BRICK – An Amtrak employee has been arrested for stealing over $50,000 worth of chainsaws and chainsaw parts from Amtrak and reselling them.
Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced that the suspect Jose Rodriguez, 48, of Brick was reselling the equipment primarily through an online auction service.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Rodriguez was based out of the Amtrak facility in North Brunswick and was an employee since October 2007, most recently as a senior engineer and repairman.
From August 2016 through July 2020, Rodriguez seized 77 chainsaws, 103 bars, and 163 chains from Amtrak, the total value of which was over $50,000. He then proceeded to use an online auction service to sell most of the Amtrak chainsaws and parts.
Since the reported stolen Amtrak chainsaws had serial numbers on them, agents were able to recover several chainsaws that Rodriguez sold.
Rodriguez was charged by complaint with one count of theft from an agency receiving federal funds and one count of theft of government property. Rodriguez is scheduled to appear via videoconference on March 9 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk in Newark federal court.
The offenses charged in the complaint each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and maximum fine of $250,000.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited detectives from Amtrak Police New York Division and Mid-Atlantic Division, under the direction of Chief Sam Dotson, and special agents from Amtrak Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Waters, Eastern Field Office, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
