In a recent plea hearing, former Massachusetts State Police trooper Perry Mendes admitted to participating in a scheme to falsify commercial driver's license (CDL) test scores, affecting public safety and trust in the certification process. Mendes, at 64 years old from Wareham, entered a guilty plea on charges that included one count of conspiracy to falsify records, three counts of falsifying records, and two counts of making false statements. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, his sentencing is scheduled for July 15.
As clarified by the plea, Mendes and his co-conspirators had been engaging in this illegal behavior from May 2019 through January 2023, providing undeserved passing grades to at least 17 CDL applicants, employing the term "golden handshake" to signal individuals who were to be granted favorable outcomes. While assigned to the MSP's CDL Unit, which handles the administration of CDL skills tests, Mendes cut skills tests short for "golden" applicants, falsely reported passing scores, and covered for those who never even took the test.
The CDL skills test is a multipart examination, crucial to establishing a driver's capability to safely operate commercial vehicles. It includes sections on vehicle inspection, basic control skills, and a road test, all essential to award a CDL – a documentation demonstrating a driver's qualification for the rigors of commercial driving. The massaging of scores by Mendes and others in his circle undermined the system designed to ensure the competency and safety of commercial vehicle operators.
This case is unfolding under the watchful eyes of U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley, Special Agents Michael J. Krol of Homeland Security Investigations, and Christopher A. Scharf of the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, who announced the charges and plea. Handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine J. Wichers and Adam W. Deitch, Mendes’ act of contrition marks a key moment in the ongoing proceedings around this alleged conspiracy. Previously, on April 7, fellow former Trooper Calvin Butner had pleaded guilty in relation to the offenses, and civilian co-defendant Eric Mathison followed suit with a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit extortion on March 21.
