An MTA bus. Photo: Ramin Talaiel/Bloomberg News

The Inspector General’s Office of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has hired a new special counsel and head of investigations, the office said Wednesday. 

The new appointments follow news that Karen Milton, who was previously circuit executive for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, was selected as chief of staff to MTA IG Carolyn Pokorny last month.

“At this critical time for the MTA, these individuals will be on the front lines as we tackle the tough issues and serious challenges facing our region’s public transit system, and be part of a dynamic team that is helping build a stronger, more reliable, and accessible public transit system for all straphangers,” Pokorny said in a statement on the appointments.

Shareema Abel will serve as the office’s new special counsel, Pokorny said. She was previously special counsel for ethics, risk, and compliance for the New York State Civil Rights Portfolio. That’s comprised of the state Division of Human Rights, state Division of Veteran’s Services, and state Board of Elections.

Before entering state government, Abel was a senior litigation attorney with the New York City Department of Education, where she practiced labor and employment law. She started her career as an assistant district attorney with the Bronx District Attorney’s Office.

Abel is a graduate of Hofstra University School of Law and attended SUNY Binghamton for her undergraduate degree in political science.

Bill McGrogan, who is not an attorney, will be the office’s new executive deputy inspector general for investigations. He’ll lead the investigative division, which works to identify and address cases of misconduct and fraud within the MTA and its contractors.

McGrogan was previously a special agent with the FBI for more than two decades. He started his career with the bureau investigating securities fraud and money laundering matters in New York. He was later tasked with investigating public corruption and financial crimes.

They’ll join Milton, who the New York Law Journal previously reported was stepping down from her position with the Second Circuit to become executive deputy inspector general for operations and chief of staff for the MTA IG. 

Gareth Rhodes, an attorney and former top aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, has also now been with the agency since late May on detail from the state Department of Financial Services. Rhodes, an attorney, has served as special counsel and deputy inspector general to Pokorny.

READ MORE:

Circuit Executive Leaving for Job in MTA Inspector General’s Office

New Federal Law Clerk Hiring Plan Gets High Marks From Chief Judge Robert Katzmann