United States Attorney Benjamin Wagner and FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Drew Parenti announced that a federal grand jury indicted Clint Gregory, 48, of Sacramento, Siavash “Mike” Poursartip, 56, and Sara Shirazi, 52, both of Walnut Creek, today, charging them with bribery, bid rigging, and fraud in connection with contracts issued by the California Department of Transportation. As a result of this fraud, Caltrans is alleged to have incurred a loss of more than $1.2 million. Caltrans receives more than $2 billion in federal funds annually.
For more of the press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, click HERE.
Concord, CA
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There’s a big surprise… bureaucratic corruption.
The big question is do they have any links with the city of concord or any officials here! I wouldn;t be surprised …
First?
Open carry? Olive Garden? Helen Allen?
I just want the money back. They almost always get some jail time, but the money needs to come back.
I heard the FBI was looking into BART purchasing several years ago – something about problems with competitive bidding (or the lack thereof). It might be a good time for this new task force to take another look.
I also think the Government should set up training programs for agencies or companies that award contracts for goods or services (financed with public funds) or that bid on those contracts and provide goods or services. If the honest employees know what to look for, how to blow the whistle, and how to collect that finders’ fee, we’ll see a lot more of these fraud cases exposed (and probably at a fraction of the cost associated with these sting operations).
To late they already spent it on a nice Glock, a dinner at the nearest Olive Garden and for campaign contributions for Helen Allen!
Is this the same taskforce that raided Seeno? Never could find a followup on that story.
1.2 million? that’s chump change compared to these idiots, Sam and Charles Wyly, Dallas billionaire investors known for their support of conservative candidates and causes, made $550 million in undisclosed profits through 13 years of insider trading, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission which filed a lawsuit on Thursday. I hope that more of these bastards get caught.
“I hope that more of these bastards get caught.”
Now lets not bring their mother’s choice of sperm donors into this.
Yeah, the clever Wyly boys probably helped some real DoDo birds get elected with their offshore agenda. This is an example of why the SEC needs some privacy to do their investigations without tipping their hand.
Free them! Now is not the time to pinch pennies!
So, crooks that support liberal candidates and causes are not as crooked?
There’s always someone who feels the need to put a political spin on everything.
…and there’s always someone jumping on for the ride.
I bet one was WC friend. Remember that guy.
This drives me so crazy. We also see in the news that the Texas Rangers may be auctioned. We all remember who owned / ran the Rangers the same President that ran and S&L into the ground and cost tax payers millions. Now the rangers are going to default to the feds, state, city … and A-Rod. Just another reason I will not listen to the Tea Party until they admit their party has just as much or more fiscal mis management than the current one in office. We need a clean slate. I always tell my tea party friends to give me the case. Then I ask them to just answer one question that I need to get by before I can get on their band wagon. When did the current crisis start (the sub prime mess). Idea to allow Banks, Insurers and Investment house to merge – suggested & drafted during the Regan Administration, Sponsored by a Texas Republican, Approved during the Clinton Administration with a Republican congress. Overseen (or lack of oversight) during the Bush Administration with a Republican President and Congress. The current bunch of dimwits were not in control when we were all getting screwed – they are just doing a bad job of cleaning up the mess. I would never vote to put the party that caused this mess back into control. At least we are starting to prosecute some of these crooks now.
Change the name of this thread to Talk about Politics.
More affluent towns like Walnut Creek have MORE white collar crooks, and FEWER Pit Bulls. On that note: it would be nice to see “Jazzie” (the Pit Bull in the right-hand column) adopted by someone from Walnut Creek. Jazzie would probably get fed better dog food in Walnut Creek, than she would in, say . . .Concord. You would NEED to feed her well to keep her contented–she doesn’t look too friendly.
Regarding the housing crisis: it started with the Democrats–and Barney Frank’s “arm twisting” bank legislation: which enabled people who couldn’t afford mortgages to get NINJA (no income/no jobs or assets) loans. The Democrats like to enact legislation that basically bribes people to vote for them. The Democrats are doing all they can to increase their voting blocs (shoving ObamaCare down people’s throats, ignoring Black Panther voter intimidation, suing Arizona and using the SEIU to picket them, etc).
#14: Yes, it is nice that we have a government that will prosecute these high-rolling crooks rather than enable them as past administrations have done. I highly recommend that people learn about the Savings & Loan scandal. And while you’re reading history, also read the story about the Bank of Credit & Commerce International (BCCI – aka: Bank of Crooks & Criminals International), which was started in the 1970′s by a Pakistani banker: that tale reads like a precursor to all the sordid Wall Street/political shenanigans of the last decade. It includes corrupt international bankers, politicians (from both political parties), high-profile accounting firms… the usual cast of characters for any John Grisham or John La Carre novel.
department of justice seal and heading
Eastern District of California
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lauren Horwood Thursday, July 29, 2010 PHONE: 916-554-2706
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae usacae.edcapress@usdoj.gov
TRIO CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING CALTRANS
Scheme Alleges Bribes, Bid Rigging, and Contracting Fraud
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner and FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Drew Parenti announced that a federal grand jury indicted Clint Gregory, 48, of Sacramento, Siavash “Mike” Poursartip, 56, and Sara Shirazi, 52, both of Walnut Creek, today, charging them with bribery, bid rigging, and fraud in connection with contracts issued by the California Department of Transportation. As a result of this fraud, Caltrans is alleged to have incurred a loss of more than $1.2 million. Caltrans receives more than $2 billion in federal funds annually.
This case is the product of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office with assistance from Caltrans. Assistant United States Attorney Robin R. Taylor is prosecuting the case.
According to the indictment, Gregory was a Senior Transportation Engineer Supervisor for Caltrans District 10 in Stockton. Poursartip and Shirazi operated a company known as Infotek Associates, a California Corporation. Poursartip and Shirazi offered, and Gregory accepted, bribes of money, a Persian rug, a cellular telephone, and other gifts in exchange for being awarded “Minor B” contracts by Caltrans. “Minor B” contracts were those used by Caltrans for projects valued at less than $131,000. Gregory deposited the bribe payments into bank accounts held in the names of business entities he controlled.
The indictment also alleges that the defendants circumvented Caltrans’ competitive bidding process that requires bids from at least two certified vendors before awarding Minor B contracts. Poursartip, Shirazi, Gregory, and others, arranged for third party companies to submit straw bids for Minor B contracts, on which Infotek was bidding. Then they set the bid amount of the straw bids, and Infotek’s bids, to predetermine the “winners.” The straw companies, who performed no work, were paid a commission for their assistance, and this arrangement was not disclosed to Caltrans.
It is alleged that Poursartip submitted false and misleading invoices to Caltrans regarding the work that Infotek and the straw companies performed, and Gregory used his authority at Caltrans to approve payment of these invoices. On one occasion, Gregory requested that Infotek provide him with a fictitious invoice to conceal an unauthorized purchase of airplane parts he made using a Caltrans credit card. Shirazi prepared the invoice that Gregory submitted for reimbursement.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison for the mail fraud offense, up to 10 years in prison for the theft and bribery offenses, up to five years in prison for the conspiracy charge, mandatory restitution, and fines up to twice the value of the victim’s losses.
The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
The charges are only allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This law enforcement action is part of the work being done by President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes. One component of the FFETF is the national Mortgage Fraud Working Group, cochaired by U.S. Attorney Wagner.
For more information on the task force, visit http://www.StopFraud.gov
…yeah.
Cornsnake!
Can’t wait for them to go after Halliburton and Cheney!! He’s a snake in an overstuffed suit…..
Why can’t we do things the old way, when getting stoned had a different meaning.