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DANVERS — A postal inspector from Danvers has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly lying about a romantic relationship he was having with a paralegal for the firm that represented a man his office had investigated in a mortgage fraud scheme.
Joseph McGonagle III, 37, of 134 High St., who worked for the Postal Service as an inspector in Boston, was carrying on a relationship with a Winthrop woman, Melanie Abbruzzese, 31, who at the time was a paralegal for Denner Pellegrino.
That firm represented Eric Levine, a disbarred lawyer charged with and subsequently convicted of leading a massive mortgage fraud scheme.
Abbruzzese was the lead paralegal on the case and played a key role in Levine's defense
During a hearing last May, prosecutors now allege, both McGonagle and Abbruzzese (who was engaged at the time) denied any improper relationship.
Both McGonagle and Abbruzzese were indicted on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.
Former co-workers of Abbruzzese stated that they had seen indications of a relationship between her and the man she had apparently nicknamed "Federal Joe," according to court papers. One described a dramatic confrontation between Abbruzzese's fiance and McGonagle, with the fiance pounding on the hood of McGonagle's Audi and McGonagle putting his hand on his service weapon.
McGonagle was arrested Tuesday afternoon by federal agents. He made an initial appearance late Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Boston, where he was released on $25,000 unsecured bond. He's due back in court on May 25 for arraignment.
If convicted, they face up to 15 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.
Courts reporter Julie Manganis may be reached at 978-338-2521 or jmanganis@salemnews.com.
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