Investigations

On August 15, 2017, Yu Hua Mei, a former safety manager, pled guilty to conspiracy charges in U.S. District Court, Harrisburg, PA. Mei admitted she made materially false statements on FMCSA-regulated commercial carrier forms. Mei was indicted in March 2016, along with 14 other individuals, for her role in a multi-State scheme to fraudulently operate commercial bus companies.

 

The indictment alleged that the defendants formed, controlled, managed, and operated numerous suspect bus companies—including All-State Travel Bus, Asia Tours, Apex Bus, New Egg Bus, and Universe Bus—and routinely falsified FMCSA Motor Carrier Identification Reports and applications for FMCSA operating authority. The conspirators concealed who operated the companies and that the buses they operated were unsafe.

 

Mei admitted that she and her conspirators incorporated the companies in Pennsylvania. They also falsely represented that they were headquartered, maintained, and garaged in Pennsylvania, while in fact, the companies operated in New York City. The false documents enabled the defendants to obtain operating authority, licenses, stickers, and other authority, indicating that the buses met Federal and State safety standards. Incorporating in Pennsylvania while operating in New York City also significantly reduced their insurance costs.

 

The indictment further alleged that the defendants falsified FMCSA-regulated records related to bus safety, maintenance, and driver qualifications to impede FMCSA inspections and reviews. Specifically, they submitted false documents indicating that the fraudulent companies had driver safety and training programs in place when they did not, and false records related to accident registers, hours of service, vehicle maintenance, drug and alcohol testing programs, and previous company affiliations and associations.

 

DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with HSI and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. FMCSA has provided substantial assistance.