Trucking Executive Pleads Guilty in DBE Fraud Case

Office of Inspector General

Title:	Trucking Executive Pleads Guilty in DBE Fraud Case
Date:	May 25, 2001
Type:	Investigation
Summary:	J.D. Miller & Sons, Inc., and company vice president John Miller, of Thonotosassa, FL, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Tampa to conspiring to violate Federal and state affirmative action laws designed to promote disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE's). The guilty pleas stem from Federal grand jury indictments in October 2000 charging them with conspiracy to defraud the United States by using false documents and committing mail fraud to make it appear the company was a certified DBE when it was not. As a result of the DBE fraud, the company received $254,000 in FHWA-funded contracts to transport construction materials for the I-4 project in Hillsborough County, Florida, between 1996-1998. DOT-OIG investigated this case with the Florida DOT-OIG and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.