By: Richard L. Smith
An Essex County-based school bus company, F&A Transportation, Inc., and one of its owners, Ahmed Mahgoub, have pleaded guilty to serious charges stemming from their failure to meet safety and qualification standards.
The charges include hiring unqualified drivers, neglecting to conduct necessary drug tests and background checks, operating unsafe buses, and attempting to conceal their misconduct.
During a hearing before Judge Mark Ali of the Essex County Criminal Division on March 6, 2024, 65-year-old Mahgoub and his company admitted to making false representations for a government contract, a second-degree offense.
Sentencing is set for June 28, 2024, where Mahgoub is expected to face five years in state prison as per the plea agreement.
Faiza Ibrahim, 50, also an owner of the company, is set to enter a pretrial intervention program on charges of tampering with public records, a third-degree offense.
The investigation, led by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) and the New Jersey State Police Official Corruption Bureau, unveiled that F&A Transportation had employed drivers with disqualifying criminal histories and, in one egregious case, a driver operated a bus while intoxicated and crashed.
These violations occurred across contracts worth approximately $3.5 million with public school districts in Essex, Passaic, Morris, and Union counties from 2016 through 2020.
Under the plea agreement, the defendants are also expected to pay $575,000 in corruption profiteering penalties and will be barred from conducting business with the State of New Jersey or any of its entities for ten years.
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin emphasized the state's commitment to prosecuting those who jeopardize children's safety for profit.
Thomas Eicher, Executive Director of OPIA, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the critical importance of adhering to laws designed to protect students and ensure the qualifications and safety of school bus drivers.
The convictions highlight the rigorous enforcement actions by New Jersey authorities against entities and individuals who compromise public safety and integrity, ensuring that the trust placed by parents and school districts in transportation providers is well-founded and that safety regulations are strictly followed.