Investigative Reports

We received an anonymous hotline complaint in January 2025 asking the Office of Inspector General to investigate a conflict of interest involving two senior CPSC officials at the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

An Amtrak Electrician based in Jersey City, New Jersey, was terminated from employment on November 29, 2025, following an administrative hearing. Our investigation found that the employee violated New Jersey law by fraudulently using a Wright Express fuel card to purchase over $4,000 in fuel for multiple personal vehicles. A criminal case is ongoing at the Jersey City Municipal Court. The employee is not eligible for rehire.

An Amtrak machinist based in Sunrise, Florida, was terminated from employment on November 26, 2025, following an administrative hearing. Our investigation found that the former employee violated company policy by failing to report his conviction for the fraudulent receipt of pandemic related funds. The former employee is not eligible for rehire.

We found that an independent government contractor defrauded a U.S. Geological Survey contract by submitting forged and falsified timecards. 

An Electronic Specialist based in Boston, Massachusetts, resigned from her position on November 4, 2025, as a result of our investigation. We found that she violated company policies by misusing her rail pass privileges to provide pass travel tickets to unauthorized passengers. Our investigation identified 20 tickets booked in the employee’s name that were used by third parties while the employee was at work.

An Amtrak electrician based in New Orleans, Louisiana, signed a civil settlement agreement on October 29, 2025, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana. The employee agreed to pay $23,579 in damages and a penalty of $5,000 for the improper receipt of a Paycheck Protection Program Loan (PPP). Our investigation found that he falsified a PPP loan application, resulting in receipt of a $20,833 loan to which he was not entitled.

An Amtrak trackman based in New Orleans, Louisiana, signed a civil settlement agreement on October 29, 2025, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana. The employee agreed to pay $10,000 in restitution and a penalty of $4,000 for the improper receipt of an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) advance. Our investigation found that he falsified an EIDL loan application, resulting in receipt of a $10,000 loan to which he was not entitled.

An Amtrak pipe fitter based in New Orleans, Louisiana, signed a civil settlement agreement on October 29, 2025, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana. The employee agreed to pay $22,299 in damages and a penalty of $5,000 for the improper receipt of a Paycheck Protection Program Loan (PPP). Our investigation found that he falsified a PPP loan application, resulting in receipt of a $19,625 loan to which he was not entitled.

Quinton Johnson, a former Amtrak employee from Irvington, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on October 28, 2025, in U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. As a result, the court ordered Johnson to forfeit all property, real or personal, in the amount of $4,900. Our investigation found that Johnson and codefendants allowed health care providers to use their insurance information to bill Amtrak’s health care plan for false and fraudulent claims and for services that were not provided or medically unnecessary. In exchange, Johnson and codefendants accepted cash kickbacks worth thousands of dollars from the health care providers.

Judicial proceedings for the codefendants in this investigation are ongoing.

We substantiated allegations that an operator placed safety systems in bypass and did not immediately notify BSEE of the subsequent oil discharge.