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Date: 11-17-2017
Case Style:
United States of America v. Frank DeCarlo
Eastern District of New York Federal Courthouse - Central Islip, New York
Case Number: 17-cr-35
Judge: Arthur D. Spatt
Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (Suffulk County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Burton T. Ryan, Jr. and Madeline O'Connor
Defendant's Attorney: Brian Griffin
Description: Central Islip, NY - Former United States Merchant Marine Academy Employee Sentenced to Nine Months’ Imprisonment for Receiving Bribes - Defendant Accepted Over $50,000 in Bribes from Favored Contractors
Frank DeCarlo, a former supervisory carpenter for the Department of Public Works of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, located in Kings Point, New York, was sentenced by United States District Judge Arthur D. Spatt to nine months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for receiving a bribe as a public official. The Court also imposed a $10,000 fine and a forfeiture order of $48,000 for funds illegally received by DeCarlo as part of the scheme. DeCarlo pleaded guilty on April 20, 2017, in connection with his participation in a scheme to defraud the United States by steering maintenance and repair contracts to favored contractors in exchange for bribes.
Bridget M. Rohde, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Douglas Shoemaker, Regional Special-Agent-in-Charge, United States Department of Transportation, Office of the Inspector General (DOT-OIG) and James Robnett, Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, New York Field Office (IRS-CI), announced the sentence.
According to court filings, between 2003 and 2016 while DeCarlo was employed in the Department of Public Works of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, he solicited and submitted fake bids on contracts he supervised in order to steer the awarding of maintenance and repair contracts to favored contractors who paid him bribes. Using his position, DeCarlo arranged, supervised or effected a majority of construction contracts at the Academy.
“DeCarlo’s solicitation of bribes in exchange for the awarding of government contracts compromised the integrity of the procurement system,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Rohde. “This Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those corrupt public employees who abuse their positions for their own enrichment.”
“The prosecution of Mr. Frank DeCarlo for bribery at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy sends a clear signal that those entrusted with the stewardship of taxpayer dollars will be held responsible for maintaining the highest level of integrity,” stated DOT-OIG Regional Special-Agent-in-Charge Shoemaker. “Accountability is a priority of the Secretary and OIG, and working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we will continue our vigorous efforts to protect the taxpayers’ investment in our nation’s transportation system from fraud, waste, abuse and violations of law.”
“Serving the public is a privilege,” stated IRS CI Special Agent-in-Charge Robnett. “This sentence sends a message to all those who abuse the public trust that investigators for IRS-CI will uncover these schemes and protect taxpayers and the U.S. Treasury.”
The government's case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division.
Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to 9 months in prison, was fined $10,000 and ordered to forfeit $48,000.00.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
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