Investigations

On January 12, 2017, Akram Ahmad was suspended from participating in Federal contracting by FHWA, based on an indictment filed in Hamilton County, New York, in July 2016. He was charged with forgery, possession of a forged instrument, and offering a false instrument for filing.

 

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) bridge inspection program receives Federal funding through FHWA. Ahmad was an employee of an engineering firm that subcontracted to conduct bridge inspections for NYSDOT. When the Gilmantown Road Bridge was inspected in 2012, it was found to have various defects, which were repaired in September 2013. However, in December 2013, Ahmad purportedly conducted another inspection of the bridge and falsified his report, noting the same deficiencies and using much of the same language in the 2012 report. NYSDOT performed an inspection in early 2014 and found that the repairs to the bridge had indeed been made.

 

DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation jointly with the New York State Office of Inspector General with assistance from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department.