Investigations

On May 10, 2019, Kevin Sweeney, a suspended Massachusetts State Police (MSP) trooper, was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Boston, in connection with the ongoing investigation of overtime abuse at MSP. Sweeney, who pleaded guilty in September 2018, was sentenced to 2 months in prison; 1 year of supervised release, with 3 months in home detention; restitution in the amount of $11,103; a fine of $4,000; and a $200 special court assessment.

 

Sweeney was assigned to Troop E, which is responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic regulations along the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate I-90. The overtime in question involved the Accident and Injury Reduction Effort Program and the X-Team initiative, which aims to reduce accidents and injuries on I-90 through an enhanced presence of MSP troopers targeting vehicles traveling at excessive speeds.

 

The investigation revealed that Sweeney earned $218,512 in 2016, including approximately $95,000 for overtime shifts he did not work or left early. He concealed his fraud by submitting citations designed to create the appearance that he had worked overtime hours when he had not, and falsely claiming in MSP paperwork and payroll entries that he had worked all of his overtime shifts.

 

In 2016, MSP received more than $10,000 in annual benefits from several DOT grants.

 

DOT-OIG conducted this investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.