devens.
Through the 51 OUI arrests he made in 2025, Officer Davis demonstrated an unwavering commitment to keeping our roadways safe. Every impaired driver removed from the roadway represents a potential tragedy prevented. These enforcement efforts help protect not only motorists, but also passengers, pedestrians and families throughout our community and beyond.
OUI enforcement is one of the most important responsibilities in law enforcement, requiring vigilance, professionalism and dedication from officers. Officer Davis’ work has made a meaningful impact on public safety, and this recognition is a testament to his commitment to serving and protecting others.
We are incredibly proud of Officer Davis for this well-deserved honor and grateful for his everyday work in keeping our community safe. Please join us in congratulating him on this outstanding achievement!
Policing Stats
Since I last provided an SPD update, the department issued its statistics report for May:
- Arrests: 25
- Criminal Summons: 47
- Motor Vehicle Crashes: 39
- Motor Vehicle Stops: 744
- Incident Reports: 109
- Total Calls: 2,949
Newest Addition and Officer Status
On May 29th, SPD’s newest Probationary Police Officer, Joseph Lindberg, was sworn in. He began his field training on June 1st.
The hiring filled the last of the SPD’s open positions following approvals for staffing increases in recent years. (It’s notable, since there was a time prior when the smaller roster had several open positions as the Town struggled to attract and retain officers.)
Note: the SPD is still encouraging applications for future openings.
SPD’s staff is currently a Chief, 2 Lieutenants, 5 Sergeants, and 17 full time police officers (including 2 student officers, 3 probationary officers, a school resource officer, a detective and a part-time detective). They also have a Business Admin and work with a regionally shared “Jail Diversion Clinician”.
Plus, in Dispatch, there are currently 7 full time Communications Officers and 2 part-time. (Those are positions that will eventually be removed from the Town’s direct payroll when the regional dispatch center is up and running.)
As for Lindberg, the SPD posts:
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Conservation Law Enforcement from Unity College in Maine and previously served as a full-time police officer with the Holden Police Department (3 years).
Officer Lindberg is a certified TASER instructor and a certified crash reconstruction expert, having successfully completed the required 240-hour crash reconstruction program. For the past three years, he has served with the Billings Airport Police Department in Montana.
Feelgood Community Engagement
The SPD has continued engaging with the community as part of its Community Policing philosophy. That includes their traditional end of school year Lunch Takebacks (where they serve students lunches at the elementary schools and spend time with them at recess). They also hosted a Woodward Field trip and helped place flags at veterans graves prior to Memorial Day.
This spring they also again helped deliver flowers to homebound residents. The initiative was in partnership with the Senior Center and the Southborough Gardeners:
Today we once again partnered with the Southborough Garden Club and the Southborough Senior Center to brighten the day of homebound senior citizens throughout our community. The Southborough Garden Club members created beautiful, hand-arranged flower bouquets; the Southborough Senior Center put together a list of homebound seniors who would like a bouquet of flowers; and the Southborough Police Department delivered them while sharing meaningful visits with residents who may not frequently have the chance to get out and socialize.
The smiles, conversations, and heartfelt appreciation made the day especially memorable. Simple acts of kindness can have a lasting impact, and we are grateful to partner with community organizations such as the Southborough Garden Club and Senior Center to help bring joy and connection to our senior residents.
A sincere thank you to the Southborough Garden Club and Southborough Senior Center members—especially Susan Conti and Peg Leonard—for their time, effort, and commitment to supporting our community and making this program possible.🌷
