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Investigations

Date

FTA Debars Former Florida DOT Employee

On February 15, 2018, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) debarred Tracy Dean Tronco from doing business with the Federal Government for a period of 3 years. On November 8, 2017, Tronco, a former transit coordinator and passenger operations specialist with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), was convicted in U.S. District Court, Tampa, Florida, for her role in a conspiracy to commit Federal program theft.
 
Tronco and her husband, Alejo Tronco-Diaz, had joint ownership in Ebenezer Church (Ebenezer) and Ministerio A Gran Voz De Trompeta Campus, Inc. (Ministerio). Both organizations received $250,000 in FTA grants via FDOT for programs that provide transportation for low-income, disabled, and elderly individuals.
 
According to the indictment, Tronco used her authority as an FDOT employee to bypass the normal award review process and award the funds directly to Ministerio and Ebenezer. She and Tronco-Diaz submitted checks to FDOT that indicated they made payments for real property, services, and materials. However, the checks did not clear, and the property, services, and materials were never actually obtained. Tronco and Tronco-Diaz also falsely represented to FDOT that they used grant funds to acquire vehicles to provide transportation services, but the vehicles were for their personal use. In addition, they falsely represented that they had incurred expenses for the preventative maintenance and repair of the vehicles.
 
DOT-OIG conducted this investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and FDOT-OIG, with assistance from FTA.
 
Note: A suspension or debarment frequently covers a specific period of time. Please consult the System for Award Management to determine whether a company or individual is currently suspended or debarred.