BOSTON – A retired Massachusetts State Police (MSP) Lieutenant and a suspended MSP Trooper were sentenced today in connection with the ongoing investigation of overtime abuse at the state agency.

Retired MSP Lieutenant David Wilson, 58, of Charlton, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to one day (deemed served), two years of supervised release with the first six months to be served in home detention, and restitution of $12,450.  Suspended MSP Trooper Heath McAuliffe, 41, of Hopkinton, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper to one day (deemed served), one year of supervised release with the first six months to be served in home detention, a fine of $4,000, and restitution of $7,860. Wilson and McAuliffe previously pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds.  The government recommended six months incarceration for both Wilson and McAuliffe. 

Wilson, who served as the Officer-in-Charge of several overtime shifts, received overtime pay for shifts from which he left early or did not work at all. Specifically, in 2016, Wilson earned approximately $259,475, which included approximately $102,062 in overtime pay. During that year, the investigation revealed that Wilson earned approximately $12,450 in overtime pay for 124.5 AIRE overtime hours that he did not work.

In 2016, McAuliffe, who was assigned to Troop E, which was responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic regulations along the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate I-90, earned approximately $164,680, which included approximately $60,908 in overtime pay. In 2015, McAuliffe earned approximately $180,215, which included approximately $83,496 in overtime pay. 

The conduct involves overtime pay for selective enforcement initiatives, specifically the Accident and Injury Reduction Effort program (AIRE), which is intended to reduce accidents, crashes, and injuries on I-90 through an enhanced presence of MSP Troopers and targeting vehicles traveling at excessive speeds.

Wilson and McAuliffe were required to work the entire duration of the four hour shift and truthfully report the date, time and sector of deployment on the citations issued during the shift. However, Wilson and McAuliffe admitted that they had been paid for hours they did not work, and for overtime shifts from which they left early. Wilson and McAuliffe concealed the fraud by submitting false paperwork and citations that were issued outside of the overtime shifts and that had been altered to create the appearance that they were issued during overtime shifts.   

In 2016, MSP received annual benefits from the U.S. Department of Transportation in excess of $10,000, which were funded pursuant to numerous federal grants. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Douglas Shoemaker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Chao and Mark Grady of Lelling’s Public Corruption Unit are prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A retired Massachusetts State Police Lieutenant pleaded guilty today in connection with the ongoing investigation of overtime abuse at the Massachusetts State Police (MSP).

Former Lieutenant David Wilson, 58, of Charlton, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for May 2, 2019. In June 2018, Wilson was arrested and charged by criminal complaint.

Wilson, who served as the Officer-in-Charge of several overtime shifts, received overtime pay for shifts from which he left early or did not work at all.   

The conduct involves overtime pay for selective enforcement initiatives, specifically the Accident and Injury Reduction Effort program (AIRE), which is intended to reduce accidents, crashes, and injuries on I-90 through an enhanced presence of MSP Troopers and targeting vehicles traveling at excessive speeds. Wilson was required to work the entire duration of the four hour shift and truthfully report the date, time and sector of deployment on the citations issued during the shift. During the plea, Wilson admitted that he had been paid for hours he did not work, and for overtime shifts he did not work at all. Wilson concealed his fraud by submitting false paperwork and citations that were issued outside the overtime shifts that had been altered to create the appearance that they were issued during overtime shifts. 

In 2016, Lt. Wilson earned approximately $259,475, which included approximately $102,062 in overtime pay, a portion of which included pay for AIRE shifts. During that year, the investigation revealed that Lt. Wilson earned approximately $12,450 in overtime pay for 124.5 AIRE overtime hours that he did not work.

In 2016, MSP received annual benefits from the U.S. Department of Transportation in excess of $10,000, which were funded pursuant to numerous 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.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Pursuant to the plea agreement, the government has agreed to recommend a sentence of not more than 12 and not less than six months in prison.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Douglas Shoemaker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Chao and Mark Grady of Lelling’s Public Corruption Unit are prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A former lieutenant with the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) 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. Wilson was previously charged by a criminal complaint and arrested on June 27, 2018. An arraignment date has not yet been scheduled. 

Wilson was assigned to Troop E of the MSP, which was responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic regulations along the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate I-90. Wilson served as the Officer-in-Charge of several overtime shifts and is alleged to have received overtime pay for shifts that he either did not work at all or from which he departed early.   

The alleged conduct involves overtime pay for the Accident and Injury Reduction Effort program (AIRE). That initiative was intended to reduce accidents, crashes, and injuries on I-90 through an enhanced presence of MSP Troopers who were to target vehicles traveling at excessive speeds. 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. As alleged, Wilson concealed 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, and/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 MSP cruiser radios, RMV records, and records of when driver history checks were run on ticketed drivers. 

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

In 2015 and 2016, MSP received annual benefits from the U.S. Department of Transportation in excess of $10,000, which were funded pursuant to numerous 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. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Douglas Shoemaker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Chao and Mark Grady of Lelling’s Public Corruption Unit and Neil Gallagher of Lelling’s Economic Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.