Date
Former Employee of Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project Contractor Pleaded Guilty to Bank Fraud
On July 21, 2022, Daniel Maquindang, a former employee of Shimmick Construction Co., Inc. (Shimmick), pleaded guilty to five counts of bank fraud in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Shimmick was one of the prime contractors on the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project, which was partially funded by the Federal Highway Administration. The Gerald Desmond Bridge is a major access point to the Port of Long Beach from downtown Long Beach and the surrounding communities. Maquindang, who worked in the equipment department, devised a fraud scheme that involved starting several companies and Square accounts, which allowed for mobile point-of-sale purchases. Maquindang then used Shimmick's credit cards to make fraudulent charges on behalf of the companies, which were deposited into the Square accounts. The funds were then were transferred into Maquindang’s personal bank account.
DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service.