Former soldiers guilty of 48 charges, 40 CDL applicants false, in exchange for bribes

A former Sergeant at Massachusetts State Police (MSP) was found guilty of dozens of charges in connection with a CDL bridle scheme (Commercial License's license).

On May 2, the 59 -year -old Gary Cederquist was found guilty by a federal jury in Boston because of the following charges:

• Two cases of conspiracy for blackmail
• A blackmail
• Six cases of honest services Mail fraud
• Three conspiracy counts to fake data records
• 19 counts of the forgery of records
• 17 counts of false statements

Cederquist was acquitted of a number of conspiracies for extortion, two blackmail counts, three cases of falsification of records and three counts of false statements. It is planned for the conviction in July 2025.

Cederquist was responsible for the MSP-CDL unit, which was responsible for the implementation of CDL skills tests when he took part in a long program to deliver false passion values ​​to 40 applicants.

The US law firm for the District of Massachusetts described the program:

“Between or around February 2019 and January 2023, Cederquist arranged at least three dozen applicants for him and his co-conspirators, regardless of whether they actually existed or not, or in some cases even the CDL skills test, including in some cases in exchange for bibs. Cederquist and his co-conspirators used the code word “Golden Handshake” or “Golden” to identify applicants who received special treatment and, regardless of the performance, received their skills for their skills tests. In SMS talks, Cederquist and his co-conspirators described a number of “golden” applicants as poor performance in their skills tests. However, all applicants received temporary scores.

Among the CDL applicants, to whom Cederquist provided preferred treatment, there were six MSP soldiers who incorrectly reported a class A skill test. In reality, however, the soldiers did not carry out a real CDL skills test. For four of the soldier applicants, Cederquist conspired with his girlfriend Camara, who worked for a truck driving school in Brockton to fulfill this crime.

Cederquist also conspired with his friend Mathison, who worked for a water company, who employed the driver who needed CDLs to give certain applicants that were connected to the water society. In return for the temporary values, Cederquist accepted bribes – for years – of the free inventory of the water society, such as: Cederquist sent Mathison a text that described one of these applicants as a “idiot” who “had no idea what he was doing” and should have failed about 10 times. Cederquist then wrote Mathison that Mathison's boss “owes great time”.

In return for the use of his official position to give certain CDL applicants preferred treatment, Cederquist accepted a variety of bribes, including the existing of Mathison's water companies, which were estimated in thousands of dollars. A granite post and mailbox of $ 750; a new entrance worth over 10,000 US dollars; And a snow blower worth almost 2,000 US dollars. Cederquist described such a applicant as “terrible” and “brain dead”, but still gave him a suitable, in return for the snow leader.“

Officials say that all non -qualified CDL applicants have been reported to the Massachusetts register of motor vehicles.

Other co -accused are:

• Former soldier Calvin Butner, 64, from Halifax
• Former Trooper Perry Mendes, 64, from Wareham
• Former Trooper Joel Rogers, 56, from Bridgewater
• Scott Camara, 44, by Rehoboth
• Eric Mathison, 48, from Boston

Butner, Mendes, Camara and Mathison are guilty.

“It is never a good day on which a member of the law enforcement is convicted of crime, especially if it is a crime that affects public security. Gary Cederquist decided Massachusetts,” said the United States lawyer, Leah B. Foley. “The US law firm has the greatest respect for the law enforcement authorities, but we will not be idle if they violate the law.”

“Today's judgment confirms that Gary Cederquist has misused his authority as Massachusett's State Trooper in order to circumvent the long -term tests and the security parameters for the applicants for commercial driving license. State troops who wear the uniform of the state police in Massachusetts so proudly and honorably also ashamed into the thousands of state soldiers. “

“Today's judgment sends a strong message to those who can be motivated by greed to abuse their positions – that they are hit with the full power of the criminal justice system,” said Elise Chawaga, main instantaneous inspector for investigations, general owner of the Ministry of Transport. “Dot Oig is still obliged to work with our federal and public prosecutor partners in order to maintain the rules and regulations of the engine carriers.