Imagine if Sal DiMasi had also had an affair funded by union money: That's the case the feds are making against former State Police union head

Federal officials have charged the retired president of the State Police union of embezzling union funds to pay for flowers, meals and trips for a lover - and with taking kickbacks from a Beacon Hill lobbyist who helped him try to get state contracts for software and gun companies.

Dana Pullman, who resigned as a trooper and State Police Association of Massachusetts president in September after a grand jury was convened, was arrested at his Worcester home this morning, on charges of fraud and obstruction of justice. The lobbyist, Anne Lynch, was arrested on the same charges at her Hull home this morning.

An affidavit by an FBI agent assigned to the case starts with the alleged kickbacks, including one that, ironically for a union with several members indicted and convicted for claiming overtime for hours they never worked, involved a $22 million settlement with the state for troopers who worked overtime but were not paid. The state agreed to pay the union $350,000 of that sum for its alleged expenses in documenting the problems and pursuing the case. The FBI says Pullman then sent $250,000 to Lynch's firm - where Lynch withdrew $50,000 and then sent a check to Pullman for $20,000 made out to him.

The affidavit states:

According to [the union] treasurer, when the treasurer learned that SPAM was going to pay the lobbying firm a total of $350,000 for its work on the [overtime] project, the treasurer complained to Pullman that SPAM was "getting screwed." As a result, Pullman pounded the table and yelled, "Stop breaking my f**king balls and give me the check!" The treasurer relented and gave Pullman a check for $250,000, payable to the lobbying firm.

The affidavit continues that after Lynch's accountant raised questions about the $50,000 withdrawal, she changed it in the company records to "consulting fee" paid to Pullman's spouse, even though neither Pullman nor his wife did any consulting for her.

The affidavit cites cases involving a software company seeking a contract to supply dispatch and record-keeping software to State Police in 2014 and a gun manufacturer in 2015 and 2016, both of which agreed to hire Lynch as a lobbyist for their wares at Pullman's insistence - in one case despite already having a Massachusetts lobbyist. Lynch allegedly paid Pullman for "consulting" again.

Between January, 2014 and August, 2018, the affidavit continues, Pullman withdrew $75,000 in union funds to pay for items for his alleged inamorata:

Between in or about May 2015 and August 2018, Pullman used the SPAM debit card to purchase approximately $9,300 in flowers and gift baskets from Winston Flowers, for family and friends unrelated to SPAM business, including more than approximately $4,400 in flowers and gifts for an individual with whom Pullman was having a romantic relationship ("Indiviual #1").

The affidavit claims Pullman used his union debit card for a $468 lunch with her at Marea restaurant in New York ($150 for caviar alone), more than $3,600 for a "personal getaway" to Miami Beach with her, as well as some $2,000 in iTunes purchases. Then there were the two years worth of meals, costing roughly $8,000, at Boston-area restaurants.

He also used $10,000 in union funds to buy a table at a fundraiser for a Quincy charity that he attended with her - without first seeking union board approval.

He also got a union check for $40,000 in alleged reimbursements for expenses, even though he only documented $9,000 of them, the affidavit continues. And in November, 2017, he spent $21,371 as a downpayment on a lease for a new Chevy Suburban that he didn't bother to ask the board about.

Innocent, etc.