A federal jury in Boston convicted former Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Gary Cederquist on Thursday for orchestrating a years-long scheme to fraudulently pass dozens of unqualified commercial driver’s license (CDL) applicants in exchange for bribes, federal prosecutors announced.
Cederquist, 59, of Stoughton, was found guilty on 48 counts, including conspiracy to commit extortion, honest services mail fraud, falsification of records, and making false statements. He was acquitted on nine additional counts. Sentencing is scheduled for July 24 before U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Cederquist, who led the Massachusetts State Police CDL Unit, issued false passing scores to at least 40 CDL applicants between 2019 and 2022. Many of the individuals either failed or never took the mandatory in-person skills test, which includes vehicle inspection, control skills, and a road test. These actions violated federal motor carrier regulations and state protocols.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley stated that Cederquist’s actions endangered public safety by placing unqualified commercial vehicle operators on public roadways. “His greed put the public at risk when he devised a scheme to issue commercial driver’s licenses to applicants who had never taken a real test,” Foley said.
Multiple troopers and civilians charged in test fraud scheme
Cederquist was originally indicted in January 2024 as part of a broader 74-count indictment that included three other former troopers and two civilians. The other defendants—Calvin Butner, Perry Mendes, Joel Rogers, Scott Camara, and Eric Mathison—have accepted responsibility. All but Rogers have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
The scheme involved a pattern of submitting falsified test results to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, allowing unqualified individuals to obtain Class A and Class B CDLs. These licenses permit the operation of tractor-trailers, box trucks, oil tankers, and school buses.
Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol condemned Cederquist’s abuse of authority. “He did so only to enrich himself, while turning a blind eye to the potential public safety implications,” Krol said.
The Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General emphasized that the conspiracy threatened the integrity of commercial motor vehicle safety regulations nationwide.
A decorated state trooper turned test-for-cash ringleader now awaits sentencing after jeopardizing public safety for personal gain.
