Mass. audit finds police wrongly checking criminal records of Brady, Damon, other celebrities

Audit finds celebrity records improperly checked

BOSTON — It turns out Massachusetts law enforcement officers have been engaging in a bit of star search themselves — on the likes of Tom Brady and Matt Damon.

A new audit says law enforcement and judicial employees have conducted hundreds of criminal record searches on Massachusetts celebrities. A state official says personal information for Brady, the New England Patriots quarterback, was checked on 968 occasions.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of privacy concerns, says other celebrities checked include Oscar-winning actor Damon, singer James Taylor and Boston Celtics captain Paul Pierce.

Criminal Systems History Board Director Curtis Wood said agencies are determining if the queries were legitimate. He said illegitimate checks will be punished.