(PROVIDENCE) – The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority announced today that it has completed an internal investigation into allegations of criminal conduct by a former RIPTA Bus Operator. RIPTA says that investigators viewed over a hundred hours of video captured in May 2017 and uncovered “overwhelming evidence” that a former RIPTA Bus Operator, an employee since 1997, was stealing fares from RIPTA.

The results of the investigation were forwarded to the Providence Police Department as a referral requesting the initiation of a criminal complaint against the former employee for Embezzlement and Fraudulent Conversion, a felony and Unlawful Appropriation, a misdemeanor.

Providence Police informed RIPTA that the target of the investigation, Michael A. Campopiano of Cranston, was arrested on June 21, 2017 and charged with the offenses cited above.

“RIPTA fully investigates any allegations of wrongdoing in the workplace, and illegal and dishonest behavior will not be tolerated,” said Ray Studley, Chief Executive Officer of RIPTA. “We thank the Providence Police for acting quickly on this matter.  We also remind the public that RIPTA employs approximately 800 people and the illegal and dishonest conduct by this former employee is an affront to all RIPTA employees who perform their duties with pride and trustworthiness.  We will not allow this to diminish the good work done by RIPTA employees every day.”