NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- An Access-a-Ride driver faces several years in jail for allegedly taking tens of thousands from the MTA for rides he never actually gave, prosecutors said.
James Laverty, 72, of Freeport, was charged with grand larceny and other crimes for allegedly fleecing the MTA out of nearly $70,000 by submitting bogus claims for rides over a six-month period.
"It is morally bankrupt that this unscrupulous driver was allegedly able to rip off nearly $70,000 from a program specifically intended to provide vital transportation to people with disabilities," said MTA Inspector General Carolyn Pokorny. "This case highlights why strong fraud controls must be implemented throughout the MTA."
According to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, the MTA partnered with Curb Mobility LLC in 2019 to provide paratransit users the ability to request Access-a-Ride via phone.
In September 2020, a Queens woman downloaded the app and requested two rides, for which Laverty was the driver.
But officials said Laverty's monthly reimbursement requests stated he has picked up the same woman 661 times from then through February 2021.
The MTA reimbursed Curb for the cost of those trips, which amounted to $69,860, according to the charges.
But MTA investigators said they saw Laverty driving his own wheelchair-accessible yellow taxi on several occasions.
And during these trips where he was supposed to be transporting the woman, investigators said no one was in the vehicle besides Laverty.
Laverty was arraigned Thursday on charges of grand larceny, identity theft and falsifying business records.
He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
