BOSTON (WHDH) - A former state trooper pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Boston in connection with the ongoing investigation of overtime abuse, officials said.
Gregory Raftery, 47, of Westwood, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling funds from a state agency receiving federal funds, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Sept. 25. On June 26, 2018, Raftery was charged by Information which was unsealed today.
At the plea hearing, Raftery admitted that in 2015 and 2016, he was not present and did not work for hundreds of hours of overtime shifts for which he had been paid.
Raftery admitted that he frequently left overtime shifts early, and, on occasion, did not work overtime shifts at all. To hide this conduct, Raftery submitted bogus motor vehicle citations that were never issued and then claimed on the citations and internal paperwork that they had been written during overtime shifts that, in reality, Raftery did not work.
Raftery acknowledged that in 2015 he was paid over $24,000, and in 2016, he was paid over $30,000 for overtime hours that he did not work.
On Wednesday, June 27, 2018, three members of the MSP – two recently retired and one recently suspended – were arrested and charged in criminal complaints with embezzling funds from a state agency receiving federal funds. Former Lt. David Wilson, 57, of Charlton; Trooper Gary Herman, 45, of Chester; and Former Trooper Paul Cesan, 50, of Southwick, pleaded not guilty during an initial appearance in federal court in Boston and are scheduled to appear for a detention/probable cause hearing on Tuesday, July 10, 2018.
The charge of embezzling funds from a state agency receiving federal 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.
Massachusetts State Police Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin released the following statement regarding Raftery’s guilty plea:
“This Department played a lead role in uncovering the overtime abuse that led to this conviction, and will continue to hold accountable any member who violates our Code of Conduct. The State Police will inform the State Retirement Board of this conviction, continue auditing overtime shifts, and continue to provide audit results to state and federal prosecutors for their review. Anyone within our ranks who breaks the law does not represent who we are and the values we hold dear. Rest assured that no one is more disheartened by this illegal conduct than am I and the overwhelming majority of Troopers who exhibit integrity and bravery every day.”
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