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U.S. Customs officer charged with posing as the Plymouth town manager
The Holliston resident is due in Plymouth District Court in October.
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer is facing identity fraud charges after Plymouth police say he impersonated the town manager to complain about officers allegedly supporting residents who unlawfully decorate their cars with Christmas lights on a Facebook post.
According to court documents, Plymouth police charged Christopher Marden, 36, of Holliston, with identity fraud. The Plymouth District Court issued a summons for Marden to appear in court on Sept. 15, with an arraignment scheduled for Oct. 16.
According to a police report filed by Detective Brian Pierce, a person who identified themself as Derek Brindisi, the Plymouth town manager, submitted a traffic complaint form through the Plymouth Police Department website on the evening of Dec. 9, 2024.
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The email, addressed to a Plymouth police administrative assistant, said it was from Brindisi, using the town hall’s address. It cited the concern as “Christmas Lights on Vehicle While Driving.”
The email stated that a post on the Facebook group “All Things Plymouth” had police officers praising people who had wrapped their cars with Christmas tree lights, violating state law.
The message said, “Please address this ASAP and inform the public this is not allowed.”
Police directed the complaint to Plymouth Chief of Police Dana Flynn. And it appeared to him to be from his direct supervisor, the town manager.
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The report said Flynn then contacted the town manager, Brindisi, who said he never sent that submission or request to the police department.
IT specialists reportedly traced the message’s IP address to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection shared workstation at Boston Logan Airport, linked to a user account tied to Marden.
Pierce also searched the “All Things Plymouth” Facebook group for references to cars wrapped in Christmas lights.
The detective found a post made to the group on Dec. 9, 2024, at 8:44 p.m. about whether Christmas lights on cars were legal in the state. The post garnered 122 comments. Within the comments, he found a Facebook account called “Kristophoros Marden,” which was engaging with several other accounts, reporting that this activity was illegal and violating state rules.
A search of “Kristophoros Marden” revealed a profile identifying him as a federal police officer at U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Photos on the public profile also showed him running with a load-bearing vest and the name Marden on the vest.
The detective conducted another search that brought up a report from Nov. 7, 2024, where the same Marden was involved in a Facebook argument and possible harassment with another Holliston resident.
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Pierce placed two calls to Marden and left messages.
After the initial call, the Facebook account was reportedly changed to a different name and the profile picture was updated to a dog wearing “a horror-type mask” with the caption “You want some of this?”
Plymouth police notified the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office, which told them they were conducting an investigation.
Marden declined to be interviewed by the police voluntarily.
Marden’s hearings in Plymouth District Court were rescheduled twice due to conflicting schedules with his lawyer and his job training.
Marden’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a statement, Plymouth said the person misrepresenting himself as the town manager is not affiliated with the town or the police department, calling the act a “serious matter.”
“Such actions can cause internal and external confusion, erode public trust, and potentially compromise the duties and responsibilities of those who serve the community,” the statement said.
The town said that it knows of no member of the police department who has supported or promoted the practice of wrapping vehicles in Christmas lights. The town also noted that the practice is a citable offense.
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In response to the incident, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it is aware of the allegations, and the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating the matter.
The agency said it does not comment on ongoing investigations.
“However, CBP employees are held to the highest standards of professional conduct, and any allegations of misconduct are taken seriously and thoroughly reviewed in accordance with established procedures,” a spokesperson from the agency said.
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