Investigations

On August 8, Marino Brothers Inc. of Peabody, Massachusetts, and its president, Robert Marino, were convicted by a state jury in New Britain, Connecticut, of two counts each of conspiracy to commit bid–rigging. Marino and his company bribed Connecticut state employees with gifts and colluding with a former Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) maintenance manager to make Marino the sole contractor on an approximately $4 million contract to repair cracks on Connecticut highways between 1997 and 2004. The contract in question received Federal funds. An OIG investigation disclosed that ConnDOT’s maintenance division routinely circumvented the normal bidding process to award contracts to the company. A state grand jury indicted Marino and his company in January 2006, along with five ConnDOT employees. One state employee previously pleaded guilty; another was acquitted following trial; the remainder are awaiting trial. In July 2005, FHWA required ConnDOT to reimburse $6.9 million in funding for inadequately justifying sole source procurements. Sentencing is set for October 2.

Note: Indictments, informations, and criminal complaints are only accusations by the government, all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.