Investigations
New York FAA Air Traffic Controllers Indicted for Theft of Public Funds
On December 4, 2014, Asif Ali and Jeffrey Evagues, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controllers (ATC) assigned to the ATC tower at JFK International Airport, Queens, New York, were indicted by a federal grand jury in U.S. District Court, Brooklyn, New York. They were charged with Wire Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Theft of Government Funds. They were previously arrested on November 6, 2014, and subsequently placed on administrative leave by the FAA.
The indictment alleged that between September 2008 and 2014, Ali and Evagues gained unauthorized access to the FAA's computerized time & attendance system, known as "Cru-X," fraudulently manipulated data in the system, and altered labor distribution reports to reflect that they had worked certain hours, when, in fact, they had not. Consequently, Ali and Evagues received payments for overtime and nightshift work that they did not perform. Moreover, when Ali and Evagues took vacations or sick days, they subsequently altered labor distribution reports to make it appear as though they had worked on those days. As a result, they retained vacation leave and sick leave credits to which they were not entitled.
The estimated payroll overpayments to Ali and Evagues are approximately $83,000 and $87,000, respectively.
We are conducting this investigation with assistance from the FAA.
Note: Indictments, information's, and criminal complaints are only accusations by the Government. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.