US: DOJ announces new guilty verdict for environmental fund bid-rigger

The US Department of Justice announced that a former project member for a prime contractor in New Jersey was found guilty of a conspiracy spanning seven years that included bid-rigging with other subcontractors in the state, a fraud amounting to about $1.5 million at two Environmental Protection Agency Superfund sites.

According to a press release, the DOJ says that Monday’s conviction of Gordon D. McDonald in New Jersey now brings the total of guilty pleas in the investigation to eight individuals and three companies.

The DOJ says the scheme occurred between December 2000 until about April 2007.

In a statement, DOJ Assistant Attorney General at the Antitrust Division Bill Baer said the jury’s conviction “sends a clear message that corrupt purchasing officials will be held accountable” for fraudulent schemes found to “undermine the government’s competitive contracting practices.”

The press release says McDonald and co-conspirators colluded to rig bids and accept kickbacks from sub-contractors to obtain sub-contracts at EPA Superfund sites.

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