Five Massport workers arrested on bribery charges in taxicab scheme at Logan Airport

By Travis Andersen, Globe Staff

Five Massport employees were arrested today on charges of taking bribes from taxi drivers in exchange for preferential treatment at Logan International Airport cab stands, authorities said.

The workers were employed as ground transportation unit agents, or cab starters, at the airport, according to Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s office.

State Police arrested the men this afternoon on charges of accepting a corrupt gift. A press release from Conley’s office said additional arrests could be made in the weeks ahead. The men arrested included Kenneth Clement of Attleboro, Michael Garvey of Melrose, Vadim Mkrtychev of West Roxbury, James Mulrey of Canton, and Donald Potts of Medford.

The arrest warrants were obtained after a lengthy investigation that included video surveillance, secretly recorded conversations, and a review of GPS monitoring devices on Boston taxi cabs, officials said.

“One of the responsibilities of law enforcement in facilitating commerce and tourism in Massachusetts is to root out corruption within the transportation industry, “ said Colonel Timothy Alben, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police.

Conley said the cab drivers who allegedly paid the Massport employees off “enjoyed a tremendous financial advantage over drivers who played honestly and by the rules.”

Massport CEO Thomas Glynn said abusing the public’s trust will not be tolerated and the agency has taken steps to guarantee such corruption will not happen again.

The five suspects will be arraigned in East Boston District Court Wednesday morning. Massport spokesman Matt Brelis said the employees were suspended without pay. Brelis said the workers earned $63,000 a year.