MTA Inspector General Daniel G. Cort announced today the results of an investigation that found four Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) employees based out of the Hillside Maintenance Complex (HMC) committed various acts of timekeeping abuse that included swiping each other out at the time clocks. Some of the time abuse occurred during overtime shifts, when there was a clear lack of proper supervision.
This matter — which led to discipline against all four employees — is part of a broader investigation by the Office of the MTA Inspector General (OIG) into time abuse and fraudulent timekeeping records at LIRR facilities.
“This was a coordinated effort by Long Island Rail Road employees to abuse the timekeeping system and cut hours off their shifts without any apparent fear of repercussions,” said IG Daniel Cort. “But this kind of fraud won’t be tolerated. I thank LIRR management for bringing this matter to our attention.”
The investigation began in August 2024, when LIRR notified OIG about an electrician (Electrician 1) who repeatedly left HMC before completing overtime shifts and yet was still swiped out at the end of the tours. In one instance, surveillance video reviewed by OIG showed another electrician (Electrician 2) alone at the time clocks when Electrician 1 and a Car Repairman were swiped out within seconds of each other, clearly indicating that Electrician 2 had fraudulently swiped both men out.
OIG learned that those three employees and another electrician (Electrician 3) had regularly committed acts of time abuse and falsifying records to cover up the misconduct. They all made various admissions of wrongdoing to OIG that included the following:
- Electrician 1 said that approximately twice a week for all of 2024, he would leave work hours before his overtime shifts were complete and that Electricians 2 and 3 would swipe him out. Electrician 1 said he obtained a duplicate swipe card from a gang foreman.
- The Car Repairman said Electrician 2 would swipe him out 20 minutes before his shifts were over two to three times a week for a year and a half.
- Electrician 3 admitted to swiping out Electrician 1 multiple times.
- Electrician 2 admitted to swiping out Electrician 1 and the Car Repairman; however, he was not honest with OIG regarding the frequency of his misconduct even after he was confronted with the video and other evidence.
OIG was unable to find documentation showing who supervised Electrician 1 during the overtime shifts when he left early, and LIRR Maintenance of Equipment management said no such records exist nor do any showing what work Electrician 1 was tasked with performing.
Electrician 1 retired during OIG’s investigation.
LIRR informed OIG that it suspended Electrician 2 for 180 calendar days, Electrician 3 for 120 calendar days, and the Car Repairman for nine months — all beginning in March 2024. The agency also said Electrician 1 was not granted a cash-out of his sick leave and that it recouped eight hours of overtime pay that he did not earn.
LIRR also noted that it re-instituted biometric finger scanning to document attendance at its facilities in September 2024.
The MTA Inspector General encourages all members of the public to reach out to report suspected fraud, waste, or abuse at any of the MTA agencies.