THE BEAT

Lottery scheme violates trust in Dorchester outreach group
[All Editions]

Boston Herald - Boston, Mass.
Author: MICHELE MCPHEE
Date: Sep 18, 2006
Start Page: 6
Section: NEWS
Text Word Count: 603

Abstract (Document Summary)

Consider Rosalina Barros, 37, the president of Cape Verdean Women and a "health educator" at the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers, which has been forced to close its Stoughton Street office. Barros works at MAPS' Dorchester branch, which does outreach and anti-violence work with Cape Verdean and Brazilian immigrants as well as other Portuguese speakers. She was busted on Friday, charged with running an illegal lottery. Even MAPS' office assistant, Natalina Tavares, 28, was charged in the scheme.

The most alarming bust came with the arrest of MAPS' youth services director, Alcides Semedo, 44. And the bogus pyramid did not affect just the youth violence workers at MAPS.

The Dorchester MAPS office was closed temporarily, so no one could be reached for comment. Cindy Whitcome, a spokeswoman for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, refused to provide details on how many patients were scammed or employees involved.