PHILADELPHIA, PA — Federal authorities have charged Mark Snedden, a 69-year-old contractor from Munster, Indiana, with conspiracy to commit federal program bribery and making and presenting a false claim. The charges stem from allegations of improper conduct on a $58.5 million Amtrak repair and restoration project at Philadelphia’s historic 30th Street Station.
According to court filings, Snedden served as the president and sole owner of the contracting firm responsible for overseeing the façade restoration project, funded primarily by federal dollars. Investigators allege that between May 2016 and November 2019, Snedden conspired with colleagues and an Amtrak employee to engage in a bribery scheme, resulting in significant overcharges to Amtrak.
The investigation revealed that multiple individuals, including three vice presidents at Snedden’s firm, provided gifts and other benefits totaling approximately $323,686 to an unnamed Amtrak project manager. Items allegedly included cash, vacations, jewelry, dining, entertainment, and even a dog with professional training.
Prosecutors claim these gifts were given to influence the project manager’s actions on behalf of the Contractor. It is alleged that, in return, the Amtrak official not only shared sensitive internal information but also approved inflated project costs, leading to more than $52 million in additional payments from Amtrak to Snedden’s firm. This allegedly included over $2 million in falsified expenses for work that was either overbilled or misrepresented.
The indictment highlights that the contract explicitly forbade bribery or any attempts to seek favorable treatment using gifts or kickbacks. Nonetheless, authorities allege that the project manager abused his position by approving inflated change orders and modifications, enabling substantial financial gains for Snedden’s firm.
If convicted, Snedden faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a fine of up to $500,000, and a $200 special assessment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Grenell and jointly investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Amtrak Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General.
Authorities have reminded the public that all individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Further developments in the case are expected as the investigation continues.
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