TROY, MI – A Macomb County engineering contractor is facing federal charges for allegedly greasing palms in Washington Township. Paulin Modi, 48, of Troy, was charged today with conspiracy to commit bribery related to public contracts, according to Acting United States Attorney Daniel L. Lemisch.
The feds allege Modi wasn’t shy about handing over cash. Back in May of 2014, he allegedly slipped a Washington Township official a cool $1,000 in exchange for favorable treatment on a contract. But it didn’t stop there. Between June and October of the same year, Modi is accused of playing middleman, helping another contractor funnel a $2,000 bribe to the same official. This isn’t some backroom deal gone wrong – it’s a blatant attempt to undermine public trust.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Detroit Field Offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. Special Agent in Charge David P. Gelios (FBI) and Manny Muriel (IRS) stood alongside Lemisch in announcing the charges. But the breakthrough apparently came from within the township itself.
Washington Township Supervisor Daniel O’Leary deserves a nod here. He’s the one who initially flagged the suspicious activity to federal authorities and has been cooperating with the investigation since day one. O’Leary’s willingness to come forward is rare in these cases and likely crucial to building a solid case against Modi.
This case is just one piece of a larger corruption probe currently underway in Macomb County. The government isn’t releasing details on other potential targets, but it’s clear they’re digging deep into potential wrongdoing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Gardey and R. Michael Bullotta are leading the prosecution. If convicted, Modi faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in the slammer and a $250,000 fine.
Let’s be clear: an information is *not* a conviction. Modi is presumed innocent until proven guilty. It’s up to the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. But the allegations paint a disturbing picture of a contractor willing to break the law to secure public works contracts. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds.
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Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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