Summary

On August 17, 2015, Juan Vazquez, former President of BTB Corporation (BTB), a Puerto Rico based, asphalt products supplier, was debarred by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)  for a period of 3 years. In March 2015, BTB, Vazquez, R&F Asphalt Unlimited, Inc. (R&F Asphalt) and Juan Raul Robles, Operations Manager for R&F Asphalt, entered into a civil settlement agreement with the United States and agreed to pay more than $7 million related to a fraud scheme involving an airport construction project in Puerto Rico.

This investigation was based on a civil qui tam complaint filed by Betteroads Asphalt, LLC. BTB and R&F Asphalt allegedly conspired to defraud the FAA and made false representations in connection with a taxiway rehabilitation project at the Rafael Hernandez International Airport (BQN) in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Falsified certificates of compliance were allegedly submitted by BTB and R&F Asphalt to cover up the fact that they substituted a different asphalt binder than required on the airport taxiway. The project, managed by the Puerto Rico Ports Authority, was paid for with FAA grant funds under the Airport Improvement Program. 

Under the terms of the settlement, BTB and R&F Asphalt agreed to return $3.6 million each to the government. 

Note: Exclusion actions (suspensions and debarments) are frequently for a specific period of time and the System for Award Management "Sam.gov" should be consulted to find whether a company is currently excluded.