Community Corner

Region Roundup: Developer Sued, Sharon Credit Union Branch Robbed

A local developer is sued for allegedly taking advantage of Sharon homebuyers, the Sharon Credit Union's Mansfield is robbed and Mo Cowan is sworn in as interim U.S. Senator.

Sure, the Blizzard of 2013 was at the height of news over the last several days, but it wasn't the only thing to happen in Sharon and the surrounding area in the last week.

To kick Monday off with a fresh start, here is a roundup of news from around the region during the last week. 

Foxborough Developer Sued for Allegedly Taking Advantage of Sharon Homebuyers

Find out what's happening in Sharonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A Foxborough real estate developer has been sued for allegedly taking more than $200,000 in advance payments for new, single-family homes in Sharon that were never provided, and refusing to return the deposits, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced in a press release last week.

The AG’s Office has obtained a temporary restraining order in Suffolk Superior Court against Michael Intoccia of Foxborough, and his companies including Bella Estates Realty Trust, MTI Realty, and Intoccia Builders Corporation, prohibiting them from accepting future deposits for new homes unless the deposits are put into escrow, Coakley said.

Find out what's happening in Sharonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The lawsuit seeks more than $200,000 in restitution for five homebuyers who paid for homes in the Bella Estates development in Sharon. The AG’s Office is also seeking statutory penalties and a further injunction preventing the defendants from taking unsecured deposits.

According to the complaint, Intoccia operates a development business in Norfolk County through a network of companies that were involved in the planning, marketing, and construction of the Bella Estates development that was to consist of 29 single-family house lots. The defendants allegedly solicited buyers and took deposits of up to $55,300 per residence.

Mansfield Branch of Sharon Credit Union Robbed Thursday Afternoon

Two men, one of them using a semi-automatic handgun, were able to escape Sharon Credit Union with an undisclosed amount of money after holding up the bank a little before 1:30 pm.

Walking into the bank wearing black hoodies, sunglasses, hats, and clothing to conceal the bottom their faces, the two men took over the bank and demanded money while showing the gun to the tellers.

The Volvo used as a getaway car was found abandoned on South Walnut Street.

The two men are described as 6'0" and 5'10"  and both heavy set.

Anyone with information pertaining to the robbery is asked to call Mansfield police at 508-261-7300.

Stoughton's Mo Cowan Sworn In as Interim U.S. Senator

U.S. Senator William "Mo" Cowan was sworn into office a few minutes after 12 p.m. on Thursday by Vice President Joe Biden on the floor of the Senate.

Cowan, a Stoughton resident, was appointed last week to be interim Senator by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Cowan is taking the place of former Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, who became Secretary of State - serving until a new senator is elected in the June 25 special election.

Cowan lives in Stoughton with his wife, Stacy, and their two young sons, 8-year-old Miles and 4-year-old Grant. His wife and two sons were also in attendance at Thursday's swearing in, as was Senator Elizabeth Warren and now Secretary of State Kerry.


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