MA State PD Overtime Scam: Former Trooper Indicted by Grand Jury

BOSTON – A former lieutenant with the Massachusetts State Police was indicted today in federal court in Boston in connection with the ongoing investigation of overtime abuse at the Massachusetts State Police.

Former Lieutenant David Wilson, 57, of Charlton, was indicted on one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds, according to the US Attorney's office. Wilson was previously charged by a criminal complaint and arrested on June 27, 2018.

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Wilson was assigned to Troop E of the state police, which was responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic along the Mass Turnpike, Interstate I-90 and served as the officer in charge of several overtime shifts. He is alleged to have received overtime pay for shifts that he either did not work at all or from which he left early.

The alleged conduct involves overtime pay for the Accident and Injury Reduction Effort program. That initiative was supposed to reduce accidents, crashes, and injuries on I-90 through an enhanced presence of Troopers who were supposed to target speeding cars. Wilson was required to work the entire duration of the shift – four hours – and truthfully report the date, time and sector of deployment on the citations issued during the shift.

He is accused of concealing the fraud by submitting citations that were issued outside of the overtime shifts, altered citations to create the appearance that the citation was issued during an overtime shift, or submitted citations that were never issued and never took place.

According to court documents, investigators were able to corroborate the alleged conduct through information maintained concerning the usage of cruiser radios, RMV records, and records of when driver history checks were run on ticketed drivers.

In 2016, Wilson earned approximately $230,000, claiming to have worked approximately 170 overtime shifts – equating to about $68,000 in overtime pay. In court documents, it is alleged that Wilson earned approximately $12,450 in overtime pay for hours that he did not work.

In 2015 and 2016, the State Police received annual benefits from the U.S. Department of Transportation for more than $10,000, funded by federal grants.

The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss.

Wilson was charged and arrested along with Trooper Gary Herman, 45, of Chester; and former Trooper Paul Cesan, 50, of Southwick. On July 2, 2018, former Trooper Gregory Raftery, 47, of Westwood was charged and pleaded guilty. On July 25, 2018, retired Trooper Daren DeJong, 56, of Uxbridge, was also charged. On Aug. 17, suspended Trooper Kevin Sweeney, 40, of Braintree, was charged and has agreed to plead guilty.

Wilson's arraignment date has not yet been scheduled.

3 MA State Troopers Arrested For Stealing Government Funds

Catch up on the State Trooper overtime scandal:

• State Police Scandal Update: GPS On Cruisers, Troop E
• State Police Reforms: Troop Eliminated, Body Cams, More

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Photo by Jenna Fisher, Patch staff