5 Massport workers plead not guilty to taking bribes from cab drivers

By Brian Ballou and Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

James Mulrey’s attorney, Francisco Napolitano, talks about the Massport employees who are charged with bribery. (Brian Ballou/Globe Staff)

Five Massport workers pleaded not guilty today to charges that they took bribes from cab drivers at Logan International Airport in exchange for letting drivers bypass the waiting pool to pick up fares.

The defendants, Kenneth Clement, 67, of Attleboro; Michael Garvey, 51, of Melrose; Vadim Mkrtychev, 37, of West Roxbury; James Mulrey, 45, of Stoughton; and Donald Potts, 47, of Medford, were arraigned in East Boston District Court. All were released on personal recognizance, despite prosecutor Nicholas Walsh’s request that they be held on $1,000 cash bail.

Judge Kenneth Fiandaca set a probable cause hearing for April 2.

Prosecutors said the defendants were allegedly videotaped taking bribes multiple times by a cooperating witness working with the State Police hackney unit.

Francisco Napolitano, defense attorney for Mulrey, said his client had been working for 14 years at Massport and his tenure there “suggests to me he’s doing the job properly.”