Rockland Trust Bank teller charged with embezzlement

BOSTON, June 14, 2023 – A Rockland Trust Bank employee was arraigned Tuesday for stealing $12,100 over a period of two months from a South Boston branch last year, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

GUNNAR O’NEILL, 30, of Cambridge was charged with larceny by embezzlement in South Boston BMC. O’Neill was released on personal recognizance and ordered to stay away from the bank and have no contact with current bank employees. He will return to court on August 9 for a pre-trial hearing.

On December 12, 2022, Boston police officers spoke to Rockland Trust security who reported to have video and physical evidence of an employee at the West Broadway Branch in South Boston, later identified as O’Neill, stealing money from the bank.

After auditing O’Neill’s transaction logs, the bank determined the theft period to be between September 2022 and November 2022. Bank security reviewed video surveillance showing O’Neill handling cash transactions in a manner incompatible with the bank’s standard tracking procedures. O’Neill is also seen tucking cash in between his teller cash box and the drawer where the box sits. O’Neill stole small amounts of money at a time, totaling $12,100.

Rockland Trust security said the bank discovered the discrepancies on November 21. The bank placed O’Neill on leave pending an investigation and terminated him shortly after.

“We too often see defendants who think that sizable thefts will go unnoticed. Banks are in the business of keeping detailed financial records. Anyone who thinks they won’t get caught stealing from a business or their workplace is making a big mistake and is jeopardizing their future to boot,” Hayden said.

All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.

James Borghesani, Chief of Communications