Aug. 10, 2007 — Global Resources Management principals Ashley Andrews, Campbell Malone and Ohanio Harris have landed in the spotlight once again — this time for another fraud and conspiracy scheme, one that centers on a contract awarded for the renovation of Government House on St. Croix.
The three were among a set of six individuals who took part in an operation designed to defraud the government of more than $5 million, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. All six were indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury on wire fraud and conspiracy charges, including conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Other individuals named in the six-count indictment are Curtis Ferguson, Neal Watson and Brian Turnbull, who currently works as a special projects coordinator for the Public Finance Authority (PFA).
Andrews, Ferguson and Malone are also charged with conspiracy to bribe government officials, while Watson is charged with one count of receiving a bribe.
The charges stem from a nearly $8 million contract awarded in 1997 to C&C Construction and C&C Manhattan for renovations to Government House on St. Croix, the release says. Over the course of the project, the six allegedly conspired — with the help of outside officials — to swindle the government out of more than $5 million by executing and approving a number of change orders that raised the contract price to more than $13 million.
"The indictment further alleges that Neal Watson, Brian Turnbull and Ohanio Harris would obtain things of value, including money, in return for … facilitating the approval of the change orders, and the payment of change orders, to the contractor …," the release says.
The six individuals will be arraigned during the next few days. If convicted, the maximum sentence for each defendant is:
— Ashley Andrews: 60 years imprisonment or $3 million fine, or both;
— Neal Watson: 55 years or $2.75 million fine, or both;
— Curtis Ferguson: 50 years or $2.75 million fine, or both;
— Ohanio Harris: 45 years or $2.75 million fine, or both;
— Campbell Malone: 45 years or $2.75 million fine, or both;
— Brian Turnbull: 45 years or $2.75 million fine, or both.
Malone has already been sentenced to four years in prison for his involvement in the Global Resources Management scheme, which stemmed from a $3.6 million contract awarded in 2002 for repairs to the sewage system on St. Croix. (See “Judge Finds ‘Reek of Politics’ in Sewage Contract.” )
Andrews and Harris have not yet been sentenced for their participation in the scheme.
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