Investigations

On May 16, 2019, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued a Supplemental Memorandum of Suspension to Atane Engineers, Architects, & Land Surveyors, DPC (Atane). Documents Atane provided to the New York State (NYS) Secretary of State on May 6, 2019, showed that it was a reincarnated company—operating in the same location and doing the same work as HAKS Engineers, Architects, and Land Surveyors, DPC (HAKS). FHWA suspended HAKS on May 1, 2019, and on May 13 HAKS/Atane entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the New York County District Attorney (DANY) that required a forfeiture of $3 million, the ongoing employment of an integrity monitor, and the separation and divestiture of its chief executive officer, Husam Ahmad, and chief financial officer, Shahid Akhtar.

 

DANY indicted the aforementioned individuals and companies on April 18, 2018, after a joint DANY–DOT-OIG investigation found that corruption and fraud was impacting the reconstruction of the Kosciuszko Bridge—funded by FHWA through NYSDOT—as well as various NYS Metropolitan Transportation Authority subway system projects funded by the Federal Transit Administration.

 

Between 2007 and 2016, Ifeanyi Madu, a former manager at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, allegedly leaked confidential information about city contracts to HAKS and other companies in return for gifts, employment opportunities for relatives, and more than $7.5 million in subcontracts to companies owned or operated by his friends or family members.

 

DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with the DANY Construction Fraud Task Force.