Investigations
FTA Suspends Former Transportation Supervisor
On April 17, 2017, FTA suspended William Popkave, former transportation supervisor for the Rockland County, New York, Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), from Federal contracting, pending the outcome of criminal proceedings.
On January 24, 2017, Popkave pleaded guilty in US District Court, White Plains, New York, to a five-count felony information. He was charged with honest services mail fraud conspiracy, theft and bribery concerning Federal funds, and obstruction of justice.
Popkave had been responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the Rockland BOCES’ bus fleet. Beginning in or about 2009, he was instrumental in causing Rockland BOCES to utilize Brega D.O.T. Maintenance Corp. (Brega DOT) to service and maintain its bus fleet, including Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration-required preventive maintenance. Thereafter, Popkave began sending personal vehicles, including those belonging to friends and family, to Brega DOT for maintenance, knowing that he would not be required to pay for such services. These “free” services amounted to as much as $47,000. Popkave also conspired with the owner of Brega DOT to create bogus invoices to make it appear that Rockland BOCES’ buses received preventive maintenance services from Brega DOT, when in fact they had not.
DOT-OIG conducted this investigation with the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office and the FBI.
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