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Investigations

Date

Former President of a Massachusetts Transit Authority Operator Convicted at Trial for Embezzlement

On April 16, 2015, John George, Jr. of North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, was convicted by a federal jury in U.S. District Court, Boston, Massachusetts, on charges of conspiracy and embezzlement of federal funds. The charges were related to his role as the former president/owner of the Union Street Bus Company (USBC). USBC served as the operator for the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA). From approximately 2005 to 2011, SRTA received approximately $42 million from Federal Transit Administration (FTA) through grants.

From approximately December 2007 to October 2011, SRTA paid USBC over $1 million to manage and operate the public bus transit service. These funds were used to pay USBC salaries, benefits, and other expenses. The investigation disclosed that George misused federal funds by directing several employees to perform work on his personally owned produce farm during regular working hours. In approximately 2010, George also inflated his salary by approximately $200,000 (from $75,000 to $275,000) in an attempt to boost his yearly pension payment from SRTA.