Nix: Don't Blame Sudbury Housing Authority for Camuti's Residency

Sudbury residents, especially those who live in the Musketahquid Village on Hudson Road, want to know how someone with a criminal past was allowed to live in the low-income complex for seniors and disabled people.

William Camuti, 69, who lives in the Hudson Road complex, was arrested last week in connection with the death of Stephen Rakes, a witness in the Whitey Bulger trial.

Once word got out where Camuti lived, residents began questioning how he was able to get into the complex. Jo-Anne Howe of the Sudbury Housing Authority said she was not allowed to comment on residents who may live in the complex.

But according to Sudbury Police Chief Scott Nix, residents shouldn't pin the blame on Howe.

"The Sudbury Housing Authority in this most recent circumstance involving Camuti, and the investigation by Lincoln police and State Police, cooperated fully," he said. "They were also aware of his history after he moved in. We’re trying to take appropriate steps to remove him from the property. Unfortunately it did not come to fruition prior to the events here. They did do the checks they do with everybody, but apparently there were some loopholes in their ability to do the checks that doesn’t necessarily encompass federal violations and or other potential state violations. So, we’re going to try to work together to see what other mechanisms can be accomplished in order to ensure a more thorough background check. But there was a check conducted by them to the extent the Sudbury Housing Authority could do."

Sudbury's Housing Authority is regulated by the Commonwealth's Department of Housing and Community Development, and local policies are made by a Board of Commissioners. 

"It’s something the housing authority can’t release and they won’t release information (because) of the parent organization that governs them," Nix said. "I can assure you they have, they do and they remain trying to do the best to ensure people who deserve the housing get the housing and others that may have a background that you wouldn’t want the housing not get there."

On Oct. 18, 1993, the jury acquitted Camuti on two counts and convicted him on the remaining 11 counts. Camuti was sentenced on Feb. 28, 1994 to 116 months imprisonment and ordered to pay $2,528,000 in restitution. 

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan told reporters Friday Camuti was arrested in Boston on suspicion of poisoning Rakes in July. Ryan alleged Rakes was poisoned because Camuti owed him money from a bad business deal.

He is due back in Concord District Court on Aug. 6.

The 64 one-bedroom apartments at Musketahquid Village, owned and managed by the SHA, are for those who meet the state's guidelines for low income rental housing for seniors and disabled people. Income must be under $46,300 for one person and $52,950 for two people, and homeownership does not disqualify an applicant. Rent is 30 percent of income and includes utilities. Generally, a Sudbury resident or someone who currently works in Sudbury is housed within six months of application, though occasionally it occurs much sooner. Non-residents generally wait one to four years for housing at the Village.

Nix said: "The unfortunate thing, when you come to court to try to get people evicted, for whatever the case might be, it’s a difficult thing to accomplish because the courts want people to have their own residence but abide by the rules."