A former Massachusetts State Police trooper has pleaded guilty to a fraud charge, becoming the fourth trooper to be implicated in the U.S. Attorney's Office's ongoing investigation into alleged overtime abuse fraud.
Gregory Raftery, 47, of Westwood pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling funds from a state agency receiving federal funds, authorities announced.
The agreement, which was unsealed Tuesday, came the day before three other state police members — two retired and one suspended — were arrested and arraigned on the same embezzlement charge.
Raftery admitted to not working hundreds of hours of overtime shifts he had been paid for in 2015 and 2016 during his plea hearing on June 26.
To cover his tracks, he submitted "bogus" citations that hadn't been issued to drivers and then claimed on the citations and in the paperwork that they had been issued during overtime shifts he didn't work, according to prosecutors.
In all, he was paid more than $24,000 in 2015 and more than $30,000 in 2016 for falsified overtime hours.
The three other state police members arrested on the same charges last week — David Wilson, Paul Cesan, and Gary Herman — pleaded not guilty during their arraignment. They're due back in court for a probable cause hearing on July 10.
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Raftery, who faces up to 10 years in prison, will be sentenced on Sept. 25. His lawyer did not immediately respond to an email.
State Police Col. Kerry A. Gilpin issued a statement Tuesday saying the department will continue to hold accountable any member who violates its code of conduct.
"Anyone within our ranks who breaks the law does not represent who we are and the values we hold dear," Gilpin said. "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.”
