The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana announced new charges against one former Bloomington city employee as another former employee pleaded guilty in a kickback scheme. The city's former parks department officer manager, Judith Siegle, has been charged in a scheme that involved the theft of $430,000 from the city and parks foundation over a several year period. Separately, a former manager of engineering services for the city, Justin Wycoff, pleaded guilty to accepting kickbacks from a local concrete company.
Siegle's embezzlement scheme allegedly spanned a period of 13 years. Siegle is accused of using a credit card of the foundation the parks department oversaw to make purchases for her personal use and caused numerous transfers to be made to her personal bank and credit card accounts from the foundation and city funds. Siegle allegedly concealed her scheme by creating fraudulent bank statements. The 51-year old Siegle faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of wire fraud.
Wycoff, who was responsible for bidding and awarding contracts for public works projects, admitted he solicited and accepted substantial cash bribes and kickbacks from Roger Hardin and Zach Hardin, owners of Reliable Concrete and Construction Company. In exchange for the favors, Wycoff assisted the Hardins in obtaining over $800,000 in construction contracts over a several year period. In some cases, Wycoff never bothered to obtain bids from other companies. In other cases, Wycoff approved payments of about $300,000 to the Hardins for work that was never performed. Wycoff and the Hardins took steps to conceal their scheme according to the U.S. Attorney's Office by creating false bid proposals after the fact. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Wycoff could face a prison term of 51 to 63 months. He will also be ordered to make restitution of more than $446,000.
These mostly arise because of lousy accounting systems.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sorry performance in The Southern District of Indiana! They get the Bloomington case as feds, something they wouldn't turn over to The State as minor?
ReplyDeleteYet they bypass The Regional Operations Center corruption, that cost Millions, stinks to high heaven....Mayor refuses to surrender documents, Straub shreds documents, quick transfer of deed, Chicago influence....was there nepotism as well? And how many council members were "greased?"
Nope, The Southern District of Indiana (under Joe Hogsett) never brought charges.
-Oh, and Brizzi's #2 & another attorney took the fall, but Brizzi skates.
Sniff, sniff, something stinks!
If you're a low-level government till-dipper within 100 miles of Indianapolis, watch out. The U.S. Attorney needs to show some level of activity, but they won't go after any of the real crimes, so they're going to make a big show of prosecuting the little fish.
ReplyDeleteEither come up with a scheme to steal millions, or billions, or keep your hands in your pockets.
The government sponsored bunco in Marion and Hamilton counties gets their "Stay Out of Jail Free" cards.
ReplyDelete(ROC, Grand Park, Justice Center, etc.)