LIRR analyst fired; MTA says he sold sneakers, ran businesses during work hours

A Long Island Rail Road computer support analyst was fired and his supervisor disciplined after an investigation found the employee conducted unsanctioned outside business during work hours — including operating a sneaker business — and that his supervisor failed to uncover and address the issue.

The Office of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Inspector General did not release the identities of either employee.

But a report released this week said the analyst was terminated on Feb. 11 and the manager was issued a "final warning letter" by the MTA on March 7. It noted that the supervisor is subject to the forfeiture of the next two general wage increases, as well as forfeiture of teleworking privileges and promotional opportunities for the next two years.

The investigation found that on 113 dates between October 2021 and February 2024, the analyst "either worked at his secondary outside employment" during MTA work hours or "modified his scheduled MTA hours without permission" in order to conduct unrelated business.

More than 300 times, the OIG investigation found, the analyst "either failed to swipe in or out" on his workplace time clock. The OIG also said that on 44 dates the analyst accessed eBay, PayPal and various sneaker-related websites on his MTA computer, and he worked for a snow removal company and a package delivery firm without MTA approval. 

Additionally, the OIG investigation determined the analyst had more than 300 non-MTA-related emails in his MTA account — and more than 350 pornographic websites bookmarked to his MTA Google Chrome application accessed using his MTA work computer.

The OIG said the analyst "transported merchandise for his personal sneaker business" using his MTA-assigned vehicle.

GPS records showed the analyst often kept his work vehicle overnight at his home, a violation of policy.

Hired in June 2017, the analyst was responsible for "installing, maintaining, troubleshooting, and providing technical support" to users of MTA computer hardware, software and technology services.

"His position required him to work in the field and he operated an MTA pool vehicle traveling to various MTA locations including Nassau County, Queens, and Brooklyn," the OIG investigation said, adding that in addition to his unauthorized use of the company vehicle, the analyst worked another job as an airline baggage handler from September 2022 to February 2024, but his alleged time clock violations made it impossible to determine if those work hours overlapped with his MTA schedule.

The manager, who was hired by the MTA in March 2009 and was responsible for supervising 22 employees, was sanctioned following the OIG investigation, which found he failed to "adequately check" and verify the analyst's work hours and schedule — even though he said the analyst "was not as reliable as the other employees" he supervised.

The manager "conceded that he primarily managed much of the timekeeping on an honor system," the investigation found, noting he had failed to ensure the analyst's work attendance and time records were accurate or that he was in compliance with MTA policies.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”