United States
Amtrak Foreman Resigns After Leaving Amtrak Property Without Authorization
An Amtrak Foreman based in Springfield, Massachusetts, violated company policies by leaving company property on five occasions without authorization during paid shifts in June through July 2023. On these occasions, he left his subordinates without supervision, and he did so even after receiving...
Major Programs: Americans with Disabilities Act Program Progressing, but Faces Some Challenges to Meeting Completion Goals
Our objective was to provide the status of the company’s progress toward achieving compliance with the ADA and identify any challenges that could delay progress. We found that the company continues to make progress on its ADA program. Since our September 2021 ADA report, the company implemented our...
Employee Agrees to Civil Settlement Related to the Fraudulent Receipt of Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance
An Amtrak senior manager based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, signed a civil settlement agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida, on August 15, 2023, and agreed to pay $25,441 in restitution. Our investigation found that the employee submitted applications that contained...
Manager of Clinical Laboratory Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud
David Pugliese, a resident of Palm Beach County, Florida, pleaded guilty on July 28, 2023, in U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, to Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud. Pugliese was the manager and registered agent of Capital Advantage Diagnostics, LLC, which was purportedly in...
Financial Management: The Company Has Proactively Taken Steps to Comply with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Our objective was to assess the company’s early efforts to comply with all Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requirements, with a focus on its ability to use, account for, and report on the $22 billion in direct IIJA funding it will receive.As of July 2023, the company has received about $731...
Employee Terminated for Engaging in Outside Employment While on Medical Leave
An Amtrak Service Attendant based in Seattle, Washington, was terminated from employment on August 2, 2023, following her administrative hearing. Our investigation found that the former employee violated company policies by engaging in outside employment while on a medical leave of absence. During...
Employee Resigns After Receiving Kickbacks from Transportation Driver
An Amtrak Assistant Lead Customer Service Representative based in New Orleans, Louisiana, resigned from his position on August 8, 2023, prior to his administrative hearing. Our investigation found that the former employee violated company policies by accepting cash kickbacks from a private...
Former Louisiana Resident Charged with Federal Cares Act Fraud
Owner of California Pharmacy and Medical Marketer Sentenced for Role in Health Care Fraud Scheme
Leslie Ezidore, a resident of Los Angeles, California, and owner of the now-defunct Irvine Wellness Pharmacy, was sentenced on July 24, 2023, in U.S. District Court, Central District of California, to 6 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution of $12,715,679...