Man charged for selling duplicate MBTA passes

BOSTON – An employee of a Mass. Bay Transit Authority subcontractor was arrested in connection with an alleged scheme to illegally produce millions of dollars worth of MBTA monthly passes and sell them directly to riders, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office announced.
Andres Townes, 27, of Revere, was charged with larceny, more than $250 and conspiracy to commit larceny, more than $250.
The investigation began on March 11 after an alert conductor on the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Rail noticed a pass that appeared different in color. According to a news release, the passenger told the conductor the pass had gone through the laundry and said that he had purchased the pass on Craigslist.
The conductor confiscated the pass, turning it over to the MBTA Transit Police. Further investigation showed that despite opening electronic gates, the printed serial number in the MBTA database did not show the card ever being activated. The MBTA soon discovered hundreds of similar passes in use by passengers.
Investigators discovered that all the stolen passes had been activated in Beverly, Mass., by a machine owned by the MBTA and used by Cubic Transportation Systems Inc.
Cubic, who employed Townes, is an independent vendor which handles the sale and fulfillment of MBTA passes purchased online and over the telephone. &#8226