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BOSTON (State House News Service) — A former MassHealth official has paid a $6,000 civil penalty for breaking the state's conflict of interest law by soliciting and receiving free Boston Red Sox tickets from the contractor administering the MassHealth dental program.
The State Ethics Commission announced Thursday that Stacia Castro had signed a disposition agreement in which she admitted to the violations and waived her right to a hearing.
The conflict of interest law prohibits public employees from soliciting or receiving anything worth $50 or more for or because of their public positions. Castro, while serving as director of the MassHealth Specialty Provider Network, asked DentaQuest's regional director in June 2016 if the company had access to Sox tickets.
"The company later provided Castro with four free tickets valued at $120 apiece, a tour of Fenway Park, and a $500 voucher for dinner at Fenway Park's EMC Club," the commission said. "In June 2017, Castro asked the DentaQuest regional director for six free Red Sox tickets, but DentaQuest was unable to accommodate the request. Castro again asked DentaQuest for free Red Sox tickets in May 2018 and was provided with four tickets worth $120 apiece. Castro did not pay for any of the tickets, the Fenway Park tour, or the dinner voucher." - Michael P. Norton/SHNS
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