California high‑speed rail consultants billed taxpayer‑funded Lyft rides to CEO’s Folsom home

Brent Butzin and Thierry Prate submitted rideshare receipts for trips after midnight, sparking questions about travel oversight.

By Felo News Desk · Published Fri, 09 Oct 2026 21:00:48 GMT

Two consultants for the California High‑Speed Rail Authority submitted expense claims for late‑night Lyft rides to and from the home of agency chief Ian Choudri in Folsom, California, according to reports from CBS News and the New York Post.

What happened

In September 2026, Denver‑based attorney Brent Butzin and KPMG managing director Thierry Prate each took Lyft rides that left or arrived at Choudri’s residential address after midnight. One ride was recorded after 1 a.m. The trips were billed to the rail authority as project‑related travel.

What the reports add

The New York Post noted that the two consultants together accounted for roughly a dozen rides to or from the CEO’s home and another dozen trips to nearby bars and restaurants, including the Land Ocean Steak House that Choudri frequents. It cited an audit that uncovered nearly $600,000 in unexplained expenses for the high‑speed rail program. CBS News, referencing the High‑Speed Rail inspector general’s investigation, confirmed the identities of the consultants and said the expense records were obtained from whistleblowers after a review of about 6,000 pages of invoices.

What was said

CBS reported that the inspector general’s office had found “widespread failures in consultant travel oversight,” but the article did not contain direct quotations from agency officials. The New York Post quoted no agency spokesperson, instead summarising the audit findings.

How it came about

The expense claims surfaced amid ongoing scrutiny of the California high‑speed rail project. Earlier this month, Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have expanded the powers and purchasing authority of the rail watchdog, a move that followed criticism of the inspector general’s limited resources. The late‑night rides add to a pattern of financial and managerial concerns highlighted in recent Felo coverage of legal challenges to the Merced segment of the rail line.

Key facts

Consultants Brent Butzin and Thierry Prate submitted Lyft expense claims for rides after midnight to/from CEO Ian Choudri’s Folsom home. (cbsnews.com)
The New York Post reported the rides were part of roughly a dozen trips to the CEO’s residence and a similar number to nearby bars, with an audit flagging nearly $600,000 in unexplained expenses. (nypost.com)
CBS News said the expense records came from whistleblowers and were part of a 6,000‑page review by the High‑Speed Rail inspector general. (cbsnews.com)