PHILADELPHIA, PA — Mark Snedden, 69, of Munster, Indiana, entered a guilty plea on Wednesday, April 30, to charges of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery and making a false claim. Snedden, the former president of a contracting company, was involved in a scheme that defrauded Amtrak of over $2 million during the façade restoration project at Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station.
The project, awarded in 2015 for $58.5 million, was primarily funded by federal dollars, with 90 percent of the financing allocated for the restoration. According to court documents, Snedden and other company officials conspired to deliver bribes, totaling approximately $323,686, to an Amtrak project manager in exchange for favorable treatment and access to sensitive internal information. The bribes included cash, luxury goods, paid vacations, and even a dog and its training.
These illicit exchanges allowed Snedden’s company to secure approvals for inflated change orders, which led to excessive charges against Amtrak. Over $52 million worth of additional payments were approved, significantly raising the project’s costs. Amtrak was overbilled by more than $2 million as a result of the fraudulent activities.
The sentence for Snedden, scheduled for August 13, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Jason Grenell is prosecuting the case.
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