- Office of the Inspector General
Media Contact for OIG Found a Watertown Car Dealership Failed to Follow State Law and Concealed Two Car Sales Involving a State Employee
Jack Meyers
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) found that a Watertown car dealership failed to follow state law and concealed two car sales involving a state employee. Following an investigation, the OIG found that between May 2017 and November 2018, Penta Auto Body, a used car dealership, failed to record more than two dozen car transactions, thereby violating state law for licensed used car dealers. Penta Auto Body’s sales manager also concealed the company’s role in two transactions involving a dispatcher assigned to the Massachusetts State Police barracks in Weston. In 2017 and 2018, the dispatcher acquired two vehicles through Penta Auto Body, but Penta Auto Body did not record the transactions and the OIG could find no evidence that the dispatcher paid for the cars. In 2017 and 2018, Penta Auto Body also operated Perfection Towing, which was one of several companies that had contracts to perform towing services on the Weston section of the Massachusetts Turnpike. Furthermore, the dispatcher was the individual responsible for dispatching tow companies on that section of the Turnpike during his shifts. In his role, he was in a position to favor Perfection Towing in assigning towing work.
The Watertown Licensing Board, Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Massachusetts State Police reviewed the OIG’s findings. The Watertown Licensing Board suspended Penta Auto Body’s dealer’s license for 60 days. In addition, the dispatcher is no longer responsible for dispatching tow trucks for the state police.