Former Massachusetts Trooper Found Guilty in Bribery Scheme

News Summary

Gary Cederquist, a former Massachusetts State Police sergeant, has been convicted on multiple charges for his involvement in a bribery scheme. The jury found him guilty of extortion and conspiracy for accepting bribes to provide passing scores for commercial driving tests. The scandal raises critical concerns about the integrity of the state’s driver licensing system and has significant implications for public safety. Several co-conspirators have already pleaded guilty, and reform measures have begun to address these serious issues within the police department.

Stoughton, Massachusetts – Gary Cederquist, a 59-year-old former sergeant with the Massachusetts State Police, was found guilty on Friday of involvement in a significant bribery scheme. The jury convicted Cederquist on nearly 50 charges that included two counts of conspiracy to commit extortion, one count of extortion, and six counts of honest services mail fraud.

The intricate scheme involved Cederquist and others accepting various bribes—ranging from a $2,000 snowblower to over $10,000 worth of driveway asphalt—in exchange for providing passing scores to at least 17 drivers during commercial driving tests. This illicit practice occurred over four years, from May 2019 to January 2023, and raised serious concerns regarding the integrity of Massachusetts’ commercial driver’s licensing system.

Cederquist was one of three troopers and two civilians implicated in the conspiracy. Testimonies during the trial revealed that involved troopers communicated about passing scores using the code word “golden,” even for drivers who had not adequately completed their skills tests. Text messages exchanged among officers exhibited a casual disregard for the applicants, with some mockingly referring to them with terms such as “an idiot” or “brain dead.”

The case has significant implications for public safety, emphasizing how compromised testing validity can lead to unqualified drivers operating heavy vehicles. With a reported pass rate of only 41% for commercial driving tests in 2022, the situation became a focal point for concerns within the Department of Transportation and the community.

Key officials, including U.S. Attorney Leah Foley, condemned the actions of Cederquist and his co-conspirators, highlighting how such corruption undermines public trust. The Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General also pointed out that this prosecution serves as a stern warning against the abuse of authority for personal benefit.

This bribery scheme is representative of broader issues within the Massachusetts State Police, which has been scrutinized in the past for officers who allegedly collected overtime pay for shifts not worked between 2015 and 2017. Among those involved in the bribery case, four out of five individuals have already pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

The widespread concern over the integrity of the driver licensing system was exacerbated by a fatal crash in New Hampshire in 2019. This incident involved a driver whose license should have been revoked but remained valid due to a backlog of notifications within the system.

Reforms have since been introduced within the state’s commercial driver’s license unit in an effort to bolster transparency and accountability. These changes include mandatory body cameras during driving exams and increased supervisory oversight during testing processes, making an effort to restore public confidence in the system.

In addition to Cederquist, other key individuals involved in the bribery scheme include former trooper Joel Rogers and Scott Camara, who worked at a commercial driving school. While Rogers has reached a deferred prosecution agreement, Camara has indicated an intention to plead guilty. The legal proceedings are expected to feature testimony from witnesses and other troopers that will elucidate the nature of the falsified testing processes and the disqualification of unqualified drivers.

The trials and ongoing investigations into this case have garnered significant attention as one of the most serious scandals involving the Massachusetts State Police, largely due to the potential implications for public safety and the integrity of the licensing process.

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