James Stevens, 71, was handed a 37-month prison sentence today for engaging in a corruption scheme during his tenure as the Director of the Video Surveillance Unit at SEPTA. The sentence, announced by United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero, comes after Stevens admitted to demanding bribes and carrying out extortion to benefit his and co-conspirator Robert Welsh’s financial interests. According to a report from the U.S. Attorney's Office, this scheme allowed Welsh’s companies to unfairly win millions of dollars in contracts with SEPTA.
Stevens, a resident of Somerdale, NJ, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, bribery, extortion, and fraud in January 2024 after an indictment in November 2022 alongside Welsh, 60, from Tempe, Arizona. The quid pro quo arrangement saw Stevens net personal gains that included cash payments, meals, concert tickets, and promises of future employment with Welsh’s Spector Logistics, Inc. "Stevens’ sentence serves as a warning to those who abuse the public’s trust in its government officials," stated U.S. Attorney Romero in the aftermath of the sentencing, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
While Stevens is beginning his prison time, Welsh is scheduled for sentencing on July 18, 2024. Their scheme, which was brought to light through a diligent investigation by the FBI, compromised the integrity of the contracting process at SEPTA. "Mr. Stevens used his position in maintaining safety on our region’s transit system to secure a myriad of benefits, which he received in exchange for providing his co-conspirator with millions of dollars’ worth of SEPTA contracts," Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs said, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Authorities indicated that the strong action against Stevens reflects a concerted effort to protect public trust and ensure fairness within governmental operations. Assistant United States Attorneys Louis D. Lappen and John J. Boscia are prosecuting the case, highlighting a dark intersection where public service and private gain converged to siphon off the trust and resources of a system designed for the public good.
