West Roxbury Resident Charged in Logan Bribery Case

A West Roxbury resident was among five Massport employees arrested Tuesday for their involvement in an alleged bribery scheme at Logan Airport's cab stands.

Vadim Mkrtychev, 36, of West Roxbury, 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.

Mkrtychev is employed as a Ground Transportation Unit agent, known as a “cab starter,” according to the statement.

Mkrtychev 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 the four charged man the cab stands and give out violations to "jumpers," who are cab drivers who fail to report to the Taxi Pool. The starters are supposed to issue violations to the jumpers, but authorities allege these five agents took money from the cab drivers.

"Some 'jumpers' who spoke candidly with State Police investigators estimated that they made about $350 per day following procedure, but could make as much as $600 per day by paying off 'starters' to let them jump into line at a cab stand without first waiting in the Taxi Pool," according to the statement.

The other four employees charged Tuesday were Kenneth Clement, 67, of Attleboro; Michael Garvey, 51, of Melrose; Donald Potts, 47, of Medford; and James Murley, 45, of Canton.

The investigation included "video surveillance, secretly-recorded conversations with the defendants, the review of GPS monitoring devices on Boston taxi cabs, and additional evidence developed by State Police investigators since September 2012," authorities said.

Between November and January, authorities said the defendants took in more than $1,000 in alleged bribe money and allegedly would take $20 or $40 for letting the "jumpers" skip the Taxi Pool. Investigators also found the agents allegedly took "scratch tickets, cigarettes, and other goods" instead of cash in some instances.

Authorities said the defendants will be arraigned Wednesday in East Boston District Court.