By: Richard L. Smith
Ahmed Mahgoub, 65, of East Hanover, was sentenced to five years in prison for operating an unsafe school bus company and falsifying records, according to information released by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA).
Mahgoub’s company, F&A Transportation, Inc., based in East Orange, also faces $500,000 in corruption penalties and a 10-year ban on doing business with the state or its subdivisions.
The sentencing, delivered by Judge Mark Ali in Essex County Superior Court, comes after Mahgoub pleaded guilty to charges of false representation for a government contract.
The investigation revealed that between 2016 and 2020, Mahgoub’s company hired unqualified drivers without proper background checks, including individuals with criminal histories, substance abuse issues, and suspended licenses.
The company also falsified inspection records to make it appear as though its buses met safety standards.
“By cutting corners and ignoring safety regulations, the defendant risked the lives of children,” Attorney General Platkin said. “This sentence reflects the seriousness of his actions.”
In 2019, inspections by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) found that nearly all of F&A’s buses failed safety checks, despite the company’s falsified reports indicating compliance.
These violations occurred while F&A held school transportation contracts valued at $3.5 million with districts in Essex, Passaic, Morris, and Union counties.
F&A co-owner Faiza Ibrahim, 50, also of East Hanover, entered a pretrial intervention program and faces a 10-year ban from state business and a $75,000 penalty.
The case underscores the importance of adhering to safety standards in school transportation and the consequences of failing to do so.