Investigations

On March 3, 2020, FAA debarred Douglas Earles and William Pritula, as well as their respective companies, from participating in Federal nonprocurement and procurement transactions.

 

Earles owns North Star Water Management in White Lake, Michigan, and North Star Plumbing, Inc., in Farmington, Michigan. FAA debarred him and his companies for 3 years, starting on September 23, 2019. On that date, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, sentenced Earles to 24 months’ probation, $98,431.04 in restitution, a $5,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment for conspiracy to commit bribery and money laundering.

 

FAA also debarred Pritula and his company, Pritula & Sons Construction, LLC, in Romulus, Michigan, for 3 years. The debarment dates from November 5, 2019, the day the court sentenced Pritula to 24 months’ probation, including 6 months’ home confinement, a $100 special assessment, and $11 million in restitution for participating in a Federal program bribery scheme. The restitution amount is owed jointly and severally with co-conspirator James Warner. A forfeiture judgment for $5,474,132.48, previously entered against Pritula and Warner, will be applied to the total restitution amount.

 

DOT-OIG conducted this investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).