San Mateo County, California – Two former Caltrain employees who used public funds to quietly convert parts of two commuter rail stations into private residences were sentenced this week to a combined six months in county jail, concluding a case that underscores the vulnerabilities of public oversight and the often-overlooked infrastructure that supports urban transit systems.
Seth Andrew Worden and Joseph Vincent Navarro, both employed by Caltrain’s rail service contractor, were charged in March 2024 with felony theft of public funds. Prosecutors say the scheme began in 2019 when Navarro, a senior Caltrain official, directed Worden to oversee unauthorized renovations of station property. The first conversion took place at the historic Burlingame station, where office space was remodeled into a fully outfitted apartment for Navarro, complete with a kitchen, shower, heating, plumbing, and surveillance cameras — all paid for with taxpayer dollars.
To avoid triggering contract reviews or oversight, Worden allegedly kept invoices below the $3,000 threshold that would have required additional approvals. By the time the renovations were completed, the Burlingame project had cost Caltrain approximately $42,000. Navarro used the space as his primary residence until his termination in 2022…