An Amtrak employee in New Jersey has been accused in a criminal complaint of stealing and selling more than $50,000 worth of parts from the railroad, including over 70 chainsaws, and selling them online.
According to the federal complaint released on Tuesday, Jose Rodriguez allegedly stole several dozen chainsaws and hundreds of parts and sold them between 2016 and July 2020.
The sales were primarily made through an online auction site, though some of the saws were sold directly to people, the complaint alleged.
The 48-year-old Brick resident has worked at Amtrak’s North Brunswick facility since 2007 in positions including senior engineer and repairman.
In total, the complaint alleges that Mr Rodriguez sold 77 chain saws, 103 chainsaw replacement bars and 163 replacement chains to buyers across the US.
Locations of the buyers included Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, California, and South Carolina, according to the complaint.
A release from the US Department of Justice, which cited documents filed in the case and statements made in court, claims that agents recovered several chainsaws that Mr Rodriguez allegedly sold.
According to the statement, the documents said that the chain saws possessed serial numbers matching Amtrak’s chainsaws and one had previously been reported stolen by Amtrak.
The complaint alleged one buyer in Pennsylvania provided law enforcement agents with 11 boxes with Mr Rodriguez’s return address that had been used to ship chain saws in exchange for more than $7,000.
Mr Rodriguez faces one count of stealing government property and one count of stealing from an agency receiving federal funds.
Both counts carry maximum prison sentences of 10 years and a maximum fine of $250,000.
The Associated Press contacted Amtrak and an attorney for Mr Rodriguez seeking comment. Amtrak declinedThe Independent’s request for further comment.
Mr Rodriguez was scheduled to appear via video conference on Tuesday before US Magistrate Judge Mark Falk in Newark federal court.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
