Investigative Reports

Michael Ligotti, D.O., of Delray Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty on October 4, 2022, to conspiring to commit health care fraud for his participation in a $681 million years-long health care fraud scheme throughout Palm Beach County, billing for fraudulent tests and treatments for vulnerable patients seeking treatment for drug and/or alcohol addiction. Amtrak’s health care plan was billed over $535,000 as part of the scheme. On January 9, 2023, Ligotti was sentenced to 20 years in prison. On April 27, 2023, Ligotti’s sentence was amended to include an order of $127,427,988 in restitution.

An Assistant Supervisory Plumber based in New York, New York, violated Amtrak policy by engaging in outside employment at two construction companies while on Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and receiving Railroad Retirement Board benefits. The employee resigned in lieu of his disciplinary hearing and is ineligible for rehire.

We found an oil and gas company failed to report royalties from mineral production on an Indian Lease in Oklahoma.

Florida residents Jean Barbier and Bryan DeCastro were sentenced on April 5, 2023, in U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. DeCastro was sentenced to 11 months in prison, 3 years’ probation, and was ordered to pay $155,929 in restitution to Amtrak. Barbier was sentenced to 7 months in prison, 3 years’ probation, and was ordered to pay $74,818 in restitution to Amtrak. Both defendants were employed by a company contracted by Amtrak to provide food services. Our investigation found that DeCastro fraudulently altered the timecards of Barbier and another individual to make it appear they worked more hours than they did, resulting in payment for hours they did not work. Barbier then paid DeCastro kickbacks for falsely inflating the timecards. Judicial action is pending for another defendant in this case.

An Amtrak electrical journeyman, based in Washington, D.C., signed a civil settlement agreement on March 23, 2023, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida, and agreed to pay $23,360 in restitution and a $5,640 penalty. Our investigation found that the employee submitted an application containing false statements and information to a lender backed by the Small Business Administration to qualify for a Payroll Protection Program loan. As a result, the employee received $20,800 in federal CARES Act funds to which she was not entitled.

Michael Devine, a former Fire, Life and Safety Assistant Supervisor based in New York, was found guilty on March 15, 2023, of one count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree after a three-day bench trial in the Supreme Court of the State of New York. Devine created counterfeit Amtrak badges for himself and other employees and participated in a scheme with co-workers to use these fake badges and/or their official Amtrak badges to “swipe” each other in and out on Amtrak’s time and attendance machines. Devine resigned on December 10, 2021, and he is ineligible for rehire. A sentencing hearing is pending.