Taxi Operator Ordered to 33 Months in Jail for Defrauding FTA

Office of Inspector General

Title:	Taxi Operator Ordered to 33 Months in Jail for Defrauding FTA
Date:	May 22, 2002
Type:	Investigation
Summary:	Rick Clark, a Yellow Cab driver in Chicago, IL, was ordered by a U.S. District Court judge in Chicago, to spend 33 months in jail and pay $41,100 in restitution to the Chicago Transit Authority for making fraudulent voucher purchases. Clark conspired with seven handicapped individuals to purchase hundreds of FTA-subsidized transit vouchers from handicapped people and then claim the subsidy from each voucher without performing required taxi services. Through subsidies, the FTA funds taxi rides for handicapped individuals unable to use public transportation. OIG special agents identified more than $80,000 in fraudulent voucher purchases. OIG investigated this case with the assistance of the Chicago Transit Authority.