Investigation Still Open; More Charges Possible

BOSTON, May 15, 2013—The Suffolk County Grand Jury yesterday returned a 53-count indictment charging five civilian Massport employees with soliciting and taking bribes from cab drivers in exchange for letting them cut ahead of other taxis at Logan Airport, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

Charged in yesterday’s indictments are:

1. KENNETH CLEMENT (D.O.B. 1/24/46) of Attleboro, accused of 11 counts of soliciting or accepting a bribe as a public employee and two counts of soliciting or accepting an unlawful gratuity as a public employee;
2. MICHAEL GARVEY (D.O.B. 5/18/61) of Melrose, accused of seven counts of soliciting or accepting a bribe as a public employee and three counts of soliciting or accepting an unlawful gratuity as a public employee;
3. VADIM MKRTYCHEV (D.O.B. 2/20/75) of West Roxbury, accused of 10 counts of soliciting or accepting a bribe as a public employee, two counts of soliciting or accepting an unlawful gratuity as a public employee; and one count of attempted extortion;
4. JAMES MULREY (D.O.B. 10/27/67) of Canton, accused of five counts of soliciting or accepting a bribe as a public employee and two counts of soliciting or accepting an unlawful gratuity as a public employee;; and
5. DONALD POTTS (D.O.B. 7/24/65) of Medford, accused of seven counts of soliciting or accepting a bribe as a public employee and three counts of soliciting or accepting an unlawful gratuity as a public employee.

The defendants, all employed as Ground Transportation Unit agents at Logan and known colloquially as “cab starters,” are accused of allowing Boston cab drivers to skip the sometimes-lengthy wait at the airport’s Taxi Pool in exchange for cash.

“It’s hard enough to make a living without having to grease a palm or pay a bribe,” Conley said. “The allegations in this case suggest defendants who exploited a position of power to line their pockets.”

“We have a duty to protect the right of businesses to operate on a level playing field, without their being forced to pay a bribe or engage in any other illicit activity for that right,” said Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. “We will continue to work with the Suffolk District Attorney to prosecute this case and with Massport to ensure an environment at the airport for commerce to operate freely and fairly.”

“Massport has not and will not tolerate abuse of the public’s trust,’’ said Thomas P. Glynn, Massport’s CEO. “We assisted the State Police in their investigation and the five employees remain suspended without pay and if they are found guilty they will be subject to firing.’’

All five defendants were identified during the course of a long-term investigation by State Police assigned to the Logan Barracks. In the aftermath of their Feb. 12 arrests, multiple cab drivers came forward to tell investigators that the defendants regularly took money, cigarettes, scratch tickets, and other items in exchange for favorable treatment.

Additional indictments are possible based on ongoing testimony before the grand jury, Conley said. The indictments move the defendants’ cases from East Boston District Court, where they had been pending, to Suffolk Superior Court, where they will be adjudicated. All five are scheduled for arraignment in that venue on May 24.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.