BOSTON (AP) — Greater than two dozen industrial drivers have had their licenses downgraded within the wake of a scandal involving State Police troopers allegedly taking bribes in alternate for passing take a look at scores, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Autos introduced Friday.
The RMV stated it recognized 26 individuals who didn’t move the take a look at correctly and altered them to Class D passenger licenses. The drivers, who weren’t named, must take and move all of the required allow and expertise assessments in the event that they wish to get industrial licenses.
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The RMV stated it was unaware of any crashes involving the drivers. It was reviewing information to search for anybody else who could have obtained a license improperly.
“The RMV is committed to ensuring the public’s safety on the roads. … The RMV will take appropriate action for additional individuals identified that should not be operating a commercial motor vehicle,” it stated in a press release.
Within the wake of a scandal involving bribes paid to acquire industrial licenses, the Massachusetts RMV is downgrading over two dozen licenses.
Two present and two former troopers have been amongst six folks charged this week within the alleged scheme to obtain bribes, which included a brand new snowblower and driveway.
The troopers are accused of falsifying information and giving preferential therapy to not less than 17 folks from Might 2019 to January 2023 who have been taking their industrial drivers license assessments.
When drivers failed expertise assessments, the troopers would move them and talk that they’d completed so in textual content messages with the code phrase “golden,” in line with the indictment. Some allegedly joked within the messages about how badly a driver had carried out.
Sgt. Gary Cederquist, 58, of Stoughton, and Trooper Joel Rogers, 54, of Bridgewater, have been arrested Tuesday. Calvin Butner, 63, of Halifax, and Perry Mendes, 63, of Wareham, each retired state troopers, have been arrested in Florida on Monday.
All 4 face greater than 70 counts together with conspiracy to falsify information, extortion and making false statements.
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Two others, Eric Mathison, 47, of Boston, and Scott Camara, 42, of Rehoboth, have been additionally implicated within the scheme. Cederquist is alleged to have conspired with Mathison, who labored for a spring water firm that employed drivers needing industrial licenses, to provide them passing scores; and with Digicam, who labored for a truck driving faculty in Brockton, to assist 4 state troopers get their industrial licenses.
A cellphone quantity couldn’t be discovered for any of the six, and their legal professionals didn’t reply to requests for remark.
