T worker arraigned in alleged subway fare theft

By Jonnelle Marte and John M. Guilfoil, Globe Correspondents

A 22-year MBTA employee who is facing charges that he stole subway fare money admitted he had done it before, according to police.

Gilberto Carrasquillo, 43, was arraigned on a charge of larceny over $250 today in Boston Municipal Court. Judge Annette Forde scheduled a pretrial hearing for Sept. 15 and released him on his own recognizance.

In a sworn statement filed with the court by MBTA Transit Police, officers said that Carrasquillo, after being arrested at work early yesterday, initially claimed it was his first time stealing money from fare boxes, but then admitted he had done it four times before.

Carrasquillo had no comment after the arraignment. Robert Proctor, the attorney who represented Carrasquillo said he was “presumed innocent.”

“He was cooperative, he has no record,” said Proctor as he walked into an elevator. “He’s been an employee of the T for a long time.”

Carrasquillo, a senior revenue collection agent, was responsible for bringing fare boxes from the subway stations to a locked vault.

He was charged after officials acted on a tip from the T's money room director of security that cash was being stolen from fare collection boxes, the type often used at Fenway and Kenmore Stations during Red Sox games and other stations during high-volume events.

The MBTA Transit Police placed marked bills in a drop box used Saturday night. An audit revealed all but one of the marked bills were missing. Carrasquillo was questioned and arrested.

According to police, Carrasquillo was caught with more than $600 from Saturday. Some of the money was kept in a cloth bank bag and the rest was folded and hidden in his trouser pockets.

"We take employee theft very seriously," said MBTA Transit Police Chief Paul MacMillan. "The Transit Police will investigate and prosecute any employee who steals revenue from the MBTA."

The Internal Security Unit handles about 100 cases per year, MacMillan said. These cases involve employee theft and attempts by outside parties to defraud the MBTA, including those who falsely claim the T has been late in order to collect a refund.

In March 2007, Robert P. Gibson, a retired electrician who worked for the MBTA for 20 years, was found to have stolen more than $40,000 worth of ride tokens over the years.

In May 2006, Jose Arriaza, a foreman for a firm that cleaned MBTA stations, was arrested for allegedly stealing coins and tokens from fare boxes at Harvard Station. He was fired from the cleaning firm.

In 1997, two employees were caught stealing thousands in cash and tokens from the MBTA's money room.

• Comment
• Permalink
• Email