Former Amtrak director charged in alleged bribery scheme

Former Amtrak director Richard Thompson of Falls Church, Virginia, was charged by indictment for an extensive bribery scheme between 2015 and 2021, in which he allegedly directed millions of dollars in contracts to IT companies for cash, technology and free accommodations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, announced yesterday.

According to a press release dated May 1 from the Office of Inspector General (OIG), Thompson was the director of network planning and engineering at Amtrak and held the authority to design IT systems and select vendors and subcontractors. 

Thompson allegedly shared proprietary Amtrak bid information with three companies — Awarity, Arch Technology, and 20/20 Teknology — prior to when contracts were awarded, giving them an advantage in the bidding process. The press release further alleges that Thompson collaborated with them on bid and contracting documents and altered bidding lists and existing contractual relationships to favor the vendors. 

Shaun Hanrahan of Hampton, Virginia, was the owner of Awarity, a management consulting and computer services company. Darren Hannam of Haymarket, Virginia, and an unnamed co-schemer were the principals of IT company Arch Technology. Another unnamed co-schemer owned 20/20 Teknology. Both named co-schemers were charged with multiple counts of honest services wire fraud through bribery for their alleged part in the schemes.

Thompson allegedly received payments of cash up to $97,000 from Hanrahan, electronics worth $9,500 from Hannam and the unnamed co-schemer 1, and an automobile, free hotel and condominium stays and $40,000 in cash from unnamed co-schemer 2, OIG officials said. If convicted, the defendants face maximum possible sentences of 20 years in prison for each count of honest services fraud in the indictment. 

Amtrak work involved in the schemes included design and installation of nationwide WiFi networks, IT equipment purchases, audio-visual equipment installations, and a gate access project, said officials from the U.S. Attorney's Office in a press release.

If convicted, the defendants face maximum possible sentences of 20 years in prison for each count of honest services fraud in the indictment.