Dennis F. Campbell, DBE Fraud, Pennsylvania 2014

The Grimy Times has uncovered a massive DBE fraud scheme in Pennsylvania that has left a trail of deceit and corruption in its wake. Dennis F. Campbell, a 63-year-old former Vice-President in charge of Sales and Marketing for Schuylkill Products, Inc. (SPI), has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for his role in the scam.

Campbell, of Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Sylvia H. Rambo in Harrisburg on February 17, 2014, and ordered to pay $119 million in restitution to the USDOT. He will also serve 2 years supervised release after his prison term.

Campbell pleaded guilty to DBE fraud in 2008 and cooperated with the government's investigation, which led to the conviction of two other former SPI executives, Ernest G. Fink and Joseph W. Nagle. Fink and Nagle are scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.

The DBE fraud scheme, which lasted over 15 years, involved over $136 million in government contracts in Pennsylvania alone. SPI, using Marikina Construction Corporation as a front, operated in several other states in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions. The scheme was uncovered after a lengthy investigation by the USDOT Office of Inspector General.

Campbell's sentence is a clear signal that those who would attempt to subvert USDOT laws and regulations will face severe penalties. The case serves as a warning to prime contractors and subcontractors to avoid engaging in fraudulent DBE activity and to report any suspected DBE fraud to the USDOT-OIG.

The DBE fraud scheme was a complex web of deceit that involved numerous fraudulent steps to conceal the scheme. SPI personnel would often pretend to be Marikina personnel by using Marikina business cards, email addresses, stationery, and signature stamps. They would also use magnetic placards and decals bearing the Marikina logo to cover up SPI's logo on SPI vehicles.

Campbell's case is a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in government contracting. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdpa/pr/two-former-vice-presidents-schuylkill-products-inc