A former cleaner for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is facing charges, he allegedly filched network transceivers valued at more than $120,000 from the agency's IT department, according to Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden. Marcelo Batista-Sales, 39, of Lynn, appeared in court on November 24 and is expected back for a pretrial hearing on January 22.
The accused was charged with larceny over $1,200 and was arraigned in BMC Central. Judge Mark Summerville determined bail at $2,000, additionally mandating that Batista-Sales maintain distance from MBTA headquarters. The case surfaced when the MBTA IT department, located at 10 Park Plaza, reported 40 stolen Cisco Network modules, each with a price tag of around $3,069.
The intriguing discovery of these electronic components ensued after a trail led by the MBTA Senior Director of Infrastructure and Operations traced them to online sales. An eBay user, "marcbatist27," had offloaded a total of 51 corresponding modules. This virtual breadcrumb trail provided the MBTA Transit Police with enough evidence to pinpoint Batista-Sales, culminating in his arrest. The former cleaner not only had access to the IT department's secure areas but also a means to conduct his illicit dealings with the stolen goods.
In an announcement made public by the Suffolk District Attorney's office, Hayden stressed the gravity of the theft by stating, "This is a major theft from a public agency dedicated to moving nearly one million people each day around the metro Boston area, so it’s really a theft from all of us." The diligent efforts of MBTA investigators were lauded, as they have now identified a person who will be standing trial for this significant heist.
