Former MBTA Employee Pleads Guilty In Track Inspection Fraud Scheme

Seven people were originally charged with falsifying Red Line track inspections and overtime claims.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Oct 23, 2026 9:48 AM EDT

Employees used information found online to create the reports and artificially extended the reported length of inspections to avoid complaints from senior MBTA officials. (Haley Cornell/Patch)

BOSTON, MA — A former MBTA employee pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday in connection with falsified Red Line track inspections and fraudulent overtime claims, the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts announced.

Andy Vicente, 37, of Bridgewater, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to falsify records and conspiracy to commit wire fraud on Oct. 20. He was first arrested and charged alongside four others in May 2025.

Vicente worked as a track inspector responsible for completing Red Line inspections and documenting them through the MBTA's MaxTrax reporting system. According to prosecutors, between Jan. 1 and Oct. 16, 2024, Vicente and other employees either falsified inspection reports or helped submit reports for inspections that were never completed.

Employees reportedly used information found online to create the reports and artificially extended the reported length of inspections to avoid complaints from senior MBTA officials.

According to court documents, Vicente was sometimes inside Cabot Yard during periods when he reportedly conducted inspections. The MBTA facility contained a coffee and breakroom for Red Line inspection employees, along with a large garage that he and others allegedly used to repair private vehicles during work hours.

Vicente purchased vehicles from auto insurance auctions and sold them primarily to another employee implicated in the scheme. Surveillance footage from Sept. 19, 2024, showed him sitting inside Cabot Garage holding his cellphones during a period when he was supposed to be conducting a track inspection, according to prosecutors.

In addition, prosecutors said Vicente and other employees submitted overtime sheets claiming they worked shifts they either skipped, arrived late to or briefly checked into before leaving for extended periods. In some instances, employees slept in their vehicles before returning later to finish their shifts.

The employee who purchased vehicles from Vicente also allegedly used MBTA funds through the overtime system to pay him for the vehicles and repair work, according to prosecutors.

The case also involved a superseding indictment charging seven other current and former MBTA employees: Brian Pfaffinger, Ronald Gamble, Magda Trinh, Jensen Vatel, Nathalie Mendes, Danny Barbosa and Matthew Leonard. All seven worked for the Red Line Maintenance of Way department and faced various conspiracy, wire fraud and records-related charges.

According to that indictment, Pfaffinger supervised the team and allegedly approved fraudulent overtime submissions. Prosecutors also alleged that employees worked on private vehicles during regular MBTA work hours, including Pfaffinger's personal vehicle.

The conspiracy to falsify records charge carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison. The conspiracy to commit wire fraud charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Each charge also carries up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.