Page 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 24, 2021 MBTA actively seeking to hire new employees and expand its workforce Hundreds of well-paying positions are now open at the 'T' T he MBTA is aggressively hiring new employees to join its dynamic workforce. It takes many people to move over a million trips a day, and the 6,500-person MBTA is redoubling efforts to hire hundreds of open positions – from train and trolley operators, to administrative and technical positions, and especially bus drivers who are in high demand to transport Massachusetts residents to work, play, and everywhere in between. Prospective candidates looking for a rewarding career where they can have a positive impact on the entire region should visit mbta.com/careers for more information on open positions and to learn about the MBTA’s many benefits and incentives. “The MBTA plays an integral and essential role in keeping Massachusetts moving. The T is a diverse and exciting place to work, and we’re actively hiring and training new employees, especially bus drivers, right now to join our ranks and play a significant part in revitalizing the region post pandemic,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “The MBTA is being proactive in recruiting new individuals to join our team and fast-tracking the hiring process, and will continue to work closely with local and state career centers and our community partners to recruit new individuals to join our team. We offer a variety of growth opportunities to employees and encourage members of the public to visit our website to learn more about our many open positions and beginning their career at the T.” The MBTA has gone to over 20 online and in-person career fairs across the region this fall and is updating the way it hires to make it easier and faster to start a T career, including Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) permit “events” at Registry of Motor Vehicle locations (CDL permits are encouraged in applying for bus operator positions), a revamp of the interview process, streamlining the application process, and more. The T has also launched an aggressive recruitment campaign, more than doubling the size of its Human Resources recruiting department since Labor Day 2021 with more anticipated to join soon. A Human Resources team was also recently created that is dedicated to vehicle operator hiring, especially MBTA bus operators. The MBTA offers competitive salaries, extensive healthcare benefits, free public transit, training programs, tuition assistance, employee assistance programs, and an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion. MBTA employees also receive attractive retirement plans, paid vacation, holidays, and sick time, and flexible spending accounts. Members of the public can view open positions online and visit the MBTA website for more information on insurance and other benefits. For full information visit mbta. com/careers, or connect with the T on Twitter @MBTA, Facebook /TheMBTA, or Instagram. Malden man pleads guilty to role in nationwide rideshare and delivery account fraud scheme F lavio Candido da Silva, 36, of Malden, pleaded guilty on December 17 to being involved with a nationwide conspiracy to open fraudulent driver accounts with rideshare and delivery service companies. He was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. In May, da Silva was charged along with 18 codefendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud by using stolen identities and falsified documents to create fraudulent driver accounts for rent or sale to individuals who might not otherwise qualify to drive for the rideshare or delivery services. According to the charging documents, the defendants allegedly used victims’ identifying information to apply for driver accounts with the rideshare and delivery companies – enabling the defendants to pass those companies’ required background checks and create driver accounts in victims’ names. At times, it is alleged, the defendants edited victims’ driver’s license images to display photos of the drivers renting or buying the fraudulent accounts in order to circumvent facial recognition technology that the rideshare and delivery companies used as a security measure. The defendants allegedly obtained victims’ names, dates of birth, driver’s license information and/ or Social Security numbers from coconspirators and other sources, including sites on the Dark Net. Reportedly, the defendants and coconspirators also obtained driver’s license images directly from victims by photographing victims’ licenses while completing an alcohol delivery through one of the services or while exchanging information with victims following vehicle accidents, some of which defendants or coconspirators intentionally caused in order to obtain victims’ license information. As a result of the scheme, Internal Revenue Service 1099 Forms were generated in victims’ names for income that conspirators earned from the rideshare and delivery companies. It is also alleged that the defendants used fraudulent driver accounts to exploit referral bonus programs offered by the rideshare and delivery companies and used “bots” and GPS “spoofing” technology to increase the income earned from the companies. In connection with the scheme, da Silva admitted that he rented and sold driver accounts opened in the names of individual victims. Between June 2019 and December 2020, da Silva received approximately $200,000 in payments from individual renters and purchasers of fraudulent driver accounts. Da Silva also referred drivers to other coconspirators and coordinated with coconspirators about preventing accounts from being flagged for fraud by the rideshare and delivery companies. Sixteen of the defendants have been arrested in connection with the conspiracy, and three remain at large. If anyone believes they might be a victim of the allegations in this case, please visit https://www.justice. gov/usao-ma/victim-and-witness-assistance-program/us-vwemerson-dutra-aguiar-andus-v-priscila-barbosa-et-al. Under federal law, da Silva could face 22 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for April 22, 2022.
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