Chugging along on taxpayer dollars, two ex-Caltrain employees have been derailed by charges they converted train stations into their residences. Joseph Vincent Navarro, 66, and Seth Andrew Worden, 61, have been slapped with felony counts of misappropriating public funds after allegedly turning sections of the Burlingame and Millbrae stations into homes. CBS News Bay Area reported that Navarro, once the deputy director of operations for Caltrain, had directed a contractor managed by Worden, a station manager, to upgrade his unauthorized abode.

According to prosecutors, the pair managed to keep their renovations under the radar by keeping invoices just below $3,000, a play out of the sneaky rulebook. "Worden hired contractors at Navarro's direction to remodel a section of the station that had been previously used as office space to add, among other upgrades, a kitchen, shower, heating, plumbing and security cameras," said the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office in a statement. This cozy setup ran off the rails when Caltrain staff stumbled upon Worden's DIY domicile in 2020, leading to his termination.

It wasn't until two years later that Navarro's makeshift residence was discovered, thanks to an anonymous tipster who blew the whistle. Navarro got the boot from Caltrain after confessing to occasionally bunking at the station. Caltrain executive director Michelle Bouchard condemned the actions, stating, "The misuse of public funds for private use is a violation of the law, Caltrain policy and the public's trust." Bouchard told CBS News Bay Area, "Caltrain investigates every claim of such misconduct, and in cases where there is evidence of unlawful conduct by an employee or a contractor, we immediately act to rectify the situation and hold the individuals who are responsible accountable."

Navarro is slated to be arraigned come April while Worden, who pleaded not guilty, is currently out of custody. Social media stirred with updates as Henry K. Lee, an insider at the scene, sent out tweets about the charges, feeding the hungry news cycle. @Caltrainexec director Michelle Bouchard weighed in following the charges, stating Caltrain's commitment to working with the District Attorney to pursue justice further.

Seth Worden, who was manager at historic Burlingame train station & Joe Navarro, ex-@Caltrain deputy director of operations charged by @SanMateoCoDA w/using funds to convert part of station into Navarro’s personal residence, which Worden had previously also used as home, per DA pic.twitter.com/orw6CAFAMe

— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) March 28, 2024