Saugus man indicted for falsifying MBTA time sheets

SAUGUS – A Saugus man was among three people indicted Thursday for falsifying time sheets and ripping off thousands of dollars from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.Christopher Peatridge, 64, of Saugus is charged with two counts each of presentation of false claims and larceny over $250, while Michael O’Toole, 49, of Milton and Francis Flaherty, 52, of South Boston are each charged with single counts.Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced Thursday that a Suffolk County Grand Jury handed down indictments on the men for allegedly saying they worked at MBTA job sites but actually never showed up.The Inspector General and AG offices began a joint investigation after someone gave an anonymous tip to the IG.Flaherty and Peatridge worked as construction inspectors while O’Toole was employed as a resident designer. Their supervision was necessary to ensure that contracts were carried out properly, according to the AG’s Office.Authorities said they used surveillance videos as part of their investigation to show Peatridge, Flaherty and O’Toole submitted time sheets for days they worked few or no hours.On “repeated dates” between April and June 2005, surveillance showed Peatridge was paid a full day’s wage but worked considerably less hours, authorities said. On days he was supposed to start work at 7 a.m., authorities said he would show up after lunch.According to a statement from Coakley’s office, investigators determined Peatridge operated a security business on the side. Business records show between July and November 2004, Peatridge was paid by the MBTA for many days when he was actually working for his own business and was frequently out of state earning tens of thousands of dollars, according to the statement.