Federal prosecutors have expanded a case involving alleged Red Line inspection and overtime fraud, adding three defendants to an investigation that includes allegations tied to the MBTA’s Cabot Yard facility in South Boston.
A superseding indictment announced Friday, July 10, charges seven former and current Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority employees with alleged conspiracies to falsify track inspection reports and fraudulently collect overtime payments.
The expanded case includes several Boston residents and allegations involving Cabot Yard, the MBTA’s Red Line maintenance facility in South Boston. Prosecutors allege that some employees reported performing inspections while instead being inside the facility, and that a garage at Cabot Yard was used to work on private vehicles during work hours.
The seven defendants charged are Brian Pfaffinger, 48, of Marshfield; Ronald Gamble, 63, of Dorchester; Magda Trinh, 45, of Avon; Jensen Vatel, 43, of Brockton; Nathalie Mendes, 54, of New Bedford; Danny Barbosa, 37, of Dorchester; and Matthew Leonard, 37, of Easton.
Pfaffinger, Gamble, Vatel and Mendes were previously indicted on May 22, 2025, and arrested on May 29, 2025. Trinh, Barbosa and Leonard were arrested Friday, July 10, 2026, and appeared in federal court in Boston.
According to prosecutors, all of the defendants were former Red Line Maintenance of Way employees. Pfaffinger served as the team’s supervisor, while Gamble, Trinh, Vatel and Mendes worked as track inspectors responsible for inspecting Red Line tracks and documenting their work through the MBTA’s MaxTrax mobile application.
Federal prosecutors allege that from Jan. 1, 2024, through Oct. 16, 2024, Pfaffinger, Gamble, Trinh, Vatel and Mendes either falsified Red Line inspection reports or helped submit false reports instead of completing required inspections.
The indictment alleges Gamble and Trinh instructed other inspectors, including Vatel and Mendes, to falsely extend the reported duration of inspections to avoid scrutiny from senior MBTA officials. Prosecutors also allege some inspectors entered train numbers obtained online rather than completing required train rides as part of their inspections.
The indictment further alleges that during times when inspections were reported as being conducted, Gamble, Trinh, Vatel and Mendes were actually inside Cabot Yard, an MBTA location that includes a coffee and break room for Red Line inspection employees.
Prosecutors also allege that Cabot Yard contained a large garage where Gamble, Vatel, Barbosa and Leonard worked on private vehicles during work hours.
According to the indictment, Pfaffinger knew employees were performing work on private vehicles while on duty and had subordinates perform work on his own personal vehicle. Prosecutors allege that in July 2024, Pfaffinger reported serious defects on multiple Red Line tracks and, 10 days later, requested that employees use their workday to repair his vehicle.
The federal case also includes allegations involving overtime records. Prosecutors allege that between Jan. 1, 2024, and Oct. 16, 2024, Gamble submitted overtime sheets claiming that he, Trinh, Mendes, Vatel, Barbosa and Leonard worked shifts they did not complete.
According to prosecutors, some employees allegedly failed to report for overtime shifts, arrived hours late, or checked in before leaving for extended periods and later returning to work.
Prosecutors allege Gamble submitted overtime requests for Leonard, Barbosa and others despite knowing they had not completed the claimed shifts, allegedly compensating them for work performed on private vehicles during MBTA work hours. Trinh is also accused of helping submit at least one false overtime record claiming Vatel worked an overtime shift he did not complete.
The defendants face charges including conspiracy to falsify records, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, falsification of records, false statements and aiding and abetting, depending on their alleged roles.
