Is Randall Ready to Deal? Feds ‘All Over the City’

-By Seth Daniel

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A filing in federal court suggests that Revere Police Officer Todd Randall may strike a plea deal with federal authorities, and a source close to the investigation indicated that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is “hot” on Revere.

A source that has been in discussions with the FBI concerning the Randall case and other local matters indicated that the FBI is pursuing numerous fronts of municipal corruption in Revere.

“I can tell you this, the FBI is hot on municipal corruption in Revere,” said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. “The FBI is all over Revere – very hot on it.”

The FBI or U.S. Justice Department have yet to comment on or confirm any of the activities of the last few weeks, including a raid on Attorney John Molloy’s law office – which is in the same office building as the Revere Journal.

The only thing they have discussed is the case against Randall, who is charged with lying to FBI agents. He allegedly did so in the midst of an interview in which they were questioning him about taking a bribe to “fix” pending cases in Chelsea District Court.

A filing by U.S. Attorney Robert Fisher – who is prosecuting Randall’s case – indicated that a resolution to the case might be near, and that there may not be any need for a probable cause hearing.

Randall’s probable cause hearing was scheduled for last Thursday, but was abruptly re-scheduled for May 18th.

“The parties are actively negotiating a potential resolution to the charge and this resolution would obviate the need for a probable cause hearing or an indictment,” assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Fisher said in a motion filed last week with U.S. District Court that was first reported by the Boston Herald.

Randall’s lawyer, attorney Tim Flaherty, was not available for comment on this story.

According to the source, there has been no indictment issued yet in Randall’s case, and if he doesn’t make a deal, he could be charged under the Hobbs Act. That section of the law, which was originally passed in the 1940’s to combat anti-racketeering, would carry as much as five to 10 years in federal prison.

The source indicated that federal prosecutors are allowing Randall to take some time to look at all of his options and potentially strike some sort of deal.

The plea deal could result in a charge of making a false statement to law enforcement, a much lesser charge.

The source also indicated that Randall’s case might not be connected to all of the recent comings and goings of the FBI, but that the FBI certainly is honed in on Revere.

“Like I said, they are all over Revere,” said the source.