Investigations

On July 12, 2021, based on a conviction in February 2017, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) debarred Houston, Texas-based company World Corporation, Inc. (WCI) and its owner Shonda Renee Stubblefield, also known as Shonda McGowan, from doing business with the Government. In May 2017, FHWA had suspended Stubblefield and WCI based on the February 2017 indictment. This indictment charged Stubblefield with theft of public money, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft in a scheme to receive over $125,000 in Federal funds through FHWA’s Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Program (CMAQ). CMAQ provides funds to help public entities reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. Stubblefield falsely and fraudulently represented to the Houston Galveston Area Council that WCI had hundreds of employees participating in a telework program designed to reduce air pollution.

 

FHWA made the debarments retroactive to the date of suspension until Stubblefield's scheduled prison release date of April 6, 2023.