Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUly 31, 2026 Cracking down on collusion Attorney General obtains $2.4 million settlement with school bus company that made false statements regarding school bus transportation contracts to several communities, including Saugus M assachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell this week announced a $2.4 million settlement with student transportation services company Beacon Mobility Corporation, which operates through subsidiaries, including Van Pool ABCC | FROM PAGE 1 or even revoke it. Losing a liquor license for a substantial Transportation LLC and NRT Bus, Inc., (collectively “Beacon”), to resolve allegations that the company colluded to allocate contracts — raising prices — and made false statements regarding school bus transportation contracts in the City of Lynn and Towns of Dedham amount of time can financially hurt a restaurant’s business. Most of this week’s hear“WE’RE STILL HERE!” Since 1947 MALDEN AUTO BODY Book online: Maldenauto.com 49 Robin St., Everett, MA 617-389-3030 * Maldenab@yahoo.com Over 79 years of exceptional service! Massone Family Owned & Operated and Saugus. In addition to the $2.4 million monetary payment, the majority of which will be distributed to the affected municipalities, the settlement requires Beacon to maintain an antitrust compliance program for at least five years and to notify the Attorney General’s ing focused on a five-page report by Supervising Investigator Caroline L. Guarino, which she read into the record. The report, which was constructed by the use of surveillance video and information provided by Tribu, established a timeline from the moment that Marrero arrived at the bar at around 9:15 p.m. on May 5 and left the premises at 1:52 a.m. on May 6. The bar provided all credit card and cash payment records. From the video film and records, ABCC investigators were able to determine when Marrero was served his alcoholic drinks. Marrero was only billed for two margaritas with Don Julio Reposado and food for a total of $71.69. He left a $30 tip for a total payment of $101.69, according to his credit card information. Office (AGO) of any acquisitions of other transportation companies for 10 years. Beacon must also cooperate with the AGO in future investigations and must notify the AGO of any efforts by a competitor to enter into or enforce any agreement to allocate contracts, fix prices, The ABCC investigation determined that Marrero received five of his nine alcoholic drinks after midnight – the last one was served at 12:53 a.m. The investigation also concluded that Marrero only paid for two of his drinks. Serving free drinks and after hours are violations of state liquor law. Tribu committed 26 counts of serving alcoholic beverages after midnight and 31 counts of serving free drinks, according to the violations cited by the ABCC investigation. In her report, Supervising Investigator Guarino noted that Marrero shared a special relationship with Herman Zambrano, one of the bartenders who was on duty on May 5-6. “I interviewed manager Zambrano in the presence of Attorney Firicano,” Guarino wrote. “Zambrano stated that Marrerig bids or share competitively sensitive information related to student transportation contracts in Massachusetts. “When companies engage in unlawful collusion that increase costs for municipalities, it reCOLLUSION | SEE PAGE 5 ro was his friend and mentor for over 20 years. Zambrano stated that he had been sober for 2 ½ years and on May 5, 2026, he started drinking alcoholic beverages,” she wrote. Attorney Firicano elaborated on the friendship during the hearing. “He [Marrero] wasn’t your typical customer,” Firicano said. The attorney called Marrero “a mentor” and “father-figure” to Zambrano. “They were very close,” she said. The circumstances were different during that night of drinking at the bar, she stressed. “Mr. Zambrano never drank with employees, because he hadn’t drunk himself in up to two years,” she said. So, it was out of the ordinary for bar employees who were no longer working to receive free drinks, after hours with Zambrano.” “These are in no ways to be excuses,” Firicano said. She stressed that Tribu “has no prior violations of any kind” prior to the events of May 5-6. “You have no information that what happened was a regular occurrence,” said Firicano, who also noted that Tribu has cooperated with ABCC investigators and has already initiated steps “to ensure that no such violations occur in the future. Tribu employs 23 people who are “hard-working” and who are “learning from this experience,” she said. (Editor’s Note: This story was covered by a reporter who viewed the proceedings of the July 28 hearing broadcast on a computer site set up by the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. The ABCC arranged for the site, anticipating it would not be able to accommodate all interested parties in its hearing room at its Chelsea offices.)
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