The Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) Office of Investigations, in conjunction with Amtrak’s Health Services Department, conducted a proactive initiative involving employees on Medical Leave of Absence (“MLOA”). The initiative was designed to identify those employees who were abusing the MLOA process.
The Chairperson of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), Phyllis K. Fong, advised you in a January 8, 2010 letter that I would be conducting the first review described below as required by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010, signed by the President on December 16, 2009 (Appropriations Act).
Earlier this year, the Inspector General asked the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) to conduct an organizational assessment of the Amtrak Office ofinspector General. The assessment was intended to help the OIG implement the goals in our strategic plan by identifYing our core organizational strengths and weaknesses and developing specific, prioritized actions to improve OIG processes, policies, and management practices. NAPA assembled an expert panel and a project team to conduct the assessment and provided a written report of their assessment on August 31, 2010 (Attached).
Amtrak Inspector General Ted Alves, in conjunction with United States Attorney Zane David Memeger of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, announced today the sentencing of George Susini, a former Amtrak contractor. Susini was sentenced as a result of his receipt of stolen Amtrak refund credits which had been illegally posted to his personal credit cards.
Sushil Sheth, a cardiologist, who surrendered his medical license, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for stealing approximately thirteen million dollars from Medicare and more than thirty other public and private health care insurance programs, including one at Amtrak, over roughly five years, Amtrak Inspector General Alves announced today. Sheth provided false information to Medicare and other insurers to receive millions of dollars for medical services which were never rendered to patients.
United States Attorney Laurie Magid today announced the filing of an Indictment against George Susini. The indictment charges Susini conspiracy, wire fraud, and theft of funds from a federally funded program.