NEW YORK - Two New York City Transit (NYCT) subway maintenance supervisors and the indictment of eight NYCT subway signal maintainers were indicted for for falsifying MTA records to reflect inspections of equipment that were never completed. The supervisors are charged with Tampering with Records in the First Degree and Official Misconduct, and the signal maintainers are charged with tampering with public records in the first degree. One signal maintainer, Anthony Pellegrino, 29, is additionally charged with Official Misconduct.

The design of the subway signals system ensures that the deceitful activities underlying the charged crimes do not impact public safety. But, as with all public offices, it is crucial that NYCT’s records accurately reflect the important activities that it is charged with carrying out on a daily basis.

“Our subway system is one of the oldest and most expansive in the world, and it takes significant effort to maintain it,” said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr.,. “Failing to properly inspect the subway system can lead to delays in service and, potentially, endanger the safety of subway riders. No matter how lax an agency’s internal controls might be, tampering with public records to cover up a failure to inspect signal equipment is never acceptable conduct.  My Office will continue to work closely with the MTA Inspector General in order to ensure the safety of the city’s transit riders.”