Mass Bar Ignores Prosecutorial Misconduct in Child Rape Case

James Chester
[Redacted Contact Info]

April 8, 2026

Office of Bar Counsel
1 Beacon Street, Floor 10
Boston, Massachusetts 02108

Via FedEx #8704 1618 5375

Subject: Formal Complaint Regarding Prosecutorial Misconduct, Unlawful Disclosure of Confidential Information, Obstruction of Justice, and Systemic Failure to Protect Victims of Child Sexual Abuse

Dear Members of the Bar Counsel,

I am writing to formally submit this complaint regarding egregious misconduct by attorneys and public officials in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. This complaint concerns prosecutorial misconduct, unlawful disclosure of confidential investigative information, retaliatory removal of investigators, and institutional concealment of child sexual abuse—all of which have persisted for decades and implicate the integrity of Massachusetts’ legal system. The actions of the DA’s office were not mere oversights but deliberate obstructions of justice, driven by conflicts of interest and a willingness to protect powerful institutions over the rights of victims. These actions not only obstructed justice in my case but also sent a chilling message to other victims of child sexual abuse: that those who speak out will face retaliation, not protection. This complaint seeks to hold those responsible to an accounting and restore faith in Massachusetts’ legal institutions.

Background and Context

In January 2021, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins finally opened a formal investigation into my allegations that, in 1963, I and at least twelve other boys were kidnapped, raped, tortured, and threatened with death at the Charlestown Boys Club. The abuse included sodomy with a miniature baseball bat, forced oral copulation, psychological torment, and physical injuries so severe that one victim required multiple surgeries. Despite the horrific nature of these crimes, the DA’s office abandoned the investigation without conclusion, leaked confidential information to the accused institution, and removed investigators who sought to pursue the case.

This was not the first time the DA’s office failed me. In 1999, I reported the abuse to then-DA Ralph C. Martin, who was simultaneously a board member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston (BGCB). Rather than investigate, Martin falsely claimed the statute of limitations had expired—a statement contradicted by Massachusetts law, which tolls the statute when perpetrators flee the state (as one did immediately after the assault). Years later, I appealed to DA Daniel Conley, who later joined Mintz Levin, the law firm defending the Club. Conley refused to prosecute and ignored my evidence, including corroborating testimony from another victim who also suffered physical injuries.

The pattern is clear: the Suffolk County DA’s office has systematically obstructed justice in this case, prioritizing the interests of the BGCB—a powerful Boston institution—over the rights of child sexual abuse victims.

Specific Allegations of Misconduct

1. Unlawful Disclosure of Confidential Information

While I understand that no attorney-client relationship existed between myself and the DA’s office, the disclosure of my confidential testimony, medical records, and investigative details to the Boys and Girls Club of Boston or its attorneys—without legal justification—violates:

• Mass. R. Prof. C. 1.6 (Confidentiality of Information), which prohibits the unauthorized disclosure of information relating to the representation of the Commonwealth.
• M.G.L. c. 258B (Victim and Witness Rights), which requires that victims be treated with dignity, respect, and privacy.
• Internal DA office policies, which mandate the protection of victim identities and sensitive investigative details.

The disclosure had immediate and devastating consequences. For example, within days of the DA’s office contacting me, senior directors of the BGCB visited my website—something they had not in a very long time—and began monitoring my communications. This was not coincidental; it demonstrated that the Club had been alerted to the investigation and was taking steps to intimidate me and undermine my credibility. The DA’s office compromised the investigation and exposed me to retaliation, further harm, and ongoing persecution, including hacking into my personal devices, threatening my livelihood, and attempting to silence me.

Most egregiously, the Club has a documented history of concealing child sexual abuse. After the 1963 assault, the Club settled with some parents of victims while leaving me without support, allowed one perpetrator to flee the state, and continued to employ known pedophiles, including Edward Darragh, who was later convicted of child rape. The Club’s attorneys have dismissed corroborating evidence, including a letter from a second victim and medical records detailing physical injuries consistent with sexual assault.

2. Obstruction of Justice and Misuse of Prosecutorial Authority

The DA’s office engaged in conduct that materially obstructed the investigation, including:

• Leaking confidential information to the BGCB, the very institution accused of covering up the abuse.
• Abandoning the investigation without interviewing key witnesses or pursuing leads, despite ADA Alissa Goldhaber’s assurance in my last telephone call with her on September 9, 2021 that the case “would not be closed without a conclusion.” Yet, by October 7, 2021, the case was effectively shuttered, with no explanation provided to me or the public. This abandonment violated my rights as a victim under M.G.L. c. 258B, which guarantees victims the right to ‘be informed of the status of the investigation’ and to ‘have the case handled with dignity and respect.
• Retaliating against investigators, including the transfer of Detective Jeffrey Firnstein—who noted the suspicious coordination of the accused’s accounts—and the removal of Victim Advocate Brittany Doherty.

This abandonment violated my rights as a victim under M.G.L. c. 258B, which guarantees victims the right to be informed of the status of the investigation and to have their case handled with dignity and respect. Instead, the DA’s office shuttered the case without explanation, leaving the perpetrators unpunished and other potential victims unprotected.

3. Institutional Concealment of Child Sexual Abuse

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston and its senior directors have actively concealed evidence, intimidated witnesses, and obstructed justice for decades. This includes:

• Leaking confidential investigative information to the Club, as evidenced by sudden visits to my website by Club directors immediately after my contact with the DA’s office.
• Pressuring and suborning witnesses, such as Edmund Moussally, who initially corroborated my account and named one of the perpetrators but later recanted under suspicious circumstances.
• Destroying or withholding evidence, including documentation of communications with suspects and internal Club records.

The Club’s attorneys have dismissed corroborating evidence out of hand, including:

• A letter from a second victim who described identical abuse and required surgery for his injuries.
• Medical records detailing my physical and psychological injuries, including a urinary stricture and transient psychosis resulting from the trauma.
• Photographic evidence of the Club’s efforts to conceal the abuse, such as modifying the equipment room where the assaults occurred to remove windows and obscure the crime scene.

4. Failure of Oversight by Public Officials

Despite repeated requests for accountability, oversight bodies have failed to act:

• Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell was formally notified of the DA’s misconduct and declined to intervene.
• Inspector General Jeffrey S. Shapiro refused to investigate, despite clear evidence of systemic corruption.

This inaction has allowed the cover-up to persist, leaving victims without justice and enabling the continued concealment of child sexual abuse.

5. Concerns Regarding James Carbo

During my attempt to file a complaint with the Board of Bar Overseers on January 14, 2025, I encountered significant obstruction from Attorney James Carbo, who:

• Immediately attempted to terminate our call upon learning it was being recorded, claiming a policy against recorded calls.
• Discouraged me from filing a complaint, stating that only 4% of complaints result in action—a remark suggesting a systemic reluctance to hold powerful individuals accountable.
• Misrepresented the law, claiming that the DA’s disclosure of confidential information did not violate ethical rules. In fact, such disclosures do violate Mass. R. Prof. C. 1.6 and victim privacy laws.
• Insisted I address my complaint solely to him, which I interpreted as an attempt to obstruct the process and prevent broader scrutiny.

Mr. Carbo’s conduct raises serious concerns about the Board’s willingness to address systemic corruption. His actions were not isolated but part of a pattern of obstruction that has defined my pursuit of justice.

Request for Action

I respectfully request that the Board of Bar Overseers:

1. Open a formal investigation into the misconduct described above, including the unlawful disclosure of confidential information, obstruction of justice, and retaliatory removal of investigators.
2. Secure and review all relevant records, including:
   • Internal DA office communications regarding the investigation.
   • Records of disclosures to the Boys and Girls Club or its attorneys.
   • Documentation of the transfers and removals of investigators and victim advocates.
3. Issue a public report detailing your findings and refer any identified misconduct to appropriate disciplinary or prosecutorial authorities.
4. Investigate James Carbo’s conduct, including his misrepresentation of ethical rules and attempts to deter my complaint. If warranted, refer his conduct for disciplinary action.

Attached Evidence

Enclosed with this letter, you will find a CD containing digital copies of the following documents (also available without a password via Proton Drive at [redacted]

1. October 29, 2020 Letter to DA Rachael Rollins: My original complaint detailing the abuse, the cover-up, and the DA’s history of obstruction.
2. Public Records Requests and Responses: Documentation of the DA’s office refusal to provide unredacted records, including my forensic interview presentation.
3. Medical Records: Evidence of my physical and psychological injuries, including a urinary stricture and transient psychosis.
4. Corroborating Victim Letter: A second victim’s account of identical abuse and the surgeries he endured.
5. Website Access Logs: Proof that Club directors visited my website immediately after the DA’s office contacted me.
6. Photographs of the Crime Scene: Images showing the modified equipment room where the abuse occurred.
7. Requests to AG Campbell and IG Shapiro: Proof that oversight bodies failed to act despite clear evidence of misconduct.

Of particular note are:

• Document #1 (October 29, 2020 Letter): A detailed account of the brutality of the abuse, the Club’s cover-up, and the DA’s history of obstruction.
• Document #5 (Chester.Production.1.12.24_Redacted.pdf): The heavily redacted production from the DA’s office, which omitted my forensic interview presentation.
• Document #12 (Did Suffolk DA Rachael Rollins Leak the Investigation…): A summary of the decades-long obstruction and the DA’s role in the cover-up.

Conclusion

The integrity of Massachusetts’ justice system is at stake. The failure to address these issues not only perpetuates the suffering of victims like myself but also enables the continued concealment of child sexual abuse. The Board of Bar Overseers has a unique opportunity—and responsibility—to restore accountability where it has been so egregiously lacking. I urge you to act swiftly and decisively to investigate these allegations and hold those responsible to account. Victims of child sexual abuse deserve justice, not further victimization at the hands of those sworn to uphold the law.

Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. I look forward to your response and the initiation of a thorough investigation.

Sincerely,

James Chester