Taxpayer Dollars at Risk: LIRR Employees Deeply Implicated in Overtime Fraud Scheme
In a shocking betrayal of public trust, Long Island Railroad (LIRR) employees have been caught in a fraudulent overtime scheme that has siphoned taxpayer money and inflated earnings to staggering heights. Some employees reportedly earned as much as three times the overtime pay of their honest counterparts, with one foreman pocketing an astonishing $345,779 in 2024—more than the annual salary of the LIRR president.
These thirty-six rogue employees manipulated the system to line their pockets. While authentic workers clocked in and out legitimately, these individuals employed fake IDs, allowing them to claim hours they weren’t even on the job. It’s not merely a handful of bad apples; this widespread scheme reveals a culture of corruption embedded within the LIRR.
Gang foreman Craig Murray stands as a prime example of this scandal, reported to have accrued $220,073 in overtime while his base salary was just $124,361. This defense contractor’s compensation should never eclipse that of the executives meant to oversee ethical practices and accountability.
The fraud involved intricate operations: LIRR workers produced counterfeit ID cards and charged fellow employees for the convenience of “swipe-ins.” Investigations unearthed evidence that the deception persisted from 2021 until August 2024, following persistent complaints from honest workers. With nearly half of the top ten overtime earners embroiled in this scandal, it’s apparent that systemic problems go far beyond individual misconduct.
The recent findings from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s inspector general expose a shocking “widespread culture of fraud and time abuse” across several key LIRR facilities. Notably, 24 of the implicated employees have admitted to their wrongdoing, highlighting the urgency for accountability.
LIRR President Robert Free has vowed to impose “severe punishment” on those found guilty. While some employees have already been forced to pay back substantial sums and suspended without pay, no criminal charges have yet been filed—though the three district attorneys’ offices are now involved.
This blatant abuse of taxpayer funds is unacceptable. New York taxpayers heavily subsidize the LIRR, and it is high time for responsible oversight and stringent repercussions for those who take advantage of the system. The culture of complacency must end, and full accountability must be enacted to restore integrity and trust to this essential public service.
