MBTA employees charged with falsifying inspection reports for fraudulent overtime pay
Federal authorities have charged seven MBTA personnel over allegations that they falsified inspection records to siphon extra overtime pay. The group consists of six former track inspectors and one current staffer, with alleged misconduct spanning early 2024 through mid-October 2024.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the scheme involved submitting or assisting in falsely documented inspections instead of conducting legitimate track checks. In several cases, inspectors allegedly extended the stated duration of their inspections or recorded train numbers they found online rather than completing actual train rides required to verify service conditions.
Investigators describe techniques aimed at concealing gaps between work performed and time billed. Some inspectors reportedly padded inspection times to dodge internal scrutiny, while others logged train numbers obtained online rather than through on-site observation. In multiple instances, workers allegedly used paid work hours to attend to personal vehicle projects, blurring the line between official duties and private tasks.
The supervisor charged in the case is accused of knowing about the private-vehicle work and permitting it to proceed, while approving the corresponding time sheets for the group. A July 2024 communication from the supervisor is said to have warned about defects on several tracks, yet later that same period the staff were reassigned to non-work-related car maintenance during scheduled hours.
Regarding overtime, prosecutors allege that some payroll documentation claimed overtime shifts were completed when they were not. Reports suggest some participants were absent, late, or unaired for portions of their shifts, yet remained marked as on duty. In at least one instance, an overtime claim allegedly misrepresented that a worker had logged hours that did not occur, with the supervisor copied on the submission and subsequently approving it.
The charges span conspiracy to falsify records, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, falsification of records, and related false-statements counts. The case highlights ongoing concerns about accountability and integrity in essential public-safety operations.
Several defendants were taken into custody in 2025 and appeared in federal court in Boston as the legal process moves forward. Additional court filings and hearings are expected to shed more light on the scope of the allegations and the potential penalties tied to these offenses.
Authorities emphasize that the case is still being prosecuted, and the public will learn more as proceedings continue.
