Pomey and Gomes were indicted last year after an investigation by the Harvard University Police Department.
Of the $91,000 the two allegedly stole, Gomes received about $68,000 of that money and Pomey got nearly $23,000, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors allege Pomey used the stolen funds for shopping sprees and spa visits and Gomes spent his share of the stolen money paying off drug dealers, buying electronics and travelling.
Several times while he spoke, DeMarco referred to Pomey as a “child.”
“I know she’s an adult,” he said, “but she’s still a very young person.”
He also said that after the indictment, she was no longer able to participate in the Teach for America program.
“She’s already seen the effects of what this can do to a young life,” he said.
DeMarco asked Pomey’s parents and older sister, who had flown in from Kentucky and California for the trial, to stand up.
“These are people who lived the dream of their child being admitted to Harvard,” he said.
Similarly, Cashman described the adverse effects the case has had on Gomes’ life. He said Gomes’ father, who is an educator, and his mother, a former employee of the telephone company, had to refinance their home to pay back the Pudding.
He said Gomes recently took the LSAT.
“He wants to be a lawyer,” Cashman said.
“Why did all this happen?” he asked. “He got mixed up with the wrong people and then drugs...That’s not an excuse for any of these actions, but it certainly does cloud someone’s judgement.”
He also questioned DeMarco’s portrayal of Gomes as primarily responsible for the crime.
“I was disappointed that this turned into a case with our clients pointing their fingers at one another,” he said. “Mr. Bedrosian goes on to suggest that they were partners...My client got into this secondarily.”
“He has a wonderful future if we could strike this from his career,” he said.
Pomey and Gomes will next appear in court Oct. 3, when the judge will decide whether or not to accept their pleas.
Gomes’ and Pomey’s attorneys could not be reached for comment. Gomes and Pomey have repeatedly declined requests for comment.
—Staff writer Amit R. Paley can be reached at paley@fas.harvard.edu.