Former North Prov School Superintendent Morisseau Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement

Former North Prov School Superintendent Morisseau Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement

Former North Providence Superintendent Bridget Morisseau pleaded nolo contendere to one count of embezzlement on Friday in Providence County Superior Court, announced Attorney General Peter Neronha’s office.

Morrisseau was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $9,434 in restitution by November 15, 2019.

Guilty Plea

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According to the Attorney General’s office, had the case gone to trial, the State was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that between July of 2017 and July of 2018, Morisseau used public funds to pay for personal expenses on multiple occasions using her work-issued bank card.

Morisseau’s personal expenditures, totaling $4,621, included payments for airfare, catering, resort accommodations, and a hotel stay.

Additionally, during the course of an audit authorized by the North Providence School Committee and investigation by the North Providence Police Department, it was determined that there were $4,813 in payments made by the School Department to Morisseau which were outside the scope of her contract.

The Investigation

As GoLocalProv reported, in July 2018, police learned of an internal audit being performed by independent auditor, Robert Civetti into the alleged misuse of the taxpayer-funded credit card by Morisseau.

North Providence Police sent correspondence to the then Chairman of the School Committee, Anthony Marciano requesting a copy of the audit for review.

In September 2018, investigators received the internal audit report and opened an investigation.