Delaware Minister Convicted of Stealing $150,000 Transportation Grant

Office of Inspector General

Title:	Delaware Minister Convicted of Stealing $150,000 Transportation Grant
Date:	April 24, 2002
Type:	Investigation
Summary:	Reverend Lawrence Wright of Wilmington, DE, was convicted by a U.S. District Court judge in Wilmington, of conspiracy, theft of funds, money laundering, false statements, and bribery related to a $150,000 state grant his church won for public transportation projects. Wright kept most of the money, but used $60,000 to bribe a local politician, now deceased, to help win the grant. The church received $10,000 of the designated funds. In Delaware, FHWA funds 25 percent of such transportation enhancement projects when matched with suburban street funds. Wright is scheduled to be sentenced in August. OIG investigated the case jointly with the FBI.