Trooper Grift: Wilson & McAuliffe Sentenced in Overtime Scam

BOSTON – Two Massachusetts State Troopers have been brought to account for a brazen scheme to line their pockets with taxpayer money. Retired MSP Lieutenant David Wilson, 58, of Charlton, and suspended MSP Trooper Heath McAuliffe, 41, of Hopkinton, received sentences today after admitting to stealing funds earmarked for highway safety.

U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns handed down a one-day sentence (deemed served) to Wilson, along with two years of supervised release, the first six months to be served under home detention, and a hefty restitution order of $12,450. McAuliffe, appearing before Judge Denise Casper, received a similar one-day sentence, one year of supervised release (with six months home detention), a $4,000 fine, and $7,860 in restitution. Both previously pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds. Federal prosecutors had sought six months incarceration for both men.

The investigation revealed a systematic abuse of the Accident and Injury Reduction Effort (AIRE) program, a selective enforcement initiative designed to improve safety on the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). Wilson, as Officer-in-Charge, allegedly left overtime shifts early or didn’t work them at all, yet still collected pay. In 2016, Wilson raked in a total of $259,475, including $102,062 in overtime. The government proved he fraudulently claimed $12,450 in overtime for 124.5 hours he never worked. McAuliffe, assigned to Troop E, wasn’t far behind, earning $164,680 in 2016 (with $60,908 in overtime) and $180,215 in 2015 (with $83,496 in overtime).

The pair weren’t just clocking out early; they actively concealed their fraud. Both Wilson and McAuliffe were required to accurately document their hours and locations during AIRE shifts. Instead, they submitted falsified paperwork and altered citations, making it appear they were on duty when they weren’t. The scheme involved backdating or manipulating citations to create a false record of overtime hours worked. This wasn’t a matter of simple paperwork errors; it was a deliberate and calculated attempt to steal from the public.

The U.S. Department of Transportation provided more than $10,000 in annual benefits to the MSP in 2016 through various federal grants, making this case a direct theft of federal funds. This isn’t just about two rogue troopers; it’s about a betrayal of public trust and a misuse of resources intended to keep Massachusetts highways safe.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, along with Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Division, and Douglas Shoemaker, Special Agent in Charge of the DOT’s Office of Inspector General, announced the sentences. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Chao and Mark Grady of the Public Corruption Unit handled the prosecution, signaling a continued federal focus on rooting out corruption within state agencies.