Amtrak OIG Uncovers Largest Amtrak Employee Criminal Conspiracy in its History; 119 Former and Active Amtrak Employees Implicated

www.amtrakoig.gov, May 7, 2025

WASHINGTON — Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued an investigative report to Amtrak Tuesday detailing a widespread scheme in which at least 119 employees conspired with New York health care providers to bilk Amtrak’s health care plan of more than $12 million from 2019 to 2022.

Of the 119 employees implicated, 28 retired or resigned as a direct result of the OIG’s investigation, and 30 left the company for other reasons. A dozen employees have been criminally charged in the case, and seven have pleaded guilty, pending sentencing. The OIG's findings on 61 remaining active employees were given to Amtrak for consideration of appropriate administrative disciplinary action.

“The sheer volume of employees who cavalierly participated in this scheme to steal Amtrak’s funds suggests not only a serious lapse in basic ethics, but a troubling workforce culture, at least in the Northeast region, in which blatant criminal behavior was somehow normalized,” said Amtrak Inspector General Kevin H. Winters. “After assessing the significant number of employees involved, this case represents the largest employee conspiracy our office has ever investigated. We hope this investigation and the resulting accountability process serves as a deterrent for Amtrak employees and health care providers who may choose to engage in such schemes, and we ask anyone who suspects or observes such fraud to report it to our fraud, waste, and abuse hotline.” Continue article