Tony Francis, former head of Edgar P. Benjamin Health Center, was sentenced in Boston’s federal court on May 20 for improper use of EPBHC funds.
The 60-year-old Needham resident — former administrator, president and CEO of the nonprofit healthcare facility in Roxbury — faces six months in prison beginning July 15 and three years of supervised release. He is also required to pay a restitution sum of $43,655.50. Francis pleaded guilty in February 2026 to two counts of intentional misapplication of money from a program receiving federal funds.
According to a statement from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, misapplications totaled over $190,000, though Francis later returned most of the funds. Around 2023 and 2024, EPBHC faced financial “deficiencies”, including a shortage of cash and inability to make payroll, federal prosecutors said. In April 2024, the center was appointed a receiver to manage operations.
Francis’ sentencing comes on the heels of federal administration efforts to eliminate fraud.
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