BOSTON, MA (WBZ-AM) -- A Former Mass State Police Tropper has plead guilty in overtime fraud following an investigation into overtime abuse that has implicated four State Troopers.
Gregory Rafterty, 47 of Westwood, MA plead guilty to one count of embezzling funds from a state agency receiving funds.
At the plea hearing on Tuesday , 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 by the Massachusetts State Police.
According to The U.S. Attorney's office, Raftery admitted that he frequently left overtime shifts early, and, on occasion, did not work overtime shifts at all.
To hide this, Raftery submitted bogus traffic tickets that were never issued to drivers , and then claimed on the citations and internal MSP paperwork that they had been written during overtime shifts that, in reality, Raftery did not work.
Raftery admitted in court that 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. The crime carries a penalty up to 10 years in prison.
He's scheduled to be sentenced on Sept 25
Gov Baker: Troopers Should Lose Pension For Stealing Overtime Pay
On June 27, two recently retired members of the State Police and one under suspension were arrested and charged with the same crimes.
Former Lieutenant 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 later this month.
“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." said Col. Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent Massachusetts State Police.
According to Mass State Police Raferty was along approximately 40 individuals flagged by the Department’s ongoing audit of overtime earnings — information that the Department provided to the US Attorney for Massachusetts and the state Attorney General.
The State Retirement Board has the authority to take away a state retiree’s pension.
WBZ NewsRadio1030's Bernice Corpuz reports.