Nealley and Rodriguez plead not guilty during arraignment

In an attempt to bring down his boss, an embittered Ray Rodriguez may have been the author of his own demise, Jodie Nealley's lawyer claims.

After Nealley and Rodriguez were arraigned today on embezzlement charges, Nealley's attorney, Howard Lewis, told the Daily that Rodriguez was the one who submitted the anonymous tip that implicated his client.

Rodriguez, the Office of Student Activities' former budget and fiscal coordinator, and Nealley, the office's former director, are charged with stealing close to $1 million from the university. Both pled not guilty at the arraignment and were released without bail pending a pretrial hearing on Oct. 1.

Lewis said that Rodriguez was angry at Nealley because she passed him over for a promotion, and that Rodriguez consequently tried to blame her for crimes he himself had committed. But Rodriguez got more than he bargained for, according to Lewis, when the investigation spurred by his submission led to his own indictment as well as Nealley's.

"It's clear that Mr. Rodriguez was angry ... and because of that, he started making up allegations," Lewis, of the firm Lewis and Leeper, LLC, told the Daily. "I would suggest that he has a deep-seated hatred for Ms. Nealley, a jealousy."

According to Lewis, this information comes in part from documents provided to him by Middlesex County District Attorney Gerry Leone's office. Jessica Venezia, a spokesperson for Leone, declined to comment on whether her office has uncovered such proof.

Nealley is charged with taking $372,576 from the university and was arraigned on three counts of larceny of over $250. Each count carries up to five years of incarceration. Lewis denied that Nealley took that amount, but he would not say that she did not embezzle any funds -- despite her not-guilty plea. "I'm not making any claim right now," he said.

He did suggest that Rodriguez, who was charged with two counts of larceny of over $250, was to blame for the vast majority of the missing funds. Rodriguez is already charged with taking $604,873 from Tufts, and Lewis told reporters outside the courtroom that he likely took more.

"Mr. Rodriguez, [who had] been stealing great sums of money and living extravagantly, got himself in trouble," he told the Daily.

Nealley and Rodriguez were set to be arraigned at the Middlesex County Superior Court at 9 this morning, but the proceedings were delayed by over 90 minutes. Nealley, who is using a cane after falling from a ladder while doing yard work, talked quietly with Lewis in the courtroom. Rodriguez sat alone several feet away as he waited for his attorney to arrive.

Facing allegations that he used university money to buy products from designers such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton, Rodriguez showed up to court dressed simply, wearing a black shirt and jeans. He appeared nervous as he bit his nails and leaned over, elbows on his knees.

Both defendants, eyes averted, declined to comment to the Daily.

Rodriguez' lawyer, Steven Goldwyn of the firm Altman and Altman, LLP, would not speak in depth about his client before the arraignment. "Right now, we're not going to say too much," he said. "As the facts come out, we'll go forward from there." He could not be reached after the proceedings to respond to Lewis' accusations.

Following the arraignment, Leone's office released a case statement that discloses previously withheld details. According to the document, during a search of Rodriguez' home, the suspect admitted to using university money to purchase luxury items and go on a number of trips.

Click here to view the statement.

Nealley has also admitted involvement, according to Tufts officials, who say she told them in November that she misused university funds. Lewis, who told the Daily later that month that he would be willing to challenge the admission if necessary, would not comment on it today.

The case statement also offers further information about how the two former employees allegedly embezzled the funds. It says that Nealley used the Tufts Lighting and Sound (TLS) account as a front for her embezzlement. The account, which belonged to a defunct student group, was supposed to be closed in 2005.

According to Leone's office, Nealley maintained control over it, transferring money from other accounts to TLS. She then used a debit card associated with TLS to withdraw money and purchase items at locations such as IKEA, Foxwoods Resort and Casino and Whole Foods. These expenses amounted to $9,965.26.

She is further charged with transferring $63,500 to her personal line of credit and $91,000 to her Bank of America checking account, withdrawing $174,908 in cash from the TLS account, and writing herself $25,003.58 in checks.

Dean of Student Affairs Bruce Reitman had no comment on how Nealley could have had access to the TLS account after it was thought to be closed.

The case statement also contains the first public allegation from Leone's office that Nealley stole from Tufts Student Resources. It states that she took $8,200 in cash from the Rez, a cafe operated by the student organization. The Daily reported in November that TSR had evidence suggesting Nealley had pilfered from the Rez.