Boston Man Sentenced in CDL Bribery Scheme Involving Troopers

A Boston man has been sentenced to prison for conspiring with former Massachusetts State Police (MSP) troopers to falsify passing scores on CDL tests in exchange for bribes that included iced tea, candy, and bottled water.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, 48-year-old Eric Mathison was sentenced on September 3, 2025, to one year and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Mathison pleaded guilty in March to one count of conspiracy to commit extortion after being charged in January 2024 as part of a 74-count indictment.

Bribes in the Form of Drinks and Snacks

Prosecutors said Mathison worked for a water company that employed drivers requiring CDLs. In exchange for delivering free inventory such as Fiji, VOSS, and Essentia bottled water, Arizona Iced Tea, energy drinks, Twizzlers, and Swedish Fish, MSP Sergeant Gary Cederquist provided passing scores to applicants who had either failed or only partially completed CDL skills tests.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office detailed text exchanges between Mathison and Cederquist that highlighted the scheme:

• Cederquist referred to one applicant as “an idiot” who “should have failed about 10 times already,” but nonetheless issued a passing score.
• In another message, when Mathison asked, “Hows the trailer holding,” Cederquist replied, “In desperate need of restocking,” along with a request for premium bottled water, tea, energy drinks, and a “truckload of large water.”

Authorities said Cederquist ultimately gave false passing scores to 40 CDL applicants.

Wider Fallout for the CDL Unit

Cederquist, 59, was convicted in May 2025 on multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit extortion, honest services mail fraud, falsification of records, and false statements. He faces sentencing later this month.

Source: CDLLIFE