Three MassDOT Employees Indicted in Connection with Illegally Awarding State Contracts
Posted by jcashmanThree employees, including the Director of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Worcester Office, have been indicted in connection with conspiring to illegally award lucrative state snow and ice removal contracts to a family friend in order to hide the financial interest of two of those state employees, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced Thursday.
“We allege that these defendants undermined the integrity of the bidding process by scheming to illegally award contracts based on their own financial interests,” AG Coakley said. “Contracts should be awarded fairly to those who best meet the criteria of review.”
A Statewide Grand Jury returned indictments against Thomas Waruzila, the former District 3 Highway Director (DHD) for the Highway Division of the MassDOT, Dean Gleason, the MassDOT Snow and Ice Engineer for District 3, his brother Anthony Gleason, a MassDOT Civil Engineer for District 3, and Quang T. Do, a family friend. The defendants are charged as follows:
Thomas Waruzila, age 60, of Worcester
- Conflict of Interest (4 counts)
- Procurement Fraud (3 counts)
- Obstruction of Justice
- Conspiracy to Commit Procurement Fraud
Dean Gleason, age 42, of West Boylston
- Conflict of Interest (3 counts)
- Obstruction of Justice
- Conspiracy to Commit Procurement Fraud
Anthony Gleason, age 36, of Worcester
- Procurement Fraud (3 counts)
- Obstruction of Justice
- Conspiracy to Commit Procurement Fraud
Quang T. Do, age 43, of Worcester
- Procurement Fraud (3 counts)
- Obstruction of Justice
- Conspiracy to Commit Procurement Fraud
The AG’s Public Integrity Division began an investigation into the defendants’ activities after the matter had been referred by MassDOT in the fall of 2010. Authorities allege that in September 2009, Quang T. Do was awarded a lucrative Snow & Ice Removal contract for his front-end loader that was financially beneficial to co-defendants Thomas Waruzila and Anthony Gleason.
MassDOT contracts with outside contractors or vendors who own the appropriate equipment to clear the Commonwealth’s roads. When a storm occurs, the contractors’ equipment is dispatched to a location called a “pit,” a MassDOT location where the salt, sand, and other materials needed to clear the roads are stored and where the trucks come for refills.
Investigators discovered that prior to the start of the winter season in 2009-2010, the District designated one of the snow and ice pits located in Littleton as a full-time pit. That action opened up a new slot for a privately contracted front-end loader. Authorities allege that Waruzila and Anthony Gleason obtained a front-end loader in the name of Quang T. Do for the purpose of receiving the new contract. Do’s name was allegedly used to hide the financial interest of these two MassDOT employees. Both Waruzila and Dean Gleason then awarded Do the contract despite the timely bid of a more senior MassDOT contractor.
During the relevant time period the responsibilities for snow and ice removal, including the awarding of positions, fell to Dean Gleason, the snow and ice engineer for District 3. From approximately 2000-2011, Waruzila was the DHD for District 3 in MassDOT’s Highway Division which oversees the maintenance, repair, and construction of the Commonwealth’s roads, bridges, and tunnels. As DHD, Waruzila oversaw the entire operation of District 3 in Worcester.
Authorities later discovered that Waruzila and Anthony Gleason were also allegedly involved in obtaining another truck and calcium tank in the name of Quang T. Do. That equipment was likewise awarded a contract in District 3 for snow and ice removal during the winter season of 2010-2011.
A Statewide Grand Jury returned indictments against all four men late yesterday. They are expected to be arraigned in Worcester Superior Court at a later date.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Eileen O’Brien, Senior Counsel in the AG’s Criminal Bureau, and it is being investigated by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office. Assistance was also provided by MassDOT.
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