Former Gloucester Harbormaster Fined Over $15K for Homework Scheme

Thomas Ciarametaro Jr. admitted to having a subordinate complete his college assignments while on the job.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 1:55pm

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The former harbormaster in Gloucester, Massachusetts, Thomas Ciarametaro Jr., has been fined over $15,000 by the State Ethics Commission for having a subordinate city employee complete his college coursework while on the job. Ciarametaro was enrolled at Endicott College between 2018 and 2020 and had the city's shellfish constable spend over 20 hours completing assignments for his classes, for which Ciarametaro received high grades.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ethical issues that can arise when public officials abuse their positions of authority and use subordinate employees for personal gain. It raises concerns about the integrity of government and the public's trust in elected officials.

The details

According to the State Ethics Commission, Ciarametaro, who served as Gloucester's harbormaster from 2016 to 2024, asked the city's shellfish constable to complete more than a dozen assignments for his college courses in creative writing, English literature, and juvenile justice between February and October 2020. The constable spent over 20 hours doing this work while on paid duty for his municipal position, and Ciarametaro authorized him to use his work time for these assignments. Ciarametaro ultimately earned A grades in these courses.

  • Ciarametaro worked as harbormaster in Gloucester from 2016 through April 2024.
  • Ciarametaro attended Endicott College between September 2018 and December 2020.
  • From February through October of 2020, Ciarametaro had the shellfish constable complete more than a dozen assignments on his behalf.

The players

Thomas Ciarametaro Jr.

The former harbormaster in Gloucester, Massachusetts, who admitted to violating the state's conflict of interest law by having a subordinate complete his college assignments while on the job.

Peter Seminara

The Gloucester shellfish constable who was asked by Ciarametaro to complete more than a dozen assignments for his college courses, spending over 20 hours on this work while on paid duty.

Sefatia Romeo Theken

The former mayor of Gloucester who Ciarametaro alleged made inappropriate comments about a female secretary he hired, leading to a hostile work complaint and a lengthy dispute.

Greg Verga

The successor to Mayor Romeo Theken, who fired Ciarametaro in April 2024 after an investigation into falsified signatures on grant contract paperwork.

Endicott College

The college where Ciarametaro was enrolled and earned a bachelor's degree, despite having a subordinate complete assignments on his behalf.

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What they’re saying

“A public official who asks a subordinate employee for a personal favor risks taking unlawful advantage of an inherently coercive situation in which the subordinate may feel they can't say 'no.' Regardless of coercion, when the personal favor involves use of the subordinate's substantially valuable public worktime, the conflict of interest law is violated. The violation is particularly harmful to public confidence in the integrity of government employees when the favor secures for the public official a clearly improper benefit such as the unearned college course credit Mr. Ciarametaro received.”

— David Wilson, Executive Director, State Ethics Commission

What’s next

The State Ethics Commission has fined Ciarametaro $15,000 for the violations, and he has also been ordered to pay $1,200 in restitution. The case highlights the importance of maintaining ethical standards in government and the need for stronger oversight to prevent public officials from abusing their positions for personal gain.

The takeaway

This case underscores the critical importance of public officials upholding the highest ethical standards and avoiding conflicts of interest that undermine public trust in government. It serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of misusing one's position of authority for personal benefit, and the need for robust accountability measures to ensure the integrity of our public institutions.