BOSTON, Massachusetts – In a shocking turn of events, a retired Massachusetts State Police Trooper has pleaded guilty to embezzlement in an ongoing overtime abuse investigation.
Daren DeJong, 57, of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds on 1 May 2019, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. DeJong was arrested on 25 July 2018 and indicted on 6 September 2018.
DeJong, who is currently retired, was a Trooper assigned to Troop E, which enforces criminal law and traffic regulations along the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate I-90. DeJong received overtime pay for hours that he either did not actually work at all, or shifts in which he departed one to seven hours early.
The conduct involves overtime pay for selective enforcement initiatives, including the Accident and Injury Reduction Effort program (AIRE) and the “X-Team” initiative. Both initiatives are intended to reduce accidents, crashes, and injuries on I-90 through an enhanced presence of MSP Troopers and targeting vehicles traveling at excessive speeds. DeJong was required to work the entire duration of the shifts – either four or eight hours – and truthfully report the date, time and sector of deployment on the citations issued during the shift.
Trooper DeJong earned $200,416 in 2016, which included approximately $68,394 in overtime, of which more than $14,000 was attributable to AIRE and X-Team shifts that DeJong either left early or did not show up for.
Thus far, eight MSP troopers have been charged in the ongoing investigation, seven of whom have pleaded guilty or have agreed to do so. The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss.
In 2015 and 2016, MSP received annual benefits from the U.S. Department of Transportation in excess of $10,000, which were funded pursuant to numerous federal grants. DeJong is scheduled to be sentenced on 1 May 2019.
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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