Federal Reports

A former Amtrak Program Manager based in Washington, D.C., and her sister entered into a Community Service Deferred Sentencing Agreement, in Superior Court, District of Columbia, on October 28, 2019. As part of the agreement, they agreed to each pay $2,128 in restitution to Amtrak, complete 48 hours of community service, write a letter of apology to Amtrak, and not violate any laws for six months in order to avoid sentencing for their crime. The employee was terminated on July 1, 2019, for fraudulently allowing a family member to use her company travel pass and Amtrak Identification card to frequently travel on Amtrak trains between May 2018 and June 2019.

The Rockville Post Office is in the Capital District of the Capital Metro Area. OIG data analytics identified the Rockville Post Office with an unusually high total in account identifier code (AIC) 553, Refund Postage and Fees, during fiscal year 2019 quarter (Q) 3. AIC 553 is used to record refunds of customers postage and fees paid for unreceived special services. The objective of this audit was to determine whether postage and fee refunds were valid, properly supported, and properly processed at the Rockville Post Office.

An Amtrak On Board Services employee in New Orleans was terminated from employment on October 9, 2019, following an administrative hearing for violating company policy. Our investigation found that the employee fraudulently advertised and accepted payment for an Amtrak private charter trip that Amtrak officials neither authorized nor scheduled. The employee accepted $400-$500 for reservations from at least 35 members of the public for this non-existent trip. As part of the fraudulent scheme, the employee used the Amtrak company logo, company e-mail, and photographs in communications with the victims. Judicial proceedings are pending.