BOSTON, MA (WBZ-AM) – There's been another arrest in the ongoing federal investigation concerning overtime abuse among state police troopers.
Retired state trooper Daren DeJong, 57, was arrested and charged in connection with an ongoing overtime abuse investigation.
In fact, the problem of overtime abuse in Troop E was so pervasive that Governor Charlie Baker earlier this year announced the elimination of the whole unit in the case of DeJong, was arraigned in federal court Wednesday. He was released on personal recognizan
The U.S. Attorney's Office says DeJong was supposed to be on the Mass Pike (Interstate 90) looking for speeders, and to hide the fact that he wasn't working, he'd issue citations and put the wrong times on them, or submit citations that he never handed out.
“Mr. DeJong, who was sworn to uphold the law, betrayed the public trust by embezzling funds from the Massachusetts State Police,” said Andrew E. Lelling, U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. “Today’s arrest is another step in our ongoing effort to root out fraud and ensure that public funds are appropriately used,” he said.
Prosecutor indicates that, if convicted, Trooper DeJong wold face a maximum 10-year sentence and up to $250,000 fine.
DeJong is the latest current or former member of Massachusetts State Police Troop E to be arrested five so far and there could be more.
These four: former lieutenant David Wilson, 57, of Charlton; trooper Gary Herman, 45, of Chester; and former trooper Paul Cesan, 50, of Southwick, were arrested and charged with the same crime in June.
Former trooper Gregory Raftery, 47, of Westwood pleaded guilty earlier in July.
In 2016, trooper DeJong earned $179,000 dollars. $63 thousand of that was in overtime.
WBZ NewsRadio1030’s Carl Stevens reports.