Summary

James R. Sabatine, owner of Hardrives Paving & Construction, Inc., Youngstown, OH, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Cleveland, to 5 months in jail, 2 years’ supervised release, $18,832 in restitution, and a $7,700 fine on racketeering charges, including bribery and mail fraud. Sabatine pleaded guilty in August 2001 to bribing Mahoning County, Ohio, officials in order to win asphalt paving contracts. He also admitted to submitting fraudulent invoices for asphalt that was never applied. Together with Hardrives foreman Christ Minerd, Sabatine conspired with Renee Smith, owner of Tone Crack Seal & Supply, of Youngstown, in a scheme where Tone Crack served as the minority front company through which Hardrives won contracts to do work. Earlier this month, Minerd was ordered to pay $8,750 in restitution and spend 1 year on probation, and Smith was sentenced to 5 months in jail, 2 years’ supervised release, and a $400 fine. OIG investigated the case with the FBI and the Department of Labor OIG.