Employee ‘stole $450,000 from bus fare boxes he was responsible for emptying and repairing’

Stephen P. Fagerberg, 55,is accused of stealing more than $450,000 from fare collection boxes

An employee for a Boston transit company has been accused of pocketing more than $450,000 in bus fares after taking the cash boxes home with him. 

Stephen P. Fagerberg, 55, of Dedham had a job emptying out bus fare boxes as an ‘automated fare technician­’ while working for Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.  

But after emptying the boxes he is then alleged to have taken the cash home according to the attorney general’s office.

Fagerberg was indicted by a Suffolk grand jury on two counts of larceny over $1,200 in a continuous scheme.

His total pay was nearly $106,000 last year but he allegedly stole four times that amount

His total pay was nearly $106,000 last year but he allegedly stole four times that amount

Fagerberg appeared to have become greedy. After working for the transit agency for 12 years, he had worked his way up to a salary of $106,000. 

In June he was  charged for allegedly stealing $80,000, but that total has now risen to $450,000. 

The indictment states Fagerberg ‘was responsible for fixing and repairing fare collection boxes on MBTA buses in South Boston.’

He was finally caught after a sting operation which included the use of marked bills.

Money that had been spent on the buses was later found to be deposited into his own bank account via a drive-up ATM,’ the attorney general added.

He was busted following a sting operation and was caught after marked bills were deposited into his personal bank account

He was busted following a sting operation and was caught after marked bills were deposited into his personal bank account

State police assigned to the AG’s office, the Massachusetts State Police and the MBTA police all collaborated on the case.

‘Subsequent investigation by the AG’s office determined that Fagerberg allegedly stole more than $450,000 from MTBA fare boxes,’ the AG added. The company now want all of the money back. 

‘The MBTA has initiated the disciplinary process to terminate this employee and will work with the AG’s office to seek restitution,’ said T spokesman Joe Pesaturo. ‘The MBTA will also pursue any available civil remedies to make the Authority whole.’

The fare boxes will become obsolete in two years when cash will no longer be accepted on buses and trolleys.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk