Long Island Republican Senators demanded answers following and alarming MTA Inspector General’s report on alleged overtime fraud at the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).
NYS Senator Dean Murray (R,C - 3rd District) and NYS Senator Alexis Weik (R,C - 8th District) sent a joint letter to LIRR President Rob Free, demanding answers as to how railroad management allowed this most recent, alleged OT fraud scandal to occur. Citing the fact that this scheme apparently occurred over the course of 3 years and that this is not the first such scandal at the LIRR, the Senators expressed their frustration over management’s apparent lack of commitment to preventing such waste, fraud and abuse and requested a meeting with President Free.
The letter refers to the MTA Inspector General's recent investigation that uncovered an alleged overtime fraud scheme involving at least 36 LIRR workers over 3 years. The Senators questioned how this could have gone on for so long.
The Senators point out that as part of the overtime fraud scheme, “one worker —a gang foreman —actually raked in over $345K in 2024, more than you, the President of the railroad. How did this not set off red flags?”
“Once again, another scandal involving the LIRR is making headlines all across the Tri-State region, and we would like to know WHY,” the letter said. “How is that possible? How could there be no checks and balances to catch these massive irregularities?”
Murray and Weik spoke about this not being a “one-time or rare occurrence” otherwise they could deal with these workers and move on. “The fact that virtually every audit and investigation uncovers rampant waste, fraud, and abuse means that you and your management team are just as much to blame. Management needs to change... because Long Islanders deserve better,” they said.