Feds arrest 5th trooper in ongoing overtime fraud probe

BOSTON – A fifth Massachusetts State Police trooper has been arrested and charged with putting in for overtime pay for shifts he didn’t work.

Daren DeJong, of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, made an initial appearance in federal court Wednesday after being arrested and charged with embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds.

DeJong’s lawyer says the retired trooper denies the allegations against him.

Prosecutors say DeJong received more than $14,000 in overtime pay for shifts that he ended early or didn’t show up for. U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling says DeJong “betrayed the public trust.”

Another former trooper has pleaded guilty to similar charges. Lelling said the arrests of three other troopers in June were just the beginning of his office’s investigation into overtime abuse at the state police.