NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city's former veterans services administrative assistant was arraigned Friday on larceny charges related to the theft of gift cards donated for local veterans.

 

Tina Samson, 65, pleaded not guilty, was released on personal recognizance and given a pretrial hearing date of Sept. 4.

 

According to a report by Police Detective Matthew Meranti, city officials became suspicious when they learned that Samson had been stopped in Walmart for allegedly trying to shoplift about $200 worth of merchandise. According to the police report, Samson told the store management she worked in Veteran Services and was taking items to support them. Walmart trespassed her from the property but did not press charges.

 

The report does not indicate when the Walmart incident happened but notes that Samson was first queried about the gift cards in October.

 

According to the report, city officials noticed discrepancies in accounting for gift cards donated to or purchased for the Veterans Service Office and contacted Walmart Asset Protection was contacted about four e-gift cards totaling $575 mailed to Samson's city account last year.

 

The cards were loaded into Samson's personal Walmart account, according to the police, and used for clothing, groceries and cash. In one instance, clothing ordered online was shipped to Samson's home address.

 

The police investigation was launched Jan. 13 into the Veterans Services Office, where Samson had worked for 12 years before retiring in December, and a search warrant was issued for her Walmart account connected to her personal email.