Crime

Two state police troopers involved in licensing scandal suspended indefinitely without pay

The two officers are among six charged in a conspiracy to pass unqualified driver’s license applicants in exchange for bribes.

At Moakley Federal Court Boston, state police officer Gary Cederquist, ( in green )58, of Stoughton left the courthouse with his attorney Vince DeMore ( on right ).Two current and two former Massachusetts State Police (MSP) troopers are among six charged in a 74-count indictment in connection with an alleged conspiracy to falsify records and give passing scores to certain Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) applicants, including individuals who had failed or did not take the CDL skills test, in exchange for bribes. (David L Ryan/Globe Staff ) SECTION: METRO David L Ryan/Globe Staff

By Emily Spatz

1 minute to read

Two Massachusetts State Police troopers were suspended without pay Wednesday after they were indicted on federal offenses for allegedly administrating shortened commercial drivers license tests and passing applicants who did not earn a passing score, state police officials said. 

Sergeant Gary Cederquist and Trooper Joel Rogers, both members of the Commercial Driver Licensing Unit, were suspended indefinitely without pay after duty status hearings Wednesday morning, according to a statement by state police. Two retired unit members, Calvin Butner and Perry Mendes, were also charged in the case.

The officers were among six charged on more than 70 counts in an alleged “conspiracy to falsify records and give passing scores” to certain driver’s license applicants in exchange for bribes, according to the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts. 

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“According to the charging document, between or about May 2019 and January 2023, Cederquist, Butner, Mendes, Rogers and others conspired to give preferential treatment to at least 17 CDL applicants by agreeing to give passing scores on their skills tests whether or not they actually passed, using the code word ‘golden’ to identify these applicants who received special treatment,” a District Attorney’s Office press release read. 

Cederquist and Rogers appeared in Boston Federal Court at 2 p.m. yesterday. Butner and Mendes were arrested in Florida and will appear in court at a later date. 

Massachusetts State Police said in a statement that they became aware of a federal investigation into members of the CDL unit for alleged violations of the law in late 2022. The department said it launched an internal investigation and initiated an internal audit of the unit’s operations and procedures. 

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“The State Police, beginning in early 2023, implemented numerous reforms to the CDL Unit that have significantly improved efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability,” the statement read. 

The department said it provided federal prosecutors with records and information in response to more than 15 subpoenas received by the department since the fall of 2022. An investigation into the misconduct by the State Police Office of Professional Integrity and Accountability is ongoing, according to the statement.

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