Medford Man, Four Other Massport Employees Charged with Soliciting Bribes from Logan Cabbies

The men solicited and took bribes and then let the cab drivers cut in line, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

Medford’s Donald Potts and four other Massport employees allegedly solicited and took bribes from cab drivers at Logan Airport in exchange for letting them cut other taxis in line, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. The men were indicted Tuesday by a Suffolk County Grand Jury. The men are all Ground Transportation Unit agents, or “cab starters,” at Logan. Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley said the men “exploited a position of power to line their pockets.” “It’s hard enough to make a living without having to grease a palm or pay a bribe,” he said. Massport’s CEO, Thomas Glynn, said his agency assisted State Police with their investigation and said all five employees are suspended without pay and will be…

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Suspicious Package Holds Plane at Logan

The plane has been evacuated and baggage taken off for inspection by law enforcement officials, according to several reports.

UPDATE TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 11:55 A.M.: The suspicious package on the plane was re-screened and cleared by security officials, according to the TSA (Transportation Security Administration). In a press statement, the TSA said that the checked bag was re-screened at Logan after baggage handlers in Philadelphia "noted concern." The plane landed safely at Logan and passengers were bused to the gate.  "While properly screened by TSA at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), the bag was re-screened by local EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal team) at BOS as a precaution and has been cleared," the statement said. Massport also released a statement saying the flight was remotely parked on the runway while the bag was re-screened "out of an …

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Logan Bribery Suspects Arraigned

Medford man among suspects was released by a district court judge Wednesday.

The suspects in the Logan Airport taxi stand bribery case, which includes one Medford man, were released on personal recognizance Wednesday after arraignment in East Boston District Court. According to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office, Judge Kenneth Fiandaca released Donald Potts, 47, of Medford, and four other Logan Airport Ground Transportation Unit agents alleged to have accepted bribes from taxi cab drivers for preferential treatment at the airport. Potts and Kenneth Clement, 67, of Attleboro; Michael Garvey, 51, of Melrose; Vadim Mkrtychev, 36, of West Roxbury; and James Murley, 45, of Canton all face charges of accepting a corrupt gift under Chapter 268A, Section 2, of the Massachusetts General Laws. Prosecutors …

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Medford Resident Charged in Logan Bribery Case

Donald Potts allegedly took bribes from taxi cab drivers.

Medford Resident Charged in Logan Bribery Case

Donald Potts allegedly took bribes from taxi cab drivers.

A Medford resident was among five Massport employees arrested Tuesday for their involvement in an alleged bribery scheme at Logan Airport's cab stands. Donald Potts, 47, of Medford, was charged "with accepting a corrupt gift under Chapter 268A, Section 2, of the Massachusetts General Laws," according to a statement released by Massachusetts State Police, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office and Massport. Potts is employed as a Ground Transportation Unit agent, known as a “cab starter,” according to the statement. Potts and four other agents are alleged to have accepted bribes from taxi drivers at Logan Airport so the drivers could skip the wait in what is called the "Taxi Pool" at airport cab stands. "Starters" like Potts man the …

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Racial Profiling at Logan?

A recent report says its a problem at Boston's airport.

Security staff at Logan International Airport have filed complaints that their co-workers target minorities for security checks, according to the Boston Globe. Over 30 officers have lodged the complaints, which are under investigation by the Transportation Security Administration, the Globe reports. Security at airports are supposed to use "behavioral detection" methods to pick up facial expression and body language to deem someone suspicious. According to the Globe, Logan had once been held up as a model for behavioral detection. Read the full report at Boston.com: Profiling reports spur call for action Is racial profiling a problem at Logan? Tell us your opinion in the comments.

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