BOSTON, MA – Six individuals, including current and former Massachusetts State Police troopers, are now in custody following a 74-count indictment that alleges a conspiracy involving bribery, according to an announcement made by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, Joshua Levy, disclosed the details of the indictment during a press conference held at the Boston Federal Courthouse on Tuesday. The indictment accuses four state troopers and two civilians of manipulating documents to ensure passing scores for commercial driver’s license (CDL) applicants.
Levy confirmed the arrests of two state troopers, Sgt. Gary Cederquist and Joel Rogers, and two civilians, Scott Camara and Eric Mathison, on Tuesday morning. Additionally, two retired state troopers, identified as Calvin Butner and Perry Mendes, were arrested in Florida on Monday.
The indictment alleges that the defendants manipulated test scores to grant passing marks to unqualified CDL applicants. In exchange for these fraudulent scores, one defendant reportedly received personal benefits, including high-value items such as a new driveway and a snowblower.
The charges against the six men include extortion, honest services mail fraud, conspiracy, false statements, and falsification of records. According to Levy, the civilians either provided goods or conspired with the troopers to pass unqualified applicants.
Levy emphasized that the defendants’ actions implied that CDLs were essentially up for sale, bypassing federal regulations designed to ensure safety on the roads. He noted that three officers allegedly began falsifying documents in August 2018 for certain CDL applicants, with a fourth joining the conspiracy in 2022.
The licenses, which are a federal requirement for operating large vehicles, are designed to ensure road safety for both the driver and others. The defendants’ actions allegedly violated these requirements, endangering not only the unqualified drivers but also others on the road.
Levy’s office is now collaborating with the Massachusetts Department of Motor Vehicles to identify individuals who may have obtained a CDL through fraudulent means.