Brian A. Joyce

Brian A. Joyce
Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth district
In office
January 1998 – January 2017
Succeeded by Walter Timilty
Personal details
Born (1962-09-05)September 5, 1962
Winchester, Massachusetts
Died September 27, 2018(2018-09-27) (aged 56)
Westport, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Residence Milton, Massachusetts
Alma mater Boston College
Suffolk University
Occupation Politician, Lawyer

Brian Augustine Joyce (September 5, 1962 – September 27, 2018) was an American politician who was a Massachusetts State Senator for the Democratic Party.[1] He served for nine terms, representing the Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth district, which includes Avon, Braintree Precincts 1A, 1B, 2A & 2B, Canton, East Bridgewater Precinct 4, Easton Precincts 3-6, Milton, Randolph, Sharon Precincts 2 & 3, Stoughton, and West Bridgewater.

On February 23, 2016, Joyce announced that he would not seek re-election to the Massachusetts State Senate for the next term.[2]

Senate career

During his tenure in the Senate, Joyce distinguished himself as a fierce advocate for the rights of disabled children and elderly citizens. He was credited with securing hundreds of millions of dollars for public schools in his district, and he was instrumental in the revitalization of the Neponset River and Blue Hills reservations.[3]

Joyce voted against public opinion on several major issues. In 2004, after Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage, Joyce preserved equal marriage rights by filibustering a bill that would have banned same-sex marriage.[4] At the time, Joyce explained his decision by stating that "I believe in an America where no religious body seeks to impose its will, directly or indirectly. Tradition as a rationale for discrimination is not persuasive."[5]

Committee memberships

During his last term in office, Joyce served on the following committees:

  • Chair, Special Senate Committee to Improve Government[1]
  • Vice Chair, Senate Committee on Redistricting[1]
  • Joint Committee on Health Care Financing[1]

Ethics probes and criminal investigations

On February 17, 2016, the FBI and IRS conducted a raid at Joyce's Washington Street law office. Joyce was under scrutiny for various ethical improprieties alleged by Boston Globe reporters, including having his campaign fund pay for his son's high school graduation party and accepting free or discounted services from a dry cleaner in Randolph, Massachusetts. According to the FBI, the raid was part of a federal investigation, though no charges have been filed at this time.[6][7] The nature of the raid has again raised recurring questions about the close relationship between the Boston Globe and the office of Boston's U.S. Attorney, Carmen Ortiz.[8][9]

During the winter of 2016, The Boston Globe reported that the federal government has seated a grand jury to look into Joyce’s conduct.[10]

Federal Indictment

In December 2017, Joyce was indicted by a Federal grand jury on charges he collected over $1 million in bribes and kickbacks that he laundered through his law office and another personal business. [11] The 102-page indictment accuses Joyce of turning his law office into a criminal enterprise, going so far as to accept hundreds of pounds of free coffee from a local Dunkin' Donuts owner. [12]

Joyce pleaded not guilty in December 2017 to charges including racketeering, money laundering, mail fraud, conspiracy and scheming to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Joyce was currently free on $250,000 bond.[13]

In January 2018, Joyce's former accountant was indicted on Federal charges that he helped prepare and file false tax returns for Joyce, misclassifying over $2 million of personal expenses as business expenses, in order to reduce Joyce's tax burden. [14]

On October 8th, 2018, US Attorney Andrew Lelling announced that he had dismissed all criminal charges against Joyce, in light of his untimely death. [15]

Background and education

Joyce was born in Winchester, Massachusetts. He graduated from Milton High School in 1980. He received his bachelor's degree from Boston College School of Management in 1984. and his law degree from Suffolk University Law School in 1990. He practiced law in Milton, Massachusetts.[16][1]

Death

In the early morning hours of of September 26, 2018, Joyce was involved in a single car crash when he reportedly swerved to avoid hitting a deer, crashing through a telephone pole, and finally stopping after hitting a fence.[17]

On September 27, 2018, Joyce was found dead in his home in Westport, with no foul play suspected.[18][17]

Personal life

Joyce was a lifelong resident of Milton, Massachusetts, where he lived with his wife, Mary. They had five children.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Brian A. Joyce". The General Court (Massachusetts). Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  2. ↑ "Sen. Joyce won't run again". MiltonTimes.com. 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  3. ↑ "Sen. Joyce won't run again". MiltonTimes.com. 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  4. ↑ "Massachusetts Lawmakers, After Heated Debate, Put Off Vote on Gay Marriage". NYTimes.com. 2004-02-13. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
  5. ↑ "Gay Marriages in Mass. Survive Vote". LATimes.com. 2004-02-12. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
  6. ↑ Valencia, Milton J.; Herndon, Astead; Estes, Andrea (2016-02-17). "FBI, IRS raid Canton law office of state Senator Brian Joyce". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  7. ↑ Atwater, John (2016-02-18). "FBI, IRS investigating Massachusetts state Sen. Brian Joyce". WCVB-TV. Hearst Stations Inc. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  8. ↑ Connolly, Matt. "US Attorney Carmen Ortiz Again Shows Her Gratitude to the Boston Globe". Trekking Toward The Truth. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  9. ↑ Connolly, Matt. "Carmen Ortiz's Big Error: Cooperating with the Boston Globe". Trekking Toward The Truth. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  10. ↑ Estes, Andrea; Valencia, Milton J.; Ellement, John R. (2017-12-08). "Former state senator Brian Joyce indicted on federal charges". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  11. ↑ "Former state Senator Brian Joyce indicted on federal charges - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2018-01-30.
  12. ↑ "Hundreds of pounds of Dunkin' Donuts coffee part of bribery charges for Massachusetts state senator". Newsweek. 2017-12-09. Retrieved 2018-01-30.
  13. ↑ Sweet, Laurel J. (2018-01-30). "Former state lawmaker Brian Joyce's partner nabbed on tax rap". Boston Herald. Retrieved 2018-01-30.
  14. ↑ Tiernan, Erin. "Accountant charged with helping ex-Sen. Brian Joyce defraud IRS". The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA. Retrieved 2018-01-30.
  15. ↑ "Case dismissed against Brian Joyce after his death". Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  16. ↑ Brian A. Joyce-obituary
  17. 1 2 Stout, Matt (2018-10-05). "Family of ex-senator Brian Joyce asks for donations to Innocence Project". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  18. ↑ "Former State Sen. Brian Joyce found dead". WCVB. 2018-09-27. Retrieved 2018-09-27.
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