The Amtrak Bribery Scandal resulted in a 57-month prison sentence for a former executive who conspired to funnel gifts to influence $52 million in project payments. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The Amtrak Bribery Scandal resulted in a 57-month prison sentence for a former executive who conspired to funnel gifts to influence $52 million in project payments

Donald Seefeldt, 65, from Illinois, also received probation, community service, and a $50,000 fine. He admitted to bribing an Amtrak project manager in exchange for favorable treatment.

Don’t miss…Very Light Rail Trials Begin in the United Kingdom

As senior executive vice president at the contractor, Seefeldt oversaw work on Amtrak’s 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. The firm initially secured a $58.5 million contract, 90% of which was federally funded.

Between 2016 and 2019, Seefeldt, alongside colleagues and the Amtrak employee, exchanged lavish gifts for insider access and invoice approvals. The scheme allowed inflated billing and unnecessary work to pass unchecked.

Gifts Exchanged in the Amtrak Bribery Scandal

To manipulate the process, Seefeldt and others gave over $320,000 in perks, including luxury trips, jewelry, a dog, and cash. The Ecuador trip alone cost $19,000, while a watch was worth over $11,000.

In return, the Amtrak manager greenlit inflated change orders, boosting the project’s value by $52 million. Internal data was also leaked to benefit the contractor during bidding and work execution.

Federal officials said these actions defrauded taxpayers. They emphasized that every dollar lost to fraud undermines public services and damages trust in infrastructure investments.

Amtrak Bribery Scandal Investigation and Sentencing

The FBI and federal inspectors general led the probe. Prosecutors confirmed Seefeldt and his team padded invoices, overcharging Amtrak by more than $2 million.

U.S. Attorney David Metcalf called the scheme “a betrayal of public trust.” Officials stressed continued efforts to expose corruption in federally funded projects.

Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the Department of Transportation’s OIG cooperated closely on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Grenell handled the prosecution.

This Amtrak Bribery Scandal serves as a warning: misconduct in public infrastructure will face full legal consequences.

Source: www.justice.gov

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Don’t miss…Siemens Mobility Automates the Largest Marshalling Yard in the Netherlands

Find the latest news of the railway industry in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the rest of the world on our page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, read Railway Supply magazine online.

Place your ads on webportal and in Railway Supply magazine. Detailed information is in Railway Supply media kit