A former executive at a masonry contractor has pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe an Amtrak employee. Donald Seefeldt, 65, of Wilmette, Illinois, admitted his role in a scheme involving lavish gifts exchanged for favorable treatment in an Amtrak renovation project, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office release.
The plea was entered before United States District Court Judge Wendy Beetlestone. The conspiracy involved $323,686 in bribes, including vacations, jewelry, and cash, to secure favorable treatment during the 30th Street Station Repair and Restoration Project. These gifts were allegedly given with the knowledge of Official #1, the contractor’s owner.
Seefeldt, who was the senior executive vice president of the contractor at the time, faces a potential sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and additional penalties. U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero emphasized the importance of prosecuting such crimes, stating, "Every dollar of federal funding lost to fraud is a dollar less to put toward legitimate programs and projects," in the same release.
The case resulted from an investigation by the FBI, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. The fraudulent activities included an Amtrak employee using his authority to approve over $52 million of additional payments to the contractor, which were inflated by over $2 million. "Full restitution of as much as $2,062,374, joint and with several other co-conspirators, also shall be ordered," the U.S. Attorney's Office statement revealed. Seefeldt's sentencing is scheduled for May 22.
