Dozens of LIRR workers use fake IDs to steal time, while one manager sips margaritas in his pool: report

Taxpayers have been deceived by these LIRR scammers.

Three tens Long Island Railroad Workers He used a fake ID scheme to get out of work but still get paid — with one bozo bragged that he was drinking margaritas poolside during work hours, according to a new report.

The scathing report from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority watchdog found a “widespread culture of fraud and time abuse” in the automobile maintenance department at the LIRR’s Ronkonkoma, Richmond Hill and Manhattan West Side facilities.

“These employees, including supervisors who should have been enforcing the rules, stole countless hours of paid time,” MTA Inspector General Daniel Court said.

“The investigation revealed a widespread lack of ethics and contempt for timekeeping regulations in these matters LIRR facilities“.

The investigation did not determine how much work time was stolen, but reports indicate that workers missed thousands of potential hours of work — and used the scheme to exploit overtime.

Surprisingly, some employees were accused of possessing counterfeit card-making machines, and some cloned cards were actually created in the locker room and inside personal cars in LIRR property.

Workers sold the coveted clone cards — many of which were hidden in unlocked safes and even a refrigerator on LIRR property — for up to $40.00, the report said. An employee worked on another employee’s car in exchange for a fake swipe card, according to IG.

Some of the identified offenders collected the highest OT in the LIRR and The entire MTA In recent years, records show — including gang boss Craig Murray and Leonard Espinoza, the Empire Center reported — and auto repair workers Martina Eugene and Junior Lambert, according to Newsday.

The IG’s office began its investigation in October 2022 after receiving a complaint that a Ronkonkoma gang foreman, named Gang Foreman #1 in the report, had duplicate identification and was not on the property when he was seized by another gang foreman, or supervisor.

Records obtained by The Post reveal John Cirulli is foreman No. 1. He was involved in previous MTA IG reports on timekeeping violations, and resigned while disciplinary proceedings were pending, the report said.

“Gang Foreman 1 (Cerulli) came to work on a weekend overtime shift wearing a swim shirt/swim shirt, swim trunks, and flip-flops, and announced to (workers), ‘Don’t bother looking for me. I’ll be by my pool with a margarita,” one moderator told a fellow IG, according to the documents.

“If you need me for something, call me,” Cerulli was quoted as saying.

The report said that Cerulli would criticize, distribute the lineup, and leave the job.

Cerulli could not be reached for comment.

At the Richmond Hill site, 18 employees, including two foremen, were found stealing time from the public entity.

An employee there told IG that he was instructed to make clone cards and was threatened with losing overtime shifts if he refused.

One Richmond Hill employee, who left work early during his shift, went to the gym an astonishing 198 times while still on the clock, the report said.

Another Richmond Hill worker interviewed by the Inspector General’s Office said there was a time when “no other employee would come to work.”

At the Manhattan West Side location, five more workers were found stealing time.

Richmond Hill gang foreman Craig Murray said he was not aware of his involvement in the investigation. He was on sick leave after surgery but faces disciplinary action when he returns.

“I’ve never had a swipe card. I don’t know what’s going on,” Murray told The Post on Thursday.

“It’s the first time I’ve heard (about the investigation),” Murray said, though he admitted to “hearing rumours” about the use of counterfeit magnetic cards.

In 2021, The Post wrote a series of stories about Fraud in OT LIRR, leading to federal indictments and the “OT King.” Thomas Caputo He was sentenced to eight months in prison after being involved in a fraud and theft that brought him thousands of dollars.

Meanwhile, the MTA’s Metro-North division has come under fire for claims made by workers False safety reports.

State watchdogs said the latest scam is par for the course at the MTA, particularly its LIRR division.

“It’s just the tip of the iceberg,” said Ken Girardin, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute.

LIRR President Rob Free slammed the fake card time theft scheme as “nothing short of corrupt.”

“Those active employees who participated in this scheme — including supervisors responsible for making sure all employees adhered to the rules — faced severe punishment,” Frye said.

He added that dozens of employees who retired or resigned were fined hundreds of thousands of dollars, while others were suspended for up to nine months without pay.

“I will not allow a few unscrupulous employees to damage the reputation of thousands of hard-working LIRR colleagues. Through enhanced technology and strict oversight, we ensure that everyone is fully accountable for only reporting time actually worked.”

The LIRR said it has reinstated biometric finger scanning requirements to help prevent fraudulent ID swipes around the clock on and off work, a measure that was suspended during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The findings have been referred to the three county prosecutors’ offices, but no charges have been filed yet.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said there was not enough evidence to prosecute the evaders because of “a lack of controls at the MTA facility, for example, no cameras at employee entrance and exit, no biometric checks, and inadequate records.”