Melrose Man Arraigned in Logan Bribery Case

Five Massport employees, including one from Melrose, accused of participating in a taxi bribery scheme at Logan Airport's cab stands were released Wednesday following their arraignments in a Boston court, according to a press statement by the Suffolk District Attorney's office.

Michael Garvey, 51, of Melrose; Kenneth Clement, 67, of Attleboro; Vadim Mkrtychev, 37, of West Roxbury; James Mulrey, 45, of Canton; and Donald Potts, 47, of Medford, all Massport employees each charged with accepting a corrupt gift, were released on personal recognizance following their respective arraignments in East Boston District Court, according to the statement. All five men pleaded not guilty, according to a Boston Globe report.

"Prosecutors requested $1,000 cash bail for the defendants...along with orders that they stay away from Logan Airport...any witnesses in the case, and surrender their passports," reads the statement. Judge Kenneth Fiandaca released all five defendants but did impose the requested orders, added the statement.

The defendants are set to reappear in court for a probable cause hearing on April 2, according to the statement.

Garvey is represented by Attorney Arthur Shabo, while Potts is represented by Audrey Marinelli, Mulrey by Francisco Napolitano and Mkrtychev is represented by Alexander Shapoval, according to the statement.

Garvey and four other agents are alleged to have accepted bribes from taxi drivers at Logan Airport so the drivers could avoid the wait in what is referred to as the "Taxi Pool" at airport cab stands.

State Police assigned to the Logan Airport barracks arrested all five defendants on warrants obtained during a long-term investigation that included video surveillance, secretly-recorded conversations with the defendants, the review of GPS monitoring devices on Boston taxi cabs and additional evidence developed by State Police investigators since September 2012, according to a previous press statement.

Previous Coverage

• Melrose Man Accused of Participating in Taxi Bribery Scheme