Overtime abuse scandal: Former Mass. State Police Lt. to pay back $20K after pleading guilty

A former Massachusetts State Police lieutenant has to pay back $20,000 to the state after pleading guilty to charges in connection with the Troop E overtime abuse scandal, officials said.

David Keefe, 57, of Norfolk, pleaded guilty Thursday in Suffolk Superior Court to two counts of larceny over $250 by single scheme and two counts of public employee standards of conduct violation involving a false or fraudulent claim.

In 2015 and 2016, Keefe submitted fraudulent claims for more than 200 hours of overtime that he did not work, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office said.

Keefe was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution by Judge Peter Krupp. He will also need to complete 100 hours of community service.

At the time of overtime abuse, Keefe was a supervisor in Troop E and was responsible for overseeing criminal and traffic enforcement along the Massachusetts Turnpike. The AG’s Office launched an investigation into Troop E’s overtime pay after an internal audit revealed potential misconduct, officials said.

“The investigation revealed that Keefe, who was commander of the Weston barracks, submitted claims for pay for overtime shifts he did not work or from which he left early,” the AG’s office said.

In 2015, Keefe was paid more than $204,000, which included more than $61,000 in overtime pay. Keefe submitted claims for payment for more than 50 hours of overtime that he did not work — stealing at least $5,000.

In 2016, Keefe earned $207,878, which included more than $55,960 in overtime pay. He again submitted claims for payment for more than 170 hours of overtime that he did not work — stealing at least $17,000.

Keefe and two other former MSP lieutenants, David Wilson and John Giulino, were indicted by a Suffolk County Grand Jury in September 2018 for the 2016 conduct and indicted on additional charges for the 2015 conduct in December 2018. Giulino pleaded guilty and was sentenced in December 2019. Wilson pleaded guilty and was sentenced in January 2020, officials said.

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