MBTA employees accused of falsifying track inspection reports

BOSTON, Mass. (WLNE) — Four former MBTA employees and one current employee were charged on Thursday with falsifying Red Line track inspection reports, as well as allegedly using that time to work on private cars.

The five arrested were Nathalie Mendes, of New Bedford, Jensen Vatel, of Brockton, Ronald Gamble, of Dorchester, Andy Vicente, of Bridgewater, and Brian Pfaffinger, of Marshfield.

The first four were former MBTA track inspectors, while Pfaffinger was a supervisor for the four.

Allegedly, between Sept. 3, 2024 and Oct. 15, 2024, Mendes, Vatel, Gamble and Vicente submitted reports on track inspections that they didn’t perform.

Instead, the Massachusetts District Attorney’s Office said that they worked on private cars at the time, including Pfaffinger’s, who reportedly knew of the false reports.

The DA’s office said that the charges of falsification of reports provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, and that charges of false statements provide a sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.