A Metro worker and agency cop have been arrested and accused of stealing thousands of dollars in coins from the transit agency’s fare machines, using some of the money to buy lottery tickets.
Horace Dexter McDade, 58, of Bowie, and John Vincent Haile, 54, of Woodbridge, were arrested Wednesday night and charged with conspiring to commit theft from programs receiving federal funds, according to the U.S. Attorney Neil MacBride for the Eastern District of Virginia.
The two men stole bags of coins several times while working together transporting the funds for Metro in an agency vehicle, then hid the bags of coins at an underpass, according to the prosecutor’s office.
McDade, who worked for Metro since 1979, currently works as a revenue technician who services Metro rail stations’ fare machines when they break down.
Haile, who has been with the agency’s police force since 1997, was supposed to protect revenue technicians such as McDade. He often switched assignments so he could work with McDade, court records say.
Officials said they believe the thefts have been going on for years, because they said Haile had unexplained cash deposits of more than $150,0000 since 2008.
Haile used the money to buy “an extraordinary amount” of Virginia Lottery tickets, buying $28,000 worth of tickets from October through December often with $500 bags of coins, records show.
Update: 10:15 a.m.
The two Metro workers arrested Wednesday night in a theft ring still work for the transit agency.
The police officer has been suspended without pay, according to Metro, but is in the process of being fired. The fare collecting technician has also been suspended, though it was not immediately available whether he was still being paid.
But another employee has been “relieved of his duties” already: the supervisor over the revenue division.
Metro said Thursday morning that it is bringing in forensic accountants to understand how thefts occurred. The police department is also reviewing policies for police who guard the revenue collection.
