⏱ 2 min read
Charles Wilson, a 66-year-old Niagara Falls man, has admitted to attempting to disable a CSX railroad switch, putting the safety of train passengers and crew at risk. On June 29, 2025, Wilson entered the CSX Railyard and replaced a 102 switch lock with a different lock, impairing the operation of the railroad switch. This was not an isolated incident, as Wilson had previously tampered with a switch lock on June 22, 2025, delaying an Amtrak passenger train, and moved a railroad switch into a new position after a hazardous materials train passed on July 1, 2025.
Wilson’s actions could have had disastrous consequences, and it is fortunate that no one was hurt. The investigation into Wilson’s activities was led by the CSX Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, resulting in his guilty plea to damaging or impairing the operation of a train control system.
The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo, who will sentence Wilson on September 14, 2026. Wilson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly.
The case highlights the importance of protecting critical infrastructure and the need for vigilance in preventing acts of sabotage. Wilson’s guilty plea serves as a reminder that such actions will be taken seriously and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Related Federal Cases
- Environmental Protection Agency Employee, Solar Panel Installation Tampering, New York 2023 · New York
- Edward Mullins, Embezzlement, New York 2023 · New York
- Perry Joyner, Bribery and Attempted Assault, New York 2020 · New York
- Maximiliano Davila Perez, Cocaine Trafficking, New York 2024 · Georgia
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Restricted Trans Healthcare, New York NY, 2024 · New York
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Public Corruption
- Defendant: New York
- Location: NY
- Source: DOJ Press Release
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Public CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic Corruption