Massachusetts
Ex-Mass. State Police sergeant convicted in driver's license bribery scandal
A former Massachusetts State Police sergeant who was among six people charged in a scheme to take bribes in exchange for giving passing scores on commercial driving tests was found guilty in federal court Friday on most counts, prosecutors said.
Gary Cederquist was the only one of the six to go to trial — the others took responsibility, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts.
The Stoughton resident was found guilty of extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion, mail fraud, falsifying records and more, a total of 48 counts. He was acquitted of nine counts, including two of extortion and one of conspiracy, prosecutors said.
“Gary Cederquist chose bribery and extortion over his oath to protect the community which he was sworn to serve. His greed put the public at risk when he devised a scheme to issue commercial driver’s licenses to applicants who had never taken a real test to operate heavy commercial vehicles on the roads and highways of Massachusetts,” U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement.
State police dishonorably discharged Cederquist last year.
Two troopers have been suspended without pay from Massachusetts State Police as federal authorities investigate allegations of bribery.
Cederquist and three other former troopers and two civilians falsified records and gave preferential treatment to drivers who were taking their commercial drivers license, or CDL, test. Even when the drivers failed a skills test, the troopers passed them and communicated they had done so with a text and the code word “golden.”
Cederquist was in charge of the unit, and allegedly arranged to give passing scores to at least three dozen CDL applicants, whether or not they passed the skills test. Prosecutors said Cederquist, who was also accused of helping four state troopers get CDLs, accepted as bribes a new driveway worth $10,000, a snowblower valued at $2,000 and a $750 granite mailbox.
Most of the charges Cederquist was convicted on carry sentences of up to 20 years in prison. He’s due for sentencing July 24.
antithesis of and in stark contrast to the values, character, and integrity exhibited by the overwhelming majority of our Troopers every day in service to the public.”
Authorities said a driver is facing charges after a hit-and-run crash left a pedestrian badly hurt this weekend in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
The crash happened around 6:30 p.m. Saturday on Court Street. Police said the driver briefly stopped before fleeing the scene.
The victim was airlifted to a Boston hospital with critical injuries. Plymouth police said Monday that the patient is in stable condition and faces a long road to recovery.
The driver, identified as Francis Kelly of Plymouth, is charged with negligent operation and leaving the scene of a crash causing personal injury.
“We would like to sincerely thank the public for the tips provided and for sharing surveillance footage that proved critical to this investigation,” Plymouth Police Capt. Marc Higgins said in a statement. “Incidents like this underscore the strength of community cooperation in supporting victims and ensuring accountability.”
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – There is a chance for snow leading up to Christmas.
In western Massachusetts, the chances for a white Christmas go up the farther north you are or the closer you are to the Berkshires. In Springfield, the chance for at least one inch of snow on Christmas Day is around 40 to 50 percent.
In Pittsfield, the chances are over 75 percent. In the extreme northwest corner of Massachusetts, near North Adams, the historical chance for a white Christmas is over 90 percent. So, it definitely helps your chances for snow if you’re in one of the higher-elevation areas.
How much snow is expected Tuesday
Light snow will begin on Tuesday around sunrise and continue on and off for much of the day until the evening. A minor accumulation is expected in the Pioneer Valley with a few inches in the hills and Berkshires. Slick roads and sidewalks are possible, especially if not treated. High temperatures will be in the low to mid-30s.
What’s the chance of a white Christmas in western Mass?
As of right now, the chances for a white Christmas this year are definitely higher than in the past few years, with some snow on Tuesday. Of course, the best chance for the snow to stick around until Christmas Day without melting will be back in the Berkshires.
December 25 2025 12:00 am
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day both look dry and comfortable.
Local News Headlines
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Massachusetts
Three Mass. residents arrested in undercover operation targeting child sex trafficking
Police arrested three Massachusetts residents in Framingham on Thursday after they tried to arrange payment for sex with a child while unknowingly communicating with undercover officers, according to Massachusetts State Police.
Framingham resident Joseph Norton, Sherborn resident Eric Gurvis and Milford resident Surya Chandra Ravi Kumar Eda were each arraigned in Framingham District Court on Friday, according to court records. All three pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted child rape, enticement of a child under 16 and paying for sexual conduct with a child.
The arrests were the result of an undercover operation by the State Police High Risk Victims Unit and Framingham police, State Police said in a press release. The operation was meant to address an increase in demand for commercial sex with children locally.
Gurvis is due back in court for a probable cause hearing on Jan. 12, 2026, according to court records. Norton’s next court date is a probable cause hearing scheduled for Jan. 30, 2026. A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for Eda for Feb. 25, 2026.
No further information has been released.
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