Woman Sentenced for Making False Statement in Connection with Attempted Amtrak Derailment

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Christine Seneca, 44, of Irving, New York, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara to two years’ probation for making a false statement to the FBI.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Moscati, who handled the prosecution, stated that the defendant lied to FBI agents conducting an investigation into the attempted derailment of an Amtrak passenger train near Irving, New York on July 5, 2010. Seneca was questioned concerning the whereabouts of suspects on July 4 and 5, 2010, specifically whether she and the suspects had attended a party on July 4 and 5 in Silver Creek, New York, near the scene of the attempted derailment. The defendant denied being present at the party, however subsequent investigation determined both she and the suspects were in fact at the party. Seneca’s false statement caused additional investigation which would not have otherwise been necessary.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard W. Kollmar, the New York State Police under the direction of Major Christopher Cummings, Amtrak Police and CSX Police.