Taxpayers have fallen victim to Long Island Railroad (LIRR) fraudsters.
A recent report indicates that 30 LIRR workers exploited fake ID systems to receive pay while absent from work. Some even shared tales of enjoying margaritas by the pool instead of being on the job.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s inspector general criticized the situation, noting a “pervasive culture of fraud and time abuse” within the auto maintenance departments at LIRR’s facilities in Ronkonkoma, Richmond Hill, and Manhattan’s West Side.
“These employees, along with their supervisors who should be upholding regulations, have stolen countless hours of paid time,” MTA Inspector General Daniel Cote stated.
While the exact number of hours lost remains unclear, the report implies that employees may have skipped thousands of work hours, also using the system to rack up overtime pay.
Worryingly, some of these employees were suspected of having equipment to create phony ID cards, with some of these cards made right in locker rooms and personal vehicles on company grounds.
According to the report, these cloned cards, often stashed in unlocked lockers or even refrigerators at work, were sold for as much as $40. One worker even traded a fake swipe card for doing work on another’s vehicle.
Reports from Newsday mentioned that several of those involved in the scandal had received substantial overtime payouts in recent years, including gang foremen Craig Murray and Leonard Espinosa, as well as auto repair workers Martina Eugene and Junior Lambert.
The investigation, initiated in October 2022 due to complaints about a gang foreman with a duplicate ID who was swiped in but not actually present, revealed significant misconduct. Records identified this foreman as John Cerulli, who had faced allegations in a previous timekeeping fraud case and resigned before facing disciplinary action.
Cerulli showed up for a weekend shift clad in swim attire, suggesting the group was headed for a pool party. A fellow supervisor reportedly urged not to investigate further as they planned to relax with drinks by the pool.
Cerulli, it seems, mentioned being available via phone, even during these “shifts.”
At the Richmond Hill facility, 18 employees, including two gang foremen, were involved in this time theft scandal. Reports indicated that workers were encouraged to fabricate cloned ID cards and threatened with losing overtime benefits if they hesitated.
One employee was noted to have gone to the gym an astonishing 198 times during shifts. Another mentioned that a colleague hadn’t shown up for work at all.
Meanwhile, five other employees were also found to be exploiting time at the Manhattan West Side store.
Craig Murray, one of the Richmond Hill gang leaders, claimed he hadn’t heard about the investigation until informed. He, currently on sick leave, could face consequences upon return.
“I’ve never had a swipe card. I’m out of the loop on this,” he stated, although he acknowledged having heard whispers about the use of counterfeit cards.
In previous reports by The Post, issues of overtime fraud at LIRR had been exposed, leading to federal charges and a prison sentence for “OT King” Thomas Caputo.
Concerns are also swirling around the MTA’s Metro-North division regarding allegations of falsified safety reports, with watchdogs claiming such fraud is endemic, particularly within LIRR.
Ken Girardin, a researcher at the Manhattan Institute, remarked that this situation is likely just a small part of a larger problem.
LIRR Chairman Rob Free condemned the fraudulent activities, labeling them as “nothing short of corruption.” He emphasized that both employees involved and their supervisors will face harsh penalties.
Free noted that over a dozen individuals who resigned had to relinquish substantial sums, and others were suspended without pay for extended periods.
“We won’t let a few dishonest workers damage the reputation of our many diligent colleagues,” he asserted, pointing to new technology and monitoring measures being implemented to ensure accountability.
To combat the issue, LIRR has reinstated biometric fingerprint scanning for attendance tracking, a practice that had been put on hold during the pandemic.
The findings have been forwarded to three district attorney’s offices, though no charges have been filed yet. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney remarked that there wasn’t enough evidence to press charges, citing poor management practices like the absence of cameras and biometric screenings at the facilities.
