An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Brought to you by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency
Investigative Reports
Date Issued
Agency Reviewed / Investigated
Report Title
Type
Location
Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corporation)
Supervisor Resigns for Violating Company Pay Policies
An Engineering Supervisor based in New York City violated company policies by working in violation of the 16-hour rule, receiving unnecessary “Time Paid Not Worked,” and receiving pay for more than 24 hours in a day. Specifically, we found 41 occasions when the supervisor claimed compensatory time for minimal or no work and 35 occasions when the employee did not swipe in or out on a time-and-attendance machine, as required by company policy. The employee resigned in lieu of his disciplinary hearing and is ineligible for rehire.
Colby Frazier, a resident of Long Beach, California, was sentenced to 30-months in prison on charges of Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, on June 21, 2023, for his participation in a "phishing" scheme in which he fraudulently obtained credit card and personal identifying information (PII) from his victims, including names and banking information. Frazier used the victims' credit card information and PII to purchase online travel tickets on common carriers, including Amtrak, and then resold the tickets to other individuals and kept the proceeds. Frazier was previously indicted on July 11, 2019, and he pleaded guilty to the charges on May 19, 2021. He was also ordered to pay $67,056 in restitution to Amtrak.
Investigative Summary: Findings of Misconduct by a Federal Bureau of Investigation Program Analysis Officer for Sexual Harassment, Unprofessional Conduct, and Lack of Candor to the OIG, and by a then FBI Unit Chief for Failure to Report an Allegation of S
An Amtrak Customer Service Representative based in Hammond, Louisiana, signed a civil settlement agreement on June 20, 2023, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Mississippi, and agreed to pay $18,182 in restitution and a $4,500 penalty for a total civil settlement amount of $22,682. Our investigation found that the employee submitted a fraudulent application to obtain a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. We found that the employee falsely inflated the gross income of her business in the amount of $75,000 to qualify for the PPP loan, resulting in the receipt of funds to which she was not entitled.
An Amtrak Coach Cleaner based in Beech Grove, Indiana, was terminated from employment on June 15, 2023, following her administrative hearing. Our investigation found that the employee violated company policies by failing to report her arrests and convictions for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. We also found that the employee misused leave granted under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) by claiming FMLA leave for the time she was incarcerated.
Investigative Summary: Findings of Misconduct by an OIG Supervisory Employee for Failing to Report an Arrest, Outstanding Debt, and Court Appearances, and Engaging in Conduct Prejudicial to the Government
An Amtrak conductor based in Washington, D.C., violated company policies by failing to report an August 5, 2019, Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) conviction he incurred during his employment. Amtrak removed the employee from service pending his disciplinary hearing. The employee agreed to a Waiver in Lieu of Termination on June 9, 2023, admitting to the charges and was assessed a time-served suspension after remaining out of service for six weeks.
Investigative Summary: Findings of Misconduct by an OIG Supervisory Employee for Failing to Timely Report the Employee’s Arrest for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
An Amtrak Lead Customer Service Representative based in New Orleans, Louisiana, resigned from her position on June 1, 2023, following the issuance of our investigative report. Our investigation found that the former employee violated company policies by accepting cash kickbacks from a private transportation driver for referring passengers to his service. During her interview, the former employee admitted to receiving money for referring passengers to the transportation service.
A Crew Management Representative based in Wilmington, Delaware, violated company policy by working at her personally owned business between August 25, 2022, and February 13, 2023, while she was on leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and receiving short-term disability benefits in excess of $35,000. The employee was terminated on June 1, 2023, after her disciplinary hearing on May 25, 2023. She is ineligible for rehire.
We investigated allegations that two U.S. Park Police officers used excessive force against two members of the news media during the operation to disperse protesters in and around Lafayette Park on June 1, 2020.
A Las Vegas man pleaded guilty to charges of Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, on May 17, 2023. The man admitted to participating in a "phishing" scheme in which he fraudulently obtained credit card and personal identifying information (PII) from his victims, including names and banking information. He used the victims' credit card information and PII to purchase online travel tickets on common carriers, including Trailways and Amtrak, and then resold the tickets to other individuals and kept the proceeds. He was indicted on July 11, 2019, and his sentencing hearing is pending.
An Amtrak Electrical Journeyman based in Miami, Florida, resigned from his position on May 16, 2023, prior to his administrative hearing. Our investigation found that the former employee violated company policies by engaging in outside employment while on a medical leave of absence.
DOJ Press Release: Attorney General Bonta Announces President of a Mortgage Company Found Guilty on 100 Felony Counts in $7 Million Statewide Mortgage Fraud Scheme
Peter Port, a resident of Palm Beach County, Florida, pleaded guilty on May 10, 2023, in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, to Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud. Port owned and controlled Safe Haven, a substance abuse center, which was purportedly in the business of providing clinical treatment for persons suffering from alcohol and drug addiction.Our investigation found that Port and others paid kickbacks and bribes in the form of cash, free or reduced sober homes rent, and other benefits to individuals who agreed to be patients at Safe Haven. Fraudulent claims were subsequently submitted to insurance plans for unnecessary urine testing and addiction treatment services that were not provided. As a result of the scheme, Amtrak’s insurance providers were fraudulently charged approximately $86,130. Port and three co-defendants will be sentenced at a future date.
Ketrick Barron, a former Amtrak General Foreman, based in Washington, D.C., was sentenced on May 9, 2023, to three years’ probation and ordered to pay restitution of $6,580 to Amtrak. On February 21, 2023, Barron pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, to one misdemeanor count of Theft of Government Property related to his use of a General Services Administration fuel card issued to Amtrak to fuel personal vehicles at a cost of approximately $6,580.20.
