HAVERHILL – Lissa Lagasse, 57, of Lowell was arrested this morning and arraigned this afternoon after an Essex County grand jury voted to issue 21 indictments against her, the Office of Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker confirms. The charges stem from allegations that, over a period of years, Lagasse falsely purported to have undergraduate and advanced college degrees and falsely claimed to be a retired military combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient. Prosecutors allege Lagasse did so in order to obtain employment and compensation from Massachusetts school districts in Lowell, Worcester, and Haverhill.
The charges Lagasse faces include three counts of pretending to hold degrees, identity fraud, reckless endangerment of a child, three counts of procurement fraud, two counts of stolen valor, six counts of uttering at common law, intimidation of a witness, three counts of larceny in excess of $1,200, and being a common and notorious thief in violation of Massachusetts law.
In Superior Court in Salem today before the Hon. William F. Bloomer, Lagasse pled not guilty to the charges. The judge set bail at $25,000 and, if bail is posted, Lagasse will be limited to home confinement with GPS monitoring. Lagasse is due to return to court for a hearing on Monday, July 28.
Detective Blake Harris and the Haverhill Police Department investigated the case with assistance from Assistant District Attorney Shailagh Kennedy, who is representing the Commonwealth in the case. Lagasse is being represented by attorney Addison Gamliel.
