Investigations
Former Amtrak Contracting Officer Charged in $7.6M Bribery Scheme
On April 12, Timothy Miller, former lead contract administrator at the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), was charged by information in U.S. District Court, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with one count of Federal program bribery. Miller was responsible for procuring equipment and services and managing the account for Amtrak diesel and locomotive seat cushion vendors.
The information alleges that in June 2014, Miller approved Company 1, a small manufacturing company, as a vendor and seat cushion supplier. From approximately August 2015 through July 2017, through Miller’s efforts, Amtrak awarded Company 1 four fleet maintenance contracts worth in excess of $7.6 million. In return for steering the contracts and providing pricing information to Company 1, Miller received approximately $20,000 and other things of value, including trips to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Miller, along with two Company 1 executives, created a sham consulting company and submitted invoices to Company 1 for payment.
The Federal Railroad Administration executes and oversees grant agreements that provide Amtrak with Federal funds appropriated by Congress. Amtrak uses Federal funds for a wide range of operating and capital expenses, including maintenance, expansion, investment, and debt repayment.
DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with Amtrak-OIG, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division.
Note: Indictments, informations, and criminal complaints are only accusations by the Government. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.