VP of masonry contractor sentenced to nearly five years in prison for bribing Amtrak employee in exchange for millions of dollars in extra work on 30th Street Station

June 4, 2025

PHILADELPHIA — The senior executive vice president of a masonry restoration contractor hired by Amtrak for façade restoration and repair at 30th Street Station was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 57 months in prison, one year of probation, 59 hours of community service, and was fined $50,000 for conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Donald Seefeldt, 65, of Wilmette, Illinois, was sentenced Tuesday. The contractor’s president and sole owner, Mark Snedden, and two vice presidents with the contractor, Lee Maniatis and Khaled Dallo, have also been charged for their roles in bribing a former Amtrak project manager with approximately $323,686 worth of paid vacations, jewelry, cash, dinners, entertainment, transportation, and other items of value. In exchange, the former project manager approved over $52 million in additional change orders and contract modifications and provided the contractor with internal information about the project.

Snedden pleaded guilty in April 2025 for his part in the scheme and is scheduled for sentencing August 13, 2025. He faces a maximum possible prison term of 10 years.

“Our work on this case sends a strong message to all contractors about their obligation to operate legally and ethically,” said Michael J. Waters, Special Agent in Charge for the Amtrak Office of Inspector General Eastern Area Field Office. “We remain committed to investigating acts of bribery or other illegal or unethical conduct to ensure Amtrak’s funds are protected. We’re proud of our joint efforts with the FBI and DOT OIG who supported this investigation and appreciative of the support from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

As a result of years-long scheme, Amtrak was overbilled by approximately $2 million for completion of the repair and restoration work. Federal funding supplied 90 percent of the money Amtrak used to pay the contractor for the project. Amtrak OIG initiated the investigation after a hotline tip alerted its agents to the scheme.

The Federal Railroad Administration has suspended the four men and Snedden’s firm from participating in all federally funded procurement and non-procurement programs and activities.

In addition to Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General, the case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Transportation OIG. United States Attorney Jason Grenell is prosecuting the case.

Reports of fraud, waste, or abuse; criminal or unethical acts affecting Amtrak’s property or operations; or mismanagement in Amtrak programs or operations can be made 24 hours a day via the Amtrak OIG Hotline at 1-800-468-5469 or online at https://direc.to/hPAu.

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