$4 Million fare scam called biggest ever for Boston mass transit

Two Massachusetts residents have pleaded not guilty in a $4 million fraud case authorities call the biggest fare-evasion scheme in the history of the city's transit agency.

A man and a woman who authorities say live together in the northern suburb of Revere are charged in the case. Andres Townes was ordered held on $250,000 bail after pleading not guilty in Salem District Court on Friday to charges including larceny. Gloria Escobar was ordered held on $100,000 bail on the same charges.

Prosecutors say Townes worked at a company that produces passes for the MBTA and created about $4 million worth of counterfeit Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority tickets that were sold online at discounted rates. Investigators say Escobar helped deliver them to buyers.

Townes' lawyer says his client didn't act alone. Escobar's lawyer says she got "caught up" in the scheme.

The pair allegedly used their ill-gotten gains to pay for cars, trips, jewelry and home downpayments, and shredded evidence when they thought they were being watched, according to CBS affiliate WBZ.

Authorities say the fake transit passes were virtually undetectable.

A train conductor noticed a slightly off-color ticket and reported it to authorities, and that's how the scheme began to unravel, reports WBZ.