Illinois man charged for alleged ticket scheme after Amtrak OIG investigation

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A former Western Illinois University student was indicted on charges that he engaged in a two-year scheme to defraud Amtrak, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois announced July 19, 2019.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ryan Taylor Minter, 23 of Calumet City, Illinois, allegedly acquired stolen credit card account information which he used to purchase Amtrak tickets for travel between Macomb, Illinois, and Chicago. Minter allegedly used Amtrak’s mobile application and website to purchase the tickets and then advertised them at a discount on social media sites frequented by students. Students paid Minter for the discounted ticket using an online account. Minter then allegedly forwarded the image of the purchased ticket to the student to present to conductors upon boarding for travel between Macomb and Chicago.

In the indictment, the government is seeking $15,492 in proceeds of the scheme, including $6,550 in cash previously seized from Minter.

In addition to the Amtrak Office of Inspector General, the case was investigated by the Amtrak Police Department and Western Illinois University Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Allegro, Rock Island Division, in the prosecution.

More information is available in the U.S. Attorney’s Office press release: http://go.usa.gov/xyfA6