Investigations
Former Safety Manager Sentenced for Fraudulently Operating Commercial Passenger Bus Companies
On February 22, 2018, the U.S. District Court, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, sentenced Yu Hua “Samantha” Mei to 12 months’ probation, which includes 2 months under curfew electronic monitoring, a $1,000 fine, and a $72,000 forfeiture. Mei was the former safety manager for multiple commercial passenger bus companies.
In March 2016, a Federal grand jury charged Mei and 13 other individuals with multi-State conspiracy, mail fraud, and wire fraud for fraudulently operating commercial bus companies. 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 (MCS-150) and applications for FMCSA operating authority (OP-1). These activities concealed who operated the companies and that the buses were not safe. Mei pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in August 2017 and admitted that she and others incorporated their companies in Pennsylvania and falsely represented that the companies were headquartered, maintained, and garaged there as well.
DOT-OIG is working this investigation with the Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. FMCSA provided substantial assistance.