The Blogfather

Alleged embezzler's attorney arrested for gun threat

Couple rode a financial roller coaster; Harwich Port's own Carmela Soprano

Court records reveal that accused Harwich Port embezzler Jeffrey S.  Windle and his wife Jeannine Windle have filed for both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies in the past.  Harwich Port resident Jeffrey Windle, who was recently arrested on suspicion of stealing millions of dollars from Cambium Learning, the  Natick company he worked for, as well as $200,000 - $400,000 from the South Dennis Congregational Church, lived in Dennis for years with his wife and children prior to moving to a $1.9 million house in Harwich Port.   After moving, the Windles began extensive renovations on their house and Jeffrey began his collection of six boats.    In the 90's Jeffrey Windle was convicted of filing false tax returns, larceny, forgery, and uttering  (See the list of crimes in this  Cape Cod Chronicle article. )

The Windles hired Cape Cod's most respectable bankruptcy attorney
The Windle's Chapter 13 bankruptcy was handled by Attorney Robert J. Daly.  But Jeffrey and Jeannine couldn't have foreseen the handcuffs in Jeff's future when they hired Shaun Ellis, a Sagamore-based bankruptcy attorney who represented them for the Chapter 7 filing.   Attorney Ellis (pictured at right, getting arrested wearing a Peter Tosh T-Shirt) was arrested in Harwich in July 2007 for threatening a CVS clerk with a handgun.  Police found a cache of deadly weapons in the trunk of his car.  Click here  for CCToday coverage of this story and more pictures.   Aside from his and Jeannine's love of legible casual wear (see below),  I'm guessing it was sheer coincidence that they hired him, and it was before Ellis' arrest, obviously.

 I'm telling you, you just can't make this stuff up ;)

Jeannine's unique sense of style
I have received emails and phone calls from various people who knew Jeannine both before and after she moved down the road from her 3- bedroom house in Dennis to her 7-bedroom house in Harwich.    One person described how she dressed while living in Dennis:  "...she wore her husband's big button-down shirts, capri sweats, and carried a Vera Bradley bag."   Sometime before her move to Harwich, she began wearing a 6-karat diamond ring "the size of the rock of Gibraltor" and upgraded  her purse to a "Coach bag and accessories worth at least $1000."  

Jeannine retained her love of comfort clothes, though, and after moving to tony Harwich Port, could be frequently be seen wearing a sweatshirt which said "Harwich Port."  One caller described her as having "money but no taste" and was clearly not the "daughter of a doctor as people thought she was."   She has been described as "a loudmouth" and as "always yelling at her kids at soccer games." 

"She's the Carmela Soprano of Harwich Port"
Although Jeannine allegedly knew her husband had been convicted of numerous crimes prior to their move to the Cape in in mid-90's, and although he was convicted of filing fake tax returns after their move here and the birth of their daughter, it is  stated that she had no knowledge of his most recent and most spectacular alleged embezzling activities and supposedly believed her  husband, a former landscaper,  was receiving bonuses from his employer.

A wife turning a blind eye to the source of her husband's income while spending it as fast as she could?  Sounds like Carmela Soprano of HBO's excellent series The Sopranos,  about a mob boss, Tony Soprano, his wife Carmela (pictured left), and their family.   I'm not at all implying that Jeffrey had mob ties, but at least he can say he had more boats than Tony's lone Stugots.   I must credit a fabulous  eCape staffer for making the Carmela/Jeannine connection.

No lawn jockeys at the new Harwich Port digs
The deed for their house at 652 Main Street in Harwich Port was recorded on December 3, 2004.  The house was purchased for $1,905,000 from Michael Ulrich, trustee of Seashore Properties Realty Trust, and legally purchased by William Windle (Jeffrey's brother) and E & S Realty Trust, which was owned by Jeffrey and Jeannine.    E & S are the initials of their two children's names (how touching)  which I know but will not record here.  

 The house sits across the street from Wychmere Harbor;  the views from the 2nd floor of the house are no doubt breathtaking.   The Windles did a lot of work on the house, putting in a fence,  granite floors, detailed landscaping, a tennis court, and a playground for their kids.  The house has 7 bedrooms and 6.5 baths according to the assessor's report.   

The Windles, Harwich Port's newest Power Couple,  were known to give lavish, catered parties and purportedly owned a margarita machine.   They became benefactors and hosts for the Harwich Mariners.   Jeffrey could be seen driving around town in a brand-new pickup truck with the name of their house Wychview Estate, on the side.   (I may not have the name or spelling of the house correct--please let me know if I'm wrong. )  Jeannine's car has this vanity plate:  WYCHVU.    Moms in Jeannine's circle in both towns were under the impression that Jeffrey "came from money" , which explained their lavish lifestyle.    

Please enjoy these pictures of Chez Windle at 652 Main Street, (Route 28)  in Harwich Port (there are actually three buildings on the property.)

The Windles had a large letter "W" inlaid in stone at the head of their driveway. (Pictured above) 

Does the "W "stand for Windle, or We're F***ed?

The house as seen from Route 28

The kids' playground behind the tennis court

The view of Wychmere Harbor

The clay tennis court

The main house and deck, as seen through the tennis court

Anyone who wishes to contact me with information about the Windles or this case,  or pictures of the Windles (not the children), please email me at julie@ecape.com or call me at (508)385-0003 x 106.

I did not seen any lawn jockeys on this property ;)

(See my previous post if  you don't get this reference.)