Stuart Conklin, Falsifying Inspection Report, New York 2021

Former Long Island Rail Road Employee Arrested for Falsifying Inspection Report

Stuart Conklin, a 63-year-old former Long Island Rail Road employee, has been charged with making a false entry in a railroad inspection report required to be maintained by the LIRR under United States Department of Transportation regulations.

According to the complaint, Conklin was employed by LIRR as a Signalman and his responsibilities included performing regular inspections of rail bonds. However, video footage from a LIRR camera showed that Conklin in fact did not inspect the bond during his shift on April 26, 2019.

The rail bond was later found to be broken and was the cause of a derailment on May 25, 2019, which put scores of riders in harm’s way. Conklin submitted a handwritten letter of resignation six days after the derailment.

The charge in the complaint is an allegation, and Conklin is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charge, Conklin faces up to two years in prison.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorney Turner Buford is in charge of the prosecution.

Conklin is scheduled to appear in court today before United States Magistrate Judge Ramon E. Reyes, Jr.

According to Acting United States Attorney DuCharme, the arrest sends a strong message that this Office is committed to ensuring integrity in reports that are critical to the safe operation of the transport system.

The investigation demonstrates a commitment to maintaining the safety and integrity of commuter rail systems in New York and around the country, stated DOT-OIG Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Helzner.

This is yet another example of why the MTA must stop relying on honor systems and implement systemic reforms to verify that claimed work was actually completed, stated MTA Inspector General Pokorny.

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