Talib Lokhandwala, 64, of Fair Lawn, New Jersey, is going to federal prison for rigging MTA construction contracts in exchange for $152,420 in bribes. The former Construction Project Administrator for the Metropolitan Transit Authority was sentenced today to 46 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to soliciting and accepting payoffs from contractors working on New York City Transit Authority projects.
The sentence was handed down by Chief United States District Judge Dora L. Irizarry at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn. Lokhandwala, who oversaw critical subway construction jobs from March 2009 through May 2015, admitted to shaking down two contractors—demanding payments while threatening to block them from future work if they refused. He funneled the bribes through shell bank accounts to hide the illicit cash.
In return, Lokhandwala promised to fast-track paperwork and steer upcoming contracts their way. His position gave him unchecked influence over project approvals, inspections, and vendor selections—power he exploited for personal profit. The scheme undermined public trust and diverted taxpayer-funded infrastructure work from fair competition.
“Motivated by greed, Lokhandwala abused his position of trust by soliciting and accepting bribes from contractors performing work on NYCTA projects,” said United States Attorney Richard P. Donoghue. “The public has the right to expect that contractors performing work on their behalf are selected on merit, not their willingness to line the pockets of government employees with bribe payments. Our Office is committed to ensuring that public officials who accept bribes are held accountable.”
Douglas Shoemaker, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, emphasized that stewardship of public funds demands integrity: “This sentencing demonstrates that those entrusted with the stewardship of taxpayer dollars and oversight of transportation infrastructure projects will be held accountable for maintaining the highest level of integrity.”
MTA Inspector General Barry L. Kluger praised the prosecution and warned others doing business with the agency: “I want to remind those who do business with the MTA of their obligations, to both the MTA and the public, to report any solicitations or requested bribes.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Warren handled the case for the Eastern District of New York’s Public Integrity Section. E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-517 (DLI).
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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