Editing Community Transit (section)

==== Fraud investigation ====
CT was involved in a [[criminal investigation]] conducted by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) in the mid-1990s of Ed's Transmission, a [[Transmission (mechanics)|transmission]] shop in Everett used by the agency for bus parts. Detectives from the FBI and Snohomish County [[Sheriff]] seized records from both parties and began a two-month audit of Community Transit management.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bergsman |first1=Jerry |last2=Alexander |first2=Karen |date=July 22, 1993 |title=Investigators seize CT records |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19930722/1712341/investigators-seize-ct-records----agency-is-target-of-federal-probe-involving-service-work |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> The auditors released a report that criticized the management style of Executive Director Ken Graska and his department heads, leading to the former's resignation in December 1993 after nine years at his position.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Karen |last2=Brooks |first2=Diane |date=December 1, 1993 |title=CT's director resigns |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19931201/1734623/cts-director-resigns |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> Federal prosecutors accused Ralph Woodall, the 50-year-old co-owner of the shop, of 15 counts of [[mail fraud]] after intentionally overbilling for transmission repairs. Community Transit Maintenance Director Michael Lynn resigned after confessing that he had accepted gifts from Woodall in exchange for sending all of CT's transmissions to Ed's Transmissions without going through competitive [[bidding]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Brooks |first=Diane |date=December 10, 1996 |title=Federal trial begins over fraud alleged in CT bus repairs |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19961210/2364154/federal-trial-begins-over-fraud-alleged-in-ct-bus-repairs |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> A [[United States District Court for the Western District of Washington|U.S. District Court]] jury found Woodall guilty of 15 counts of mail fraud in December 1996,<ref>{{cite news |last=Clutter |first=Stephen |date=December 24, 1996 |title=Mechanic is guilty of fraud |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19961224/2366694/mechanic-is-guilty-of-fraud |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> with Judge [[John C. Coughenour]] sentencing him to 2.5 years in federal prison the following May, along with Ed's Transmission being forced to pay a $825,000 [[settlement (litigation)|settlement]] after a [[civil suit]] was filed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Koch |first=Anne |date=May 31, 1997 |title=Shop owner sentenced to 2 1/2 years for CT fraud |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19970531/2542024/shop-owner-sentenced-to-2-12-years-for-ct-fraud |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref>