An Eastie man who was convicted of giving bribes to a Mass State Police sergeant in reference to a Industrial Driver’s License scheme has been sentenced to federal jail.
Eric Mathison, 48, is going through a 12 months behind bars for his function in a conspiracy to present bribes to ex-Sgt. Gary Cederquist.
The bribes have been in trade for the statie to present false passing scores to sure CDL candidates who had failed or had taken solely partial CDL abilities checks.
Mathison’s 12 months in federal jail might be adopted by three years of supervised launch. The Massachusetts U.S. Legal professional’s workplace had been calling for a jail sentence of two years adopted by three years of supervised launch, whereas Mathison’s protection lawyer pushed for probation in lieu of incarceration.
The feds when searching for jail time cited his “serious criminal history, including, among other things, a variety of arrests and convictions relating to the impersonation of police officers.”
Final 12 months, Mathison was charged in a 74-count indictment together with 5 others, together with Cederquist and different former troopers who labored in Mass State Police’s CDL Unit, which was led by Cederquist.
Mathison, who labored for a water firm that employed drivers who wanted CDLs to drive their supply automobiles, participated within the scheme designed for Cederquist to acquire 1000’s of {dollars} of merchandise from Mathison’s employer, Belmont Springs.
In trade, Cederquist ensured that candidates for CDLs linked to Mathison and Belmont Springs would obtain passing scores on the CDL abilities check.
Mathison delivered truckloads of premium bottled water like Fiji, VOSS and Essentia water, packing containers of espresso pods and tea, brand-new espresso and drink machines, instances of bottled Arizona Iced Tea, and sweet, like Twizzlers and Swedish Fish, to Cederquist — each at his work trailer at MSP’s CDL testing website in Stoughton and at his home.
In flip, Cederquist offered passing scores to Belmont Springs CDL candidates, together with to candidates who by no means took an precise check – or who, in some instances, failed it.
Mathison admitted to his communications with Cederquist about specific CDL candidates and their efficiency on the talents check, in addition to stock from the water firm that Cederquist requested and that Mathison delivered.
For instance, Mathison obtained texts from Cederquist describing one water firm applicant as “an idiot,” who had “no idea what he’s doing,” and “should have failed about 10 times already.” Cederquist then gave this applicant a passing rating.
On one other event, Mathison requested Cederquist, “Hows the trailer holding,” to which Cederquist responded, “In desperate need of restocking,” together with a particular request for, amongst different issues, premium bottled water, tea, vitality drinks and a “truckload of large water.”
Cederquist was convicted by a jury in Might and awaits sentencing.
