A Probation official testified in federal court on Tuesday that he gave two, $100 cash contributions to his superiors at the agency to pass on to Rep. Thomas Petrolati of Ludlow, yet state law bars cash contributions of that magnitude and state records indicate the lawmaker never reported receiving any money from the official.

Edward McDermott, a Probation employee testifying at the federal trial of former Probation commissioner John O’Brien and his top aides Elizabeth Tavares and William Burke III, said he attended as many as six fundraisers hosted by Petrolati, a Democrat who has been described as one of the most active lawmakers on Beacon Hill in placing people in Probation jobs.

McDermott described the Petrolati fundraisers as largely social gatherings where as many as 75 to 100 Probation employees would show up. McDermott said he donated money only twice to Petrolati’s campaign, each time giving $100 in cash to superiors at Probation. He identified the superiors as Francis Wall and Paul Lucci. The implication of his testimony was that Wall and Lucci were supposed to pass the money along to Petrolati’s campaign.

Yet state campaign finance records indicate Petrolati received no contributions from McDermott. State law also bars cash contributions greater than $50.