Eighth Mass. State Police trooper arrested in overtime abuse scandal

Another Massachusetts State Police trooper was arrested and two others agreed to plead guilty in connection with the ongoing investigation into an overtime pay abuse scandal, according to the US Attorney’s Office.

Heath McAuliffe, 40, of Hopkinton, a current MSP trooper assigned to Troop E was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with “embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds,” for allegedly receiving overtime pay for shifts he didn’t work or left early, according to a release from the US Attorney.

Federal investigators say in a one year period from 2015 to 2016, McAuliffe collected nearly $10,000 in overtime pay and didn't work any of the hours he billed.

McAuliffe was paid $9,825 for overtime hours working a traffic enforcement detail on Interstate 90 that he did not work from Aug. 1, 2015, to Aug. 31, 2016, according to court documents. He’s expected to appear for arraignment in federal court in Boston Wednesday.

RELATED: Mass. State Police payroll hidden from public for years, report says

Two retired troopers also agreed to plead guilty in plea agreements filed Wednesday.

David Wilson, 58, of Charlton, and Daren DeJong, 57, of Uxbridge, were arrested and charged earlier this year with embezzling federal funds. The date for the plea hearings has not yet been scheduled, according to a news release from the US Attorney's Office.

McAuliffe is the eighth MSP trooper to be charged in the overtime abuse scandal. Seven have pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty. A suspended trooper,  Eric Chin, 46, of Hanover, is also expected to plead guilty Wednesday.

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