Five MBTA Workers Charged With Falsifying Red Line Track Inspection Records

Crews worked in critical track areas during this Red Line service suspension. Complimentary photo and caption by the MBTA Customer and Employee Experience Department.

BOSTON - 5 MBTA workers, both current and former, have been charged with falsification of Red Line track inspection records.

In a report from 7News, Brain Pfaffinger, 47, of Marshfield, Ronald Gamble, 62, of Dorchester, Jensen Vatel, 42, of Brockton, Nathalie Mendes, 53, of New Bedford, and Andy Vicente, 36, of Bridgewater, were indicted, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. The five men were charged with falsification of records, aiding and abetting, and false statements.

According to the documents, former track inspectors Gamble, Mendes, Vatel, and Vicente stated they “completed inspections for Red Line tracks between Sept. 3, 2024 and Oct. 15, 2024, when they were not actually performed.” Instead of performing inspections as they were supposed to, the four were inside Cabot Yard, an MBTA facility. Additionally, three of the former track inspectors were accused of working on private vehicles during work hours. As former supervisor, Pfaffinger reportedly had Gable, Mendes, Vatel, and Vicente work on his car as well during work hours.

Pfaffinger is also accused of “creating supporting documentation for Gable’s Oct. 14, 2024 inspection, which he knew to be false.”

In December 2024, the Red Line was slow-zone free for the first time in two decades. In January 2025, RT&S reported on the milestone reached by MBTA on its Red Line wherein it increased speeds to 50 miles per hour. Crews had worked along more than 2,000 feet of track as part of the Track Improvement Program. During construction, crews replaced 2,230 feet of rail, 177 ties, and 3,350 plates. They also performed 970 feet of full depth track replacement and resurfaced and tamped 13,800 feet of track.

The MBTA stated its thanks to the “U.S. Attorney’s office for their thorough investigation and diligent work toward holding people accountable for alleged criminal activity. As a public agency, it is our responsibility to be good stewards of public resources and deliver safe and reliable service to transit users. That’s why General Manager Phil Eng took immediate action to hold these employees accountable when this misconduct came to light. Their actions do not reflect the values of the MBTA, and they will not impact the improvements we continue to make across the system. We are taking these allegations very seriously, as we have an obligation to the public and to our workforce to ensure that every employee meets the highest standards of conduct.”

All are set to appear in federal court on Thursday.