U.S. Marshals seized over $1 million in cash from safety deposit boxes controlled by a former state representative serving a prison sentence for embezzlement.

The U.S. State’s Attorney’s office said in a statement Wednesday the “trove’’ of bundled up rolls of cash were in safety deposit boxes controlled by John George, the former Dartmouth selectman and state representative who was convicted earlier this year of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority.

George, 68, was ordered to pay restitution to the transit authority and forfeit $1.38 million as part of his 70-month prison sentence. Prior to his sentencing, he was required to disclose his financial status to the courts. He listed liquid assets of about $160,000 in bank accounts and about $28,000 in cash, authorities said. The U.S. Attorney’s office said search and seizure warrants were sought because it was believed George was concealing assets.


What the marshals discovered at banks in New Bedford and Fairhaven were safety deposit boxes “filled to the brim with cash tied up in rolls of $100s, $50s, and other denominations,’’ authorities said.