US District Judge Indira Talwani is presiding over a trial involving a bribery scheme that allowed individuals to obtain commercial driver’s licenses without passing the required tests. Prosecutors claim more than two dozen people benefited from the scheme over five years, posing a safety risk on Massachusetts roads. The three men scheduled to stand trial are Gary Cederquist, Joel Rogers, and Scott Camara. Three others have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. The indictment alleges a conspiracy to falsify records and grant licenses to unqualified individuals in exchange for bribes.
The case is part of a series of scandals involving the Massachusetts State Police, including an overtime fraud scheme and the racketeering conviction of the police union president. Legal analyst Howard Friedman described the bribery scandal as particularly concerning due to the potential safety implications. The prosecution plans to present text messages exchanged between the troopers involved in the scheme and testimony from witnesses who received special treatment on their driver’s tests.
The trial is set to begin with jury selection on Monday, with opening statements likely to start on Tuesday. The defendants face charges of conspiracy, perjury, and extortion. The alleged misconduct includes providing passing scores on tests without actual evaluations, exchanging benefits for licenses, and lying to a federal grand jury. The prosecution’s case aims to prove the defendants’ involvement in the corrupt scheme and the dangers it posed to public safety.
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