WV Highways Scheme: Nichols Faces Tax Charge

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Andrew P. Nichols, 38, of Lesage, West Virginia, is now facing a federal tax charge as investigators continue to untangle a long-running scheme involving the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH). Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen announced the development today, adding another layer to a case already steeped in allegations of corruption and illicit financial dealings.

Nichols is named in a one-count information, charging him with “Conspiracy to Impede the Internal Revenue Service.” Prosecutors allege Nichols conspired with others to obstruct tax collection by the IRS. The timeline of the alleged criminal conduct stretches from 2009 until at least 2011, suggesting a sustained effort to evade scrutiny.

This isn’t Nichols’ first brush with federal charges. He was initially indicted in November 2016, accused of being a key player in a scheme that funneled approximately $1.5 million in WVDOH work to the Dennis Corporation, an engineering consulting firm based in Columbia, South Carolina. The original indictment painted a picture of calculated manipulation of state contracts.

Court documents reveal Nichols formerly held the position of manager for the West Virginia Division of the Dennis Corporation while simultaneously working as an engineering professor – a dual role that allegedly allowed him to expertly manage the financial connections between the firm and a WVDOH employee. The indictment claims he ensured illicit payments were made to this employee, effectively rigging the system to favor Dennis Corporation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod J. Douglas is leading the prosecution. The investigation is a collaborative effort, spearheaded by the U.S. Attorney’s Public Corruption Unit, and includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the West Virginia Commission on Special Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and the West Virginia State Police. The breadth of agencies involved underscores the seriousness of the allegations.

It’s crucial to remember that an indictment is simply an accusation. Nichols, like all defendants in the American justice system, is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. However, the evidence presented thus far suggests a deeply ingrained pattern of corruption within the West Virginia Division of Highways and a deliberate attempt to conceal financial wrongdoing.