Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A former Massachusetts State Police trooper has been sentenced in federal court for his involvement in a scheme to falsify records related to Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) testing. Perry Mendes, 64, of Wareham, received a sentence of one month in prison and one year of supervised release, with the first two months on home confinement. The government had recommended a longer prison term and a $5,500 fine.
Mendes pleaded guilty in July 2025 to conspiracy to falsify records, three counts of falsifying records, and two counts of making false statements. He was charged earlier this year along with five others as part of a broader indictment involving similar allegations.
According to federal authorities, members of the Massachusetts State Police CDL Unit were tasked with administering CDL skills tests. These tests are mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and are intended to ensure that only qualified drivers receive commercial licenses for public safety reasons. The skills test includes vehicle inspection, basic control maneuvers, and an on-road driving assessment.
Between January 2019 and April 2022, Mendes conspired with others to give passing scores automatically to at least 17 applicants who did not pass or did not take the required skills tests. The group used code words such as “golden handshake” or “golden” to identify those receiving special treatment.
Mendes admitted that he shortened tests for certain applicants and entered false information indicating they had passed when they had not completed or taken the test.
“United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Brian C. Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region made the announcement today.”
“Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine J. Wichers and Adam W. Deitch of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case.”
