6 arrested, including Mass. State Police troopers, in bribery investigation

BOSTON ― Six people, including both current and former Massachusetts State Police troopers, have been arrested in connection with an alleged bribery conspiracy involving commercial driver's license applicants.

The six people indicted include current state police Sgt. Gary Cederquist, of Stoughton, and Trooper Joel Rogers, of Bridgewater; along with retired troopers Calvin Butner, of Halifax, and Perry Mendes, of Wareham, both of whom were taken into custody Monday in Florida. Two civilians were also indicted, Scott Camara of Rehoboth, an instructor at a truck driving school in Brockton; and Eric Mathison of Boston, a water supply company employee.

At a press conference Tuesday morning, Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy outlined the 74-count indictment. The charges include extortion, mail fraud, conspiracy, making false statements and falsification of records.

"Today is a sober reminder that none of us are above the law," Levy said. Federal law governs the issuance of commercial driver's licenses, which are needed for the operation of tractor trailers, oil tankers, school buses and other commercial vehicles. "The federal government has strict regulations to protect the public from death and injuries through ensuring that the operators of the rigs, traveling on highways and through neighborhoods have the skills required to operate them."

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The unsealed indictment alleges that the defendants gave passing scores inappropriately to at least two dozen drivers identified by investigators over the course of the past five years. The drivers either failed to take all three required steps to obtain a commercial driver's license – a vehicle inspection, a basic skills exam and a road test – took abbreviated versions; or did not score highly enough on any or all portions of the exam to earn a commercial driver's license.

The defendants are also alleged to have overlooked violations that are graded as automatic failures, such as failure to inspect the vehicle, the inability to control parts of a vehicle, the passenger door swinging open repeatedly during the test.

In text communications between the alleged conspirators, the applicants were often described as "a mess," "idiot," "horrible," "brain dead," and even "loser." In one text, Cederquist alerted his "friend Conspirator" that it "looks like (the applicant's) first time on A TRUCK."

Levy said the conspiracy was a "quid pro quo" operation; the troopers allegedly gave passing grades to applicants identified as being able to bring value or favors to them. One applicant was linked to a men's clothier company: "guy takes care of police; if you need a new suit or alterations," according to one text communication between the conspirators.

The conspiracy dates back to August 2018, Levy said, and at first included three of the four defendants. Trooper Rogers allegedly joined the scheme in 2022.

"They had no regard for the public safety consequences of their actions," Levy said.

One unnamed state police conspirator requested a passing grade for a landscaper. "I need his boss to grass my front lawn," he said in a text thread with Cederquist, released in the court papers. When the sergeant informed him that he had passed, he added, "I hope your lawn comes out nice."

In referring to a water company employee seeking a commercial driver's license in 2020, Cederquist said to Mathison: "this kids an idiot, no idea what he's doing, (Mathison's boss) should be sending strippers," and, "He is stupid, he should have failed 10 times already."

Other applicants who were inappropriately given passing grades included the adult child of a former Foxboro police officer, a firefighter, and a friend of another trooper.

In exchange for licenses Cederquist allegedly had his driveway repaved, worth $10,000, by a Worcester-based asphalt company and also received a new $750 mailbox with a concrete stand. The sergeant also received a new $1,911.44 snow blower, according to the complaint.

Mathison, who works at a office water supply company whose drivers allegedly received licenses through the scheme, routinely stocked the Stoughton commercial driver's license testing office with cases of water, iced teas, coffee beans and supplies.

Mathison was even given a key to the office that allowed him to make deliveries at off-hours, and restock the supply of beverages and snacks, according to the indictment.

The conspirators communicated openly and using code words; alleging to "golden handshakes," "golden treatment," and indicated that an applicant scheduled for a specific hour was to be "golden." The text threads were peppered with emoji's; handshakes, thumbs ups and "laughing so hard I'm crying" faces.

"Sgt. Cederquist allegedly used his official position as a Sergeant to obtain a stream of benefits not due to him," the indictment reads. Cederquist allegedly helped a "Friend Conspirator" to obtain commercial driver's licenses for "persons with whom the Friend Conspirator had personal or business relationships and/or their family members."

Those personal and business relationships are outlined in the indictment, including a business relationship with an asphalt company in Dighton, the paving company in Worcester, and a hardware store in Framingham.

MA CDL Bribery State Troopers Indictment by psalisbury on Scribd

The indictment claims one of the commercial driver's licenses applicants was an employee of the asphalt company in Worcester, as well as the adult child of the company's owner.

"On or before May 18, 2021, the Friend Conspirator told the Asphalt Co. Owner that if the Asphalt Company had excavated for a job, and, in addition, Cederquist would help the Asphalt Co. Owner and Applicant-18 get their CDLs," the indictment reads.

"We, who are in public service, law enforcement, accept the pubic's trust and have an obligation to uphold our oath and not subvert the law for personal profit or gain," sais Michael Krol, Special Agent in Charge Homeland Security Investigations in New England. "These defendants have lost their moral compass and must be held accountable."

The investigation was a cooperation between the Attorney General, the Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Transportation and Homeland Security and also with the cooperation of the state's Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Col. John Mawn, interim Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, said that upon learning of the federal investigation into the commercial driver's licensing unit, the state police cooperated fully. In light of the allegations and irregularities uncovered by the probe, changes have been made in the unit, including modernization, closer supervision of operations and assigning additional personnel to the unit.

The organization will also now require proctors to wear body cameras during all phases of the licensing exams. The state has also instituted time limits for the learning and testing procedure.

Levy said all the applicants who were inappropriately granted commercial driver's licenses have been identified.

"There are many problems on the roads these days," Levy said, alluding to the increase of road rage incidents over the past few years. "This (investigation) will add to the people's level of concern," adding that he hope the investigation will serve as a warning and stem any similar conduct.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Mass. State Police troopers among 6 arrested in bribery investigation