A former member of the Massachusetts State Police has reportedly agreed to enter a guilty plea in connection to charges of manipulating scores for Commercial Driver's License (CDL) exams, a vital step in certifying drivers for the road-worthiness required for large commercial vehicles. Identified as Calvin Butner, 64, of Halifax, Massachusetts, the ex-trooper is said to face multiple counts, including conspiracy to falsify records, as disclosed in a recent announcement from the office of U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley.
The charges allege that Butner conspired to grant passing grades to certain CDL applicants undeservedly, between May 2019 and January 2023, by colluding with other members of the CDL Unit to use the code word “golden” to identify these individuals. According to the charging document, these actions not only violated the test requirements laid out by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration but also compromised public safety by certifying unqualified commercial vehicle drivers. The plea hearing is expected to be held before U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani next Monday.
Text messages cited in the indictment seem to reveal Butner's alleged involvement, with comments like "This guys a mess. . . . Lol. He owes u a prime rib 6inch" and "He’s a mess Class A truck 2psi loss with truck running truck cut our again while timing 🤣🤣🤣🤣," suggesting a blatant disregard for the requisite skills and safety measures necessary for operating commercial vehicles. Furthermore, Butner has agreed to plead guilty to additional false statements counts for passing applicants who did not complete their CDL tests.
A civilian co-defendant, Eric Mathison, had previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit extortion earlier in March concerning related charges. This scandal has prompted authorities to review all CDL recipients flagged as unqualified during the investigation, with reports submitted to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. The sentencing guidelines indicate that the charge of conspiracy to falsify records could lead to up to 20 years in prison along with potential fines, underscoring the gravity of the offenses.
The joint announcement by the USAO, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General signifies an ongoing commitment to rooting out corruption and maintaining the integrity of federal and state administered licenses. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine J. Wichers and Adam W. Deitch of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are tasked with prosecuting the case.
