Investigative Reports

We found that a former NPS Administrative Assistant violated ethical requirements in connection with the former employee’s outside position.

Octavia Murphy, a resident of Bourbonnais, Illinois, pleaded guilty on January 27, 2026, in U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, to one count conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts wire fraud. In the same investigation, Regina Murphy, a resident of Kankakee, Illinois, pleaded guilty on December 17, 2025, in U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, to one count conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count wire fraud.

Our investigation found that Octavia and Regina Murphy, along with 12 alleged codefendants, submitted false information to the Small Business Administration and its participating lenders to receive Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) advances, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, and PPP loan forgiveness. Octavia Murphy orchestrated a scheme whereby she submitted false applications containing material misstatements and fictitious documentation to make claims for pandemic relief programs on behalf of herself and the other co-conspirators, for which she was paid kickbacks. Regina Murphy and numerous co-conspirators voluntarily provided Octavia Murphy with their personally identifiable information and their bank routing transit and account numbers. As a result of the scheme, Octavia Murphy, Regina Murphy and the other codefendants received $93,000 in EIDL advances and $74,428 in PPP loans to which they were not entitled.

Judicial proceedings for the codefendants, including five Amtrak employees, are ongoing.

AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigated allegations that the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) Director of Community Action Partnership of North Alabama (CAPNA) had not performed the duties of the position since 2019, contrary to representations made to AmeriCorps in grant documents.

An Amtrak train attendant based in Chicago, Illinois, was issued a letter of reprimand on January 26, 2026, following an administrative hearing. The employee was issued a final disciplinary action which may be used for future progressive discipline for 36 months from the date of issuance. Our investigation found that the employee violated company policy by failing to report his conviction for the fraudulent receipt of pandemic related funds.

WASHINGTON – Nicholas Moore, 24, of Springfield, Tennessee, pleaded guilty this morning in U.S. District Court in connection with hacking the electronic filing system of the U.S. Supreme Court at least 25 times and additionally hacking accounts at AmeriCorps and the Veterans Administration Health System, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

An Amtrak lead ticket agent based in Sanford, Florida, and an Amtrak onboard services trainee based in Lorton, Virgina, resigned from employment on January 6, 2026, and December 18, 2025, respectively, while under investigation. Our investigation found that the former lead ticket agent stole several pieces of jewelry, valued at over $30,000, from the Sanford Station lost and found. The lead ticket agent then provided the jewelry to the onboard services trainee, who sold the jewelry to a pawn shop. When interviewed by our agents, both former employees admitted to their involvement in the theft and that they split the money obtained from the sale of the jewelry. The former employees are ineligible for rehire.

Based on our investigation, the lead ticket agent has been arrested and charged with grand theft. Judicial proceedings are pending for the onboard services trainee.

We substantiated allegations that a former DOI official violated Federal conflict of interest requirements on post-employment representation. 

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.

We substantiated allegations that Signal Peak Energy submitted false invoices and information to ONRR.

An Amtrak communications and signals trainee based in Baltimore, Maryland, resigned from employment on December 3, 2025, prior to his administrative hearing. Our investigation found that the former employee violated company policies by creating and submitting false treatment records to the company to obtain leave under the Family Medical Leave Act. The former employee is not eligible for rehire.