Investigative Reports

An Amtrak Police Department employee resigned on December 15, 2020, in lieu of a disciplinary hearing for violating various company policies. Our investigation found that the employee engaged in outside employment during his shifts and while on sick leave. In doing so, the employee also violated his union agreement. The employee shopped online and left for long periods of time to purchase supplies for his outside employment during his APD shifts and engaged in his outside employment while the company was paying him to attend mandatory training. During the training, he took significant steps to hide these actions from being discovered.

The OIG investigated allegations that Extraction Oil and Gas (EXT) drilled multiple horizontal wellbores through a railroad right-of-way (ROW) in Weld County, CO, containing Federal minerals without first obtaining a Federal lease or drilling permit.We found that three companies (EXT, Mineral Resources, Inc., and PDC Energy, Inc.) illegally drilled oil wells through a railroad ROW and produced unleased Federal minerals. Based on our investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado entered into civil settlement agreements with all three companies to resolve the violations and recover public revenues. The settlements totaled more than $1,787,000.

A Lead Service Agent, based in New York City, resigned on December 12, 2020, prior to her disciplinary hearing for violating Amtrak policies by adding tips to at least two Café Car credit card transaction receipts without the knowledge or authorization of the customers.

Two senior Amtrak Information Technology employees were terminated on December 11, 2020 for violating company policies by (1) steering contracts to close personal friends; (2) failing to disclose relationships between company employees and vendors; (3) engaging in conflicts of interest by approving invoices for personal gain; and (4) coordinating with contractors during a competitive solicitation, misrepresenting Amtrak’s requirements, and engaging in other activities that undermined the Procurement department’s ability to ensure its decisions were in the company’s best interest.

The OIG investigated allegations that a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) employee sexually assaulted another BLM employee while off duty.We found insufficient evidence to prove or disprove the allegation, and further investigation is unlikely to produce additional evidence. The alleged victim did not have any memory of an assault but also denied being drugged or otherwise incapacitated; the alleged wrongdoer claimed that they had consensual sex. The employee did not file a police report, and the local prosecutor’s office declined prosecution.

The OIG investigated allegations that a current Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) employee knew, or should have known, that a student was sexually assaulted at the school and failed to report this information. We found that the employee failed to report a conversation regarding the incident as required by the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act.

I. PREDICATIONThe United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General (OIG), received a Congressional request dated August 7, 2020, regarding Postmaster General Louis DeJoy (DeJoy). Members of Congress requested the OIG examine, in part, DeJoy's compliance with ethics requirements. Specifically, the letter asked, "[c]onsidering that 'DeJoy and his wife, ... who is [President Trump's] nominee to be the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, own $30.1 million to $75.3 million in assets in Postal Service competitors or contractors, like UPS and the trucking company J.B. Hunt,' has DeJoy met all ethics requirements regarding disclosure, divestment, and recusal from decisions in which he may have a conflict?" (Exhibit 1 ).II. SYNOPSISThe investigation revealed DeJoy met all applicable ethics requirements related to disclosure, recusal, and divestment upon entering the position of Postmaster General. The Special Inquiries Division (SID) reviewed documentation obtained from the Postal Service, the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), and DeJoy's investment firms. SID additionally conducted interviews with Postal Service ethics officials, other Postal Service employees, and with staff from DeJoy's investment firms. SID also analyzed federal ethics regulations in consultation with the OIG's Office of General Counsel.

An Amtrak Customer Service Representative in Los Angeles, California, received an 18-day suspension on December 7, 2020, and another resigned from the company on December 24, 2020, for violating company policy. Our investigation found that the employees participated in the manual pricing of an Amtrak fare for a family member without authorization. We found that the employees wrongfully extended substantially discounted travel to a family member of one of the employees, causing loss of revenue to the company.

We investigated allegations that a superintendent with the National Park Service (NPS) promoted his personal real estate business when performing official duties as a park superintendent.We found that the superintendent violated relevant standards of conduct and the Code of Federal Regulations by misusing public office for private gain and by creating an appearance that the Government endorsed the superintendent’s real estate business. We determined that the superintendent attended a board of directors meeting of an NPS partner group while in the official capacity as an NPS superintendent. According to a board member who attended the meeting, the superintendent, wearing an official NPS uniform, gave a member and other attendees his personal business card. The business card listed the superintendent as a real estate agent. The superintendent also used the NPS superintendent title on a personal Twitter account that promoted his real estate business.This is a summary of an investigative report we issued to the NPS regional director.

An Amtrak signal maintainer based in Chicago, Illinois, was terminated from employment on December 3, 2020, following his administrative hearing. Our investigation found that the former employee violated company policy by leaving during his work shifts to drive for a rideshare company. We also found that he routinely sat in his car during his work shifts for extended periods of time. During his interview, he admitted to leaving during his work shift to drive for the rideshare company, including when he was scheduled and paid to work overtime.

An Amtrak employee based in Jackson, Michigan, was terminated from employment on December 2, 2020, for violating the collective bargaining agreement between the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees and Amtrak. Our investigation found that the former employee violated company policy by engaging in outside employment while on a medical leave of absence from the company.

The OIG investigated allegations that a company fraudulently altered a purchase order (PO) that the National Park Service (NPS) awarded for the replacement of two fuel pumps at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The company also allegedly then issued the altered PO to a second company to perform the work.We found that Kentey Fielder, owner of the first company, falsely represented himself to a second company as an NPS employee and emailed that second company two altered POs reflecting the second company as the primary contractor on the NPS fuel pump project. On the basis of these fraudulent POs, the second company then performed the work. The NPS subsequently paid Fielder under the legitimate PO, but Fielder never paid the second company for the equipment or labor it provided.Fielder pleaded guilty to one count in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, Wire Fraud, and was subsequently sentenced to 3 years of probation with an additional condition of 8 months of home detention. He was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $12,687.62 and was debarred from participation in Federal procurement and nonprocurement programs.

An Amtrak trackman based in Chicago, Illinois, was terminated from employment on November 23, 2020, following his administrative hearing. Our investigation found the former employee violated company policy when he failed to report an arrest and subsequent conviction for drug possession and a separate conviction related to unemployment fraud. The arrest and convictions occurred while the former trackman was employed by the company.

In April 2018, the GPO Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Investigations Division, received a referral from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) alleging fraudulent activities committed by DLUX Printing & Publishing, Inc. (DLUX) – a business located in Pensacola, FL. The complainant, who had intimate knowledge of DLUX’s day-to-day operations, reported that Gerald Mandel (Mandel), the owner of DLUX, directed employees to produce and distribute a fraction of the contracted materials, while still invoicing the GPO for the full amount.g