United States Attorney David Metcalf announced the indictment of three individuals for their alleged involvement in a bribery scheme related to Amtrak contracts. Those charged include Richard Thompson, former Director of Network Planning and Engineering for Amtrak, Shaun Hanrahan, owner of Awarity, LLC, and Darren Hannam, of Arch Technology. They face charges of honest services fraud through bribery.
Thompson is accused of using his position to steer Amtrak work to companies owned by Hanrahan, Hannam, and others. The indictment alleges that between 2015 and 2021, Thompson favored vendors during the Amtrak contracting process, including Awarity, Arch Technology, and 20/20 Teknology, owned by a co-conspirator.
According to the indictment, Thompson shared proprietary bid information with the vendors before contracts were awarded, giving them an edge in the process. He also allegedly manipulated contracting documents and bypassed competitive bidding processes to benefit his preferred vendors.
The work involved in the scheme included WiFi network design, IT equipment purchases, and improvements to Amtrak's infrastructure. In exchange for steering work towards these vendors, Thompson allegedly received payments and gifts worth thousands of dollars, including cash, electronics, and accommodations.
The defendants face multiple charges of honest services wire fraud through bribery. Hannam also faces a record falsification charge. Convictions could result in sentences of up to 20 years for each count.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Amtrak Office of Inspector General, with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorneys Louis D. Lappen and Jason Grenell. The allegations remain accusations, with all defendants presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.