Former Watertown Police Officer Charged With Passing False Prescriptions Using Another’s Identity

BOSTON - A Framingham man was charged in federal court in connection to crimes committed while in his official capacity as a Watertown police officer.

Joseph Deignan, 57, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance by fraud and fraud in connection with identification documents.

According to the complaint affidavit, Deignan, a former Watertown Police Officer who retired in February 2012, used the identity of another person to obtain oxycodone and other controlled substances by forging prescriptions in the other person’s name. Deignan is alleged to have stolen the driver’s license of the person in 2010, while he was working as the traffic supervisor for the Watertown Police Department.

The maximum sentence under the identity theft count is 15 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Deignan was arrested this morning and is scheduled for his initial appearance at 3:15 p.m.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and John Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division made the announcement today. The DEA was provided assistance from the Marlborough Police Department. The Watertown Police Department has been cooperative during the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia Carris of Ortiz’s Public Corruption Unit.

The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.