Another day, another Long Island Rail Road scandal.
Fifteen LIRR workers were charged yesterday with stealing more than $250,000 worth of copper wire from train yards and selling it for scrap.
In the latest LIRR embarrassment, three assistant foremen — Leroy Simmonds, Andrew Burke and Eric Axelson — allegedly recruited underlings to steal copper, often using LIRR trucks to transport it to their personal vehicles. They would sell it to scrap yards, where it can command as much as $3.50 a pound.
“They continued to commit these thefts even in the wake of catastrophic damage to the LIRR in the wake of Superstorm Sandy,” said Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice.
The other arrested LIRR workers are: Michael Carsten, Kevin Graham, Jose Almonte, Christopher Callesano, Michael Campbell, Robert Toomey, Russel Genoino, Panikos Pafitis, Daniel Petroro, Daniel Rose, Daniel Santander and Adisa Springle.
Two other non-railroad employees — Craig Borsetti and Afiba Moore — were also charged with taking part in the scheme, which began in 2010.
The latest scandal follows the arrest of more than 20 LIRR retirees for allegedly bilking a federal retirement scheme with false disability claims.