BOSTON – A sordid scheme to rig Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) tests has landed Boston water company executive Eric Mathison, 48, behind bars. Mathison was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to one year and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Mathison’s crime: paying former Massachusetts State Police (MSP) Sergeant Gary Cederquist to give false passing scores to CDL applicants who had failed or taken only partial tests. The bribes were lavish, including cases of premium water and snacks delivered directly to the test site.
The 74-count indictment against Mathison and five others was unsealed in January 2024, detailing a conspiracy that spanned years. Mathison pleaded guilty in March 2025, while Cederquist faced trial and was convicted by a jury in May, awaiting sentencing.
Mathison admitted to delivering bribes from the water company to Cederquist, who used his position to award passing scores to unqualified drivers. One text message exchange revealed Cederquist’s callous disregard for the law: ‘an idiot,’ he called an applicant, who ‘should have failed about 10 times already.’
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Brian C. Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, led the investigation that brought Mathison to justice.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Wichers and Adam W. Deitch prosecuted the case with vigor, ensuring that those who exploited their positions for personal gain faced the consequences of their actions.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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