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. 

An Amtrak Trackman/Watchman based in Wilmington, Delaware, was terminated from employment on October 14, 2025, following an administrative hearing. Our investigation found that the employee violated company policies by shipping baggage on Amtrak trains while traveling by other means, driving a company-leased vehicle without a valid license, using his company-leased vehicle for personal travel, and leaving work without authorization. The employee also violated company policy by being dishonest with our agents during his interview.

The U.S. AbilityOne Commission Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an investigation in response to an anonymous complaint alleging that a sole source contract was improperly awarded.

AmeriCorps OIG investigated allegations that individuals posing as AmeriCorps employees on social media sites offered grant funds in exchange for a fee, such as gift cards or cell phones, as part of a scheme known as "advance fee fraud." The evidence collected through the investigation supports the finding that the fraud suspects executed the schemes by utilizing fake social media profiles, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phone numbers, fake email addresses, and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). At the conclusion of the investigation, AmeriCorps OIG made six recommendations to AmeriCorps, which concurred with five of the six.

AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigated allegations that Corp Regional de Guayama de Servicios a la Comunidad (CRGSC), located in Cayey, PR, drew down grant funds through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Payment Management System (HHS-PMS) for its Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) without corresponding supporting documentation as required by 2 CFR 200.430.

Former SEC Contract Specialist falsely claimed Virginia residency while living in and working from 
Florida, collecting higher locality pay for years

An Amtrak coach cleaner based in New Orleans, Louisiana, signed a civil settlement agreement on September 22, 2025, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana. The employee agreed to pay $19,132.75 in restitution and a penalty of $4,497.25 related to the fraudulent receipt of a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. We found that the employee submitted an application containing false statements and information to qualify for the loan. As a result, the employee received a PPP loan in the amount of $16,452 to which she was not entitled.

Why We Did This Report

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General has identified concerns regarding the installation and use of unauthorized software, specifically jiggler software, on EPA computers and networks. Commonly referred to as “mouse jigglers,” jiggler software simulates activity on a laptop, preventing the laptop from entering sleep mode and locking out its user. After running network scans in two EPA regions in November and December 2024, the Agency discovered 120 employees and contractors using jiggler software.

Summary of Findings

Our investigation found that jiggler software could bypass the Agency’s Windows Installer settings, that some of the EPA’s information technology specialists believed they were exempt from the policy, and that other EPA employees and contractors installed the software without authorization. Furthermore, we discovered inconsistencies in how quickly the regional offices acted to remove the jiggler software after it was detected. The installation and use of unauthorized software on EPA computers and networks represent critical cybersecurity risks and ethics violations for the Agency.

A yardmaster based in Chicago, Illinois, resigned from her position on September 20, 2025, prior to her administrative hearing. We found that the former employee violated company policies by secretly recording a conversation she had with her supervisor without his consent or knowledge. The former employee is not eligible for rehire.

An Amtrak manager based in Thorndale, Pennsylvania, was terminated from employment on September 18, 2025, following an administrative hearing. Our investigation found that the employee violated company policies by providing false information on his employment application.