BOSTON – A brazen bribery and kickback scheme has landed a Danvers man in hot water. Jose Avila, 64, was arrested today and charged in connection with his role in a conspiracy to defraud a large facilities services company with offices in the Greater Boston area.
According to the indictment, Avila provided bribes and kickbacks to Senior Director of Operations Lou Amaral, who was previously convicted for his role in the scheme. It is alleged that between September 2013 and May 2014, Avila steered lucrative temporary labor contracts to his employer in exchange for the bribes and kickbacks.
The temporary labor company falsely billed the facilities services company for gift cards which Avila provided to Amaral and others, further complicating the scheme. In July 2018, Amaral pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and tax evasion, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 9, 2018.
The charges against Avila provide for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston Special Agent in Charge Kristina O’Connell, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector in Charge Joseph W. Cronin made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Rosen of Lelling’s Economic Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Avila was arrested this morning and will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell today.
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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