Investigations

On November 21, 2017, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) suspended the following individuals and companies from participation in federally funded projects: two Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) supervisors—Anthony “Andy” Willie and Kenneth “Kenny” Duane Adams; and four northern Virginia trucking and snow-removal company owners and their companies–Rolando Alfonso Pineda Moran, Shaheen “Shane” Sariri, John Lee Williamson, Elmer Antonio Mejia, R&P Trucking LLC, AMSC LLC, AMZ Inc., Williamson Home Repairs Inc., DW&J Trucking Inc., DW&E Trucking Inc., and Supreme Landscaping. The suspension resulted from an August 27, 2017, indictment on charges of conspiracy and fraud.

 

The indictment alleged that, beginning in early 2013, Willie and Adams used their official positions as employees at VDOT’s Burke Area Headquarters to enrich themselves. Specifically, they allegedly negotiated bribe agreements with several owners and operators of trucking and snow-removal companies in northern Virginia, including Moran, Sariri, and Williamson. Each agreement stated that in exchange for obtaining snow-removal work, the owners would provide Willie and Adams a percentage or a flat rate of their hourly contracts as cash payments. In addition, Willie and Adams would sign off on the companies’ invoices to VDOT. From the 2013–2014 to the 2015–2016 snow season, Willie and Adams received approximately $140,000 in cash bribes.

 

The indictment also alleged that from 2011 through 2016, Adams conspired with Mejia to negotiate an agreement in which Mejia subcontracted snow-removal work to Adams’ nominee-owned company, Supreme Landscaping. Mejia paid Adams more than $160,000, frequently disguising the money as payment for work allegedly performed by Supreme Landscaping.

 

DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with the FBI, Virginia State Police, and Fairfax County Police Department, with assistance from the VDOT Office of Assurance and Compliance.