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Lirr Worker Sentenced For Overtime Scheme
One of five Long Island Rail Road employees charged with a conspiracy to defraud the MTA through an overtime scheme has been sentenced to three months in prison.
Joseph Balestra, age 52, of Blue Point, was sentenced in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, Jan. 4, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
Balestra, who must also repay $109,641 in restitution, said during sentencing, he took full responsibility for his role in the scheme.
Following his three months in prison, he will have to serve three years of supervised release, three months of which will be s…
Four From Long Island Among Five Current/Former MTA Employees Charged With Overtime Fraud
Five former and current MTA employees - four of whom are from Long Island - are facing charges for an alleged elaborate overtime fraud scheme that reportedly net them more than $1 million.
Federal prosecutors charged “MTA Overtime King” Thomas Caputo, a Holbrook resident, and four others on Thursday, Dec. 3 for an “extraordinary” scheme that saw all five being paid while at home, on vacation, or doing other things besides being on the job.
Along with Caputo, Levittown resident Joseph Ruzzo, Rocky Point resident John Nugent, Blue Point resident Joseph Balestra, and Manalapan, N.J. resident M…
