Contractor admits role in Postal Service bribery scheme
TweetCOLUMBUS – Ronald R. Bassak, and his construction company, Meccon, Inc. admitted in United States District Court today that he and his company paid a U.S. Postal Service contracting officer approximately $100,000 in bribes in order to secure contracts for his company. During the investigation, the contracting officer committed suicide at his Westerville home.
Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Keith L. Bennett, Special Agent in Charge of the Cincinnati Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Elizabeth A. Farcht, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Eastern Area Field Office, (USPS-OIG) announced the pleas entered before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.
Bassak, 52, of Akron, pleaded guilty to one count of misprision of a felony, or withholding information on a crime. He entered a plea on behalf of his company to one count of bribery of a public official. Bassak faces a sentence of up to three years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to one year of supervised release. The company faces a maximum penalty of at least one and up to five years probation and a possible $500,000 fine.
According to a statement of facts read during the plea hearings, special agents of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General interviewed Bassak in June 2009. Bassak said Postal Service contracting officer Ashvin Shah had solicited bribes from him in return for awarding future Postal Service construction contracts to Meccon Inc. Bassak paid Shah approximately $100,000 over four years.
Bassak is the third company owner to plead guilty in connection with the scheme. Jeffrey G. Baker, of Columbia Station, owner of the Cleveland based Margus Company, pleaded guilty in January. He was sentenced to two years probation and fined $10,000. Michael Murray and his company, the Three R Construction Company of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty in April 2010.
Sentencing for Murray and Three R is scheduled for September 3.
Shah committed suicide at his Westerville home in June 2009.
Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by FBI and Postal Service Inspector General special agents, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dale E. Williams Jr., who is prosecuting the case.
August 27th, 2010 19:28
like taking candy from a baby.
August 27th, 2010 22:24
After doing Area Maintenance Technician work for 7 years, I can tell some real stories of what I’ve seen. Management turns over easy, simple work to contractors who charge extraordinary prices. It’s really easy to see how management is taking “paybacks” from contractors to secure work that qualified techs in the postal service can do at far less expense. I’ve even witnessed contractors turn over jobs to a 3rd party,charge it back to the original contractor who in turn tacks on their fee and there you have it, the postal service paid 3 times the cost. It’s rediculous. When I confounted my manager about passing on my work to a contractor, I was quitely taken into an empty room and threatened, (physically and with my job). People may say this happens in all coorperations but I don’t beleive it. Management is robbing career employees in order to line their pockets and I think it goes from the top all the way down to front line managers. If the ploys these crooks where involved in where brought to light and action was taken to remove these dirtbags, the USPS would have more surplus funds than either of our “competitors”. Just calling it as I see it. And, I have seen it.
August 28th, 2010 00:28
HQ hired independent firm to study admin jobs at district and plants. came out of MDO meeting.
August 28th, 2010 00:35
Heard that also, my A/plant manager is trying to get mail from every district for better of service or worse to justify getting “made”.