Covering Every Angle of Corruption

Former Public Official Pleads Guilty to Accepting a Bribe
U.S. Attorney’s Office (BUFFALO)  -  June 02, 2011
Western District of New York  -  (716) 843-5700

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that James H. Wood, 44, of Delevan, New York, pleaded guilty to accepting a bribe in his official duties before Chief U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant was a former field office supervisor for the Buffalo, New York office of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). In that capacity, Wood took money in exchange for delaying a compliance review/safety audit of a trucking company.  “This crime had the potential to compromise our government’s transportation regulatory system as it relates to the safety of our nation’s highways,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “This office—along with our law enforcement partners—stand ready to thoroughly investigate and prosecute any attempt to affect the integrity of either our nation’s governmental agencies or the well being of its citizens.”  The plea is the result of an investigation by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard W. Kollmar, and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, Investigation Division, under the direction of Ned E. Schwartz, Special Agent in Charge.  Sentencing is scheduled for October 19, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Skretny.

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Executive Director of Bronx Not-for-Profit Corporation Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Mail Fraud
U.S. Attorney’s Office  (NEW YORK CITY)  -  June 03, 2011
Southern District of New York  -  (212) 637-2600

PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the guilty plea of DAVID GRIFFITHS, the executive director of the Neighborhood Enhancement for Training Services, Inc. (“NETS”), a not-for-profit corporation located in the Bronx, New York. GRIFFITHS pled guilty yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge ANDREW J. PECK to one count of mail fraud.  According to the information, the complaint, and statements made in Manhattan federal court yesterday:  From September 13, 2010, up to and including the present, GRIFFITHS, on behalf of NETS, attempted to obtain $400,000 in grant money from a New York State agency under false and fraudulent pretenses. Specifically, in seeking the grant, he falsely represented to the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York that neither NETS nor any of its officers or directors had been the subject of a criminal investigation for the past five years. During the plea, GRIFFITHS admitted that he had actually been interviewed by the FBI about NETS, and, as alleged in the complaint, GRIFFITHS had produced certain documents related to the non profit to the FBI in response to a grand jury subpoena. GRIFFITHS, 65, of White Plains, New York, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gain or loss from the offense. He will be sentenced by Judge HELLERSTEIN on a date to be determined.  Mr. BHARARA praised the investigative work of the FBI.  This case is being prosecuted by the office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant United States Attorney CARRIE H. COHEN is in charge of the prosecution.