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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
TAMPA DIVISION |
FILED
10 DEC -9 PM 3:23
CLERK, U.S. DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
TAMPA, FLORIDA
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
v.
ROBERT L. WILLIAMS,
LLOYD WHANN, and
M.M. PARRISH CONSTRUCTION CO.
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FILED December 9, 2010
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| CASE NO. |
8:10-CR-518-RAL-AEP
18 U.S.C. § 371
18 U.S.C. § 666
18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C)(Forfeiture)
28 U.S.C. § 2461(c)(Forfeiture) |
INDICTMENT
The Grand Jury charges:
COUNT ONE
(18 U.S.C. § 371 - Conspiracy to Commit Bribery)
A. Introduction
At times material to this Indictment:
1. Polk County, Florida ("Polk County") was a political subdivision within the
Middle District of Florida. The Polk County School District was among the largest in
Florida, serving more than 90,000 students in grades K-12, and thousands of adults
through technical and adult school programs. Polk County was able to negotiate and
enter into contracts for school construction and school repairs. Polk County received
more than $10,000 in assistance from the United States government each year relevant
to this indictment.
2. The School Board of Polk County was an agency of Polk County that
administered the Polk County School District. The School Board of Polk County was
managed by a Superintendent and, among others, by an Assistant Superintendent of
Facilities and Operations. The Assistant Superintendent of Facilities and Operations
was responsible for developing long-range plans for facilities; planning; selecting and
acquiring proper school sites; determining capacity, utilization, and educational
adequacy of existing facilities; and constructing quality school buildings.
3. Defendant ROBERT L. WILLIAMS was employed by Polk County as the
Assistant Superintendent for Facilities and Operations with the Polk County School
Board. In that capacity, Defendant WILLIAMS was in a position to influence,
recommend, and otherwise be involved in the process of determining whether the
School Board would engage in commercial transactions with construction companies
and subcontractors seeking to engage in commercial transactions with the School
Board of Polk County. WILLIAMS owned a house and resided in Winter Haven,
Florida.
4. Defendant M.M. PARRISH CONSTRUCTION CO. ("PARRISH") was a
Florida Corporation. During the time period relevant to this Indictment, PARRISH received more than $100 million worth of business as a "Construction Manager at Risk"
("CM") from the School Board of Polk County.
5. Defendant LLOYD WHANN was the Executive Vice President and one of
the principal owners of PARRISH.
B. The Conspiracy
6. From in or about December 2004, and continuing through at least January
2009, the exact dates being unknown to the Grand Jury, within the Middle District of
Florida and elsewhere,
ROBERT L. WILLIAMS,
LLOYD WHANN, and
M.M. PARRISH CONSTRUCTION CO.,
defendants herein, did knowingly and willfully combine, conspire, and agree with each
other and with others, both known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit offenses
against the United States, to wit:
- to corruptly give, offer, and agree to give anything of value to any
person, with intent to influence and reward an agent of county government, which
county government received Federal assistance in excess of $10,000 in a one-year
period, in connection with any business, transaction, or series of transactions of such
county government involving anything of value of $5,000 or more, in violation of Title
18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(2); and
- being an agent of a county government, which county government
received Federal assistance in excess of $10,000 in a one-year period, to corruptly
solicit and demand for the benefit of any person, and accept and agree to accept,
anything of value from any person, intending to be influenced and rewarded in
connection with any business, transaction, or series of transactions of such county government involving anything of value of $5,000 or more, in violation of Title 18, United
States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(B).
C. The Objects of the Conspiracy
7 a) It was an object of the conspiracy for Defendant WILLIAMS, the
School Board of Polk County Assistant Superintendent responsible for supervising and
managing school construction, modification, and repair, to benefit himself by corruptly soliciting and accepting things of value with the intent of being influenced and rewarded
for supporting the business interests of defendants WHANN and PARRISH in
connection with the School Board of Polk County construction contracting program.
b.) It was further an object of the conspiracy for defendants WHANN and
PARRISH, and others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to corruptly give, offer,
and agree to give things of value to Defendant WILLIAMS with the intent of influencing and rewarding WILLIAMS for his support of their business interests in connection with
the School Board of Polk County construction contracting program.
D. Manner and Means of the Conspiracy
8. It was part of the conspiracy that Defendant WILLIAMS, while he was
School Board of Polk County Assistant Superintendent responsible for supervising and
managing school construction, modification, and repair, would and did corruptly solicit and accept things of value from PARRISH and WHANN, including: a) construction and
remodeling worth approximately $20,000 during 2006; b) construction and remodeling
worth approximately $20,000 in 2008; and c) vacation trips and other things of value
totaling approximately $14,000.
9. It was further part of the conspiracy that Defendants WHANN and PARRISH would and did corruptly offer, give, and agree to give things of value to
WILLIAMS, including: a) construction and remodeling worth approximately $20,000
during 2006; b) construction and remodeling worth approximately $20,000 in 2008; and
c) vacation trips and other things of value totaling approximately $14,000, while
WILLIAMS was employed by the School Board of Polk County.
10. It was further part of the conspiracy that Defendant WILLIAMS would and
did corruptly exercise influence and extend favorable treatment to Defendant
PARRISH, among others, in conjunction with school construction, modification, and
repair in the Polk County school system in exchange for the many things of value given
by Defendants WHANN and PARRISH.
11. It was further part of the conspiracy that conspirators would and did create
records, perform acts and make statements to hide and conceal the purposes of and
the acts committed in furtherance thereof.
E. Overt Acts
12. In furtherance of the conspiracy and to effectuate the objectives thereof,
the following overt acts, among others, were committed in the Middle District of Florida
and elsewhere.
- In or about December 2004, Defendant PARRISH gave and
Defendant WILLIAMS accepted a Beretta, Pietro S.P.A. Model 686 shotgun with an
approximate value of $2,000.
- In or about April 2006, Defendant WILLIAMS solicited Defendant
WHANN, who was acting on behalf of Defendant PARRISH, to come to WILLIAMS'
house in Winter Haven, Florida, to have Defendant PARRISH perform renovation and
repairs for the benefit of Defendant WILLIAMS.
- In or about April 2006, Defendant WHANN directed Robert Morris,
an agent of Defendant PARRISH, to supervise and perform renovation and repairs at
WILLIAMS' house in Winter Haven, Florida, for the benefit of Defendant WILLIAMS.
- In or about April 2006, Defendants WHANN and PARRISH caused
Spec Systems to perform painting services at WILLIAMS' house in Winter Haven,
Florida, with an approximate value of $256, for the benefit of Defendant WILLIAMS.
- In or about July and August 2006, Defendants WHANN and
PARRISH caused the purchase of construction materials and supplies at Home Depot
for installation at WILLIAMS' house in Winter Haven, Florida, with an approximate value
of $1,000, for the benefit of Defendant WILLIAMS.
- In or about August 2006, Defendants WHANN and PARRISH
caused Parker Glass to provide windows for installation at Defendant WILLIAMS'
house, with an approximate value of $253, for the benefit of Defendant WILLIAMS.
- In or about July and August 2006, Defendants WHANN and
PARRISH caused Quality Plumbing, Inc., to provide plumbing services and fixtures at
Defendant WILLIAMS' house, with an approximate value of $6,532, for the benefit of
Defendant WILLIAMS.
- In or about August 2006, Defendants WHANN and PARRISH
caused Ceramic & Stone, Inc., to provide tile installation and materials at Defendant
WILLIAMS' house, with an approximate value of $2,990, for the benefit of Defendant
WILLIAMS.
- In or about August 2006, Defendants WHANN and PARRISH
caused B.L. Smith Electrical, Inc., to provide electrical services and materials at
Defendant WILLIAMS' house, with an approximate value of $833, for the benefit of
Defendant WILLIAMS.
- In or about July through September 2006, Defendants WHANN
and PARRISH caused PARRISH'S agent, Robert Morris, to supervise and perform
construction work at Defendant WILLIAMS' house, with an approximate value of
$6,000, for the benefit of Defendant WILLIAMS.
- In or about July through September 2006, Defendants WHANN
and PARRISH caused employees of Defendant PARRISH to perform renovations and
repairs at Defendant WILLIAMS' house, with an approximate value of $1,800, for the
benefit of Defendant WILLIAMS.
- In or about November 2006, Defendant PARRISH provided and
Defendant WILLIAMS accepted a trip to the Thunderstik Lodge in South Dakota, with
an approximate value of $3,500, for the benefit of Defendant WILLIAMS.
- On or about October 23, 2007, Defendant WHANN executed an
"application for payment" to Defendant WILLIAMS, in the amount of $925 in an effort to conceal the true amount of the things of value given to Defendant WILLIAMS in
conjunction with the 2006 repair and renovation project.
- On or about October 26, 2007, Defendant WILLIAMS paid
Defendant PARRISH $925 in an effort to conceal the true amount of the things of value
given to Defendant WILLIAMS in conjunction with the 2006 repair and renovation
project.
- In or about February 2008, Defendants WHANN and PARRISH
provided a trip to the Gilchrist Club with an approximate value of $2,000, for the benefit
of Defendant WILLIAMS.
- On or about April 18, 2008, Defendant WILLIAMS falsely
represented to School Board officials that construction on a middle school construction
project on which Defendant MM Parrish Construction Co. had been selected as the
Construction Manager at Risk, was too far along in the process of construction to
cancel the project.
- In or about July 2008, Defendants WHANN and PARRISH caused
the purchase of construction materials for Defendant WILLIAMS' house, with an
approximate value of $600, for the benefit of Defendant WILLIAMS.
- In or about July 2008, Defendants WHANN and PARRISH caused
Randy Dowd Plumbing Services, Inc., to supply plumbing services and fixtures at
Defendant WILLIAMS' house, with an approximate value of $8,810, for the benefit of
Defendant WILLIAMS.
- In or about July 2008, Defendants WHANN and PARRISH caused
B.L. Smith, Inc., to provide electrical services and materials at Defendant WILLIAMS'
house, with an approximate value of $1,581, for the benefit of Defendant WILLIAMS.
- In or about July 2008, Defendants WHANN and PARRISH caused
Ceramic & Stone, Inc., to provide tile installation and materials at Defendant
WILLIAMS' house, with an approximate value of $3,138, for the benefit of Defendant
WILLIAMS.
- In or about August 2008, Defendants WHANN and PARRISH
caused Labor Finders to perform labor services in conjunction with construction at
Defendant WILLIAMS' house, with an approximate value of $1,959, for the benefit of
Defendant WILLIAMS.
- In or about July through August 2008, Defendants WHANN and
PARRISH caused PARRISH'S agent, Robert Morris, to supervise and perform
construction work at Defendant WILLIAMS' house, with an approximate value of
$4,000, for the benefit of Defendant WILLIAMS.
- In or about October 2008, Defendant PARRISH paid $2,250 to
Sassy Lady Charters for a trip for the benefit of Defendant WILLIAMS.
- In or about October 2008, Defendants PARRISH and WHANN
provided a week-long condominium stay in the Florida Keys, with an approximate value
of $3,000, for the benefit of Defendant WILLIAMS.
- In or about October 2008, Defendant PARRISH paid approximately
$1,200 in travel and other vacation expenses for the benefit of Defendant WILLIAMS
during WILLIAMS' vacation trip in the Florida Keys.
- On or about November 5, 2008, Defendant WILLIAMS submitted a
School Board agenda item concerning the construction of the BB Middle School.
All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
COUNTS TWO THROUGH EIGHTEEN
(18 U.S.C. § 666, Bribery)
13. The allegations in the Introduction, paragraphs one through five are
incorporated herein by this reference.
14. On or about the dates listed below in each count, in the Middle District of
Florida and elsewhere,
ROBERT L. WILLIAMS,
the defendant, being an agent of county government, which county government
received Federal assistance in excess of $10,000 in a one-year period, did corruptly
solicit and demand for the benefit of any person, and accept and agree to accept,
anything of value from any person, intending to be influenced and rewarded in
connection with any business, transaction, or series of transactions of such government
involving anything of value of $5,000 or more, to wit: Defendant WILLIAMS, being an
employee of the School Board of Polk County, corruptly solicited, accepted, and agreed
to accept the following things of value from Whann and Parrish:
| COUNT |
APPROXIMATE
DATE(S) |
THINGS OF VALUE |
APPROXIMATE
VALUE |
| 2 |
July and August
2006 |
Construction materials and
supplies |
$1,000.00 |
| 3 |
July and August
2006 |
Plumbing services and fixtures |
$6,532.00 |
| 4 |
August 2006 |
Tile material and installation
services |
$2,990.00 |
| 5 |
August 2006 |
Electrical services and
materials |
$833.00 |
| 6 |
July through
September 2006 |
Construction supervision and
services |
$6,000.00 |
| 7 |
July through
September 2006 |
Construction services and labor |
$1,800.00 |
| 8 |
November 2006 |
Trip to Thunderstik Lodge |
$3,500.00 |
| 9 |
February 2008 |
Trip to Gilchrist Club |
$2,000.00 |
| 10 |
July 2008 |
Construction materials and
supplies |
$600.00 |
| 11 |
July 2008 |
Plumbing services and fixtures |
$8,810.00 |
| 12 |
July 2008 |
Electrical services and
materials |
$1,581.00 |
| 13 |
July 2008 |
Tile material and installation
services |
$3,138.00 |
| 14 |
August 2008 |
Labor services
|
$1,959.00 |
| 15 |
July and August
2008 |
Construction supervision and
services |
$4,000.00
|
| 16 |
October 2008 |
Sassy Lady Charters trip |
$2,250.00 |
| 17 |
October 2008 |
Condominium stay in Florida
Keys |
$3,000.00 |
| 18 |
October 2008 |
Travel and vacation expenses |
$1,200.00
|
All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 666(a)(1)(B).
COUNTS NINETEEN THROUGH THIRTY-FIVE
(18 U.S.C. § 666, Bribery)
15. The allegations in the Introduction, paragraphs one through five are
incorporated herein by this reference.
16. On or about the dates listed below in each count, in the Middle District of
Florida and elsewhere,
LLOYD WHANN
and
M. M. PARRISH CONSTRUCTION CO.,
the defendants, did corruptly give, offer, and agree to give anything of value to any
person, with intent to influence and reward an agent of county government, which
county government received Federal assistance in excess of $10,000 in a one-year
period, in connection with any business, transaction, or series of transactions of such
government involving anything of value of $5,000 or more, to wit: Defendants M.M. PARRISH CONSTRUCTION CO. and LLOYD WHANN corruptly offered, gave, and
agreed to give to Robert L. Williams, an employee of the School Board of Polk County:
| COUNT |
APPROXIMATE
DATE(S) |
THINGS OF VALUE |
APPROXIMATE
VALUE |
DEFENDANT |
| 19 |
July and August
2006 |
Construction
materials and
supplies |
$1,000.00 |
LLOYD WHANN and
M.M. PARRISH
CONSTRUCTION CO. |
| 20 |
July and August
2006 |
Plumbing services
and fixtures |
$6,532.00 |
LLOYD WHANN and
M.M. PARRISH
CONSTRUCTION CO. |
| 21 |
August 2006 |
Tile material and
installation services |
$2,990.00 |
LLOYD WHANN and
M.M. PARRISH
CONSTRUCTION CO. |
| 22 |
August 2006 |
Electrical services
and materials |
$833.00 |
LLOYD WHANN and
M.M. PARRISH
CONSTRUCTION CO. |
| 23 |
July through
September 2006 |
Construction
supervision and
services |
$6,000.00 |
LLOYD WHANN and
M.M. PARRISH
CONSTRUCTION CO. |
| 24 |
July through
September 2006 |
Construction
services and labor |
$1,800.00 |
LLOYD WHANN and
M.M. PARRISH
CONSTRUCTION CO. |
| 25 |
November 2006 |
Trip to Thunderstik
Lodge |
$3,500.00 |
M.M. PARRISH
CONSTRUCTION CO. |
| 26 |
February 2008 |
Trip to Gilchrist Club |
$2,000.00 |
LLOYD WHANN and
M.M. PARRISH
CONSTRUCTION CO. |
| 27 |
July 2008 |
Construction
materials and
supplies |
$600.00 |
LLOYD WHANN and
M.M. PARRISH
CONSTRUCTION CO. |
| 28 |
July 2008 |
Plumbing services
and fixtures |
$8,810.00 |
LLOYD WHANN and
M.M. PARRISH
CONSTRUCTION CO. |
| 29 |
July 2008 |
Electrical services
and materials |
$1,581.00 |
LLOYD WHANN and
M.M. PARRISH
CONSTRUCTION CO. |
| 30 |
July 2008 |
Tile material and
installation services |
$3,138.00 |
LLOYD WHANN and
M.M. PARRISH
CONSTRUCTION CO. |
| 31 |
August 2008 |
Labor services |
$1,959.00 |
LLOYD WHANN and
M.M. PARRISH
CONSTRUCTION CO. |
| 32 |
July and August
2008 |
Construction
supervision and
services |
$4,000.00 |
LLOYD WHANN and
M.M. PARRISH
CONSTRUCTION CO. |
| 33 |
October 2008 |
Sassy Lady
Charters trip |
$2,250.00 |
M.M. PARRISH
CONSTRUCTION CO. |
| 34 |
October 2008 |
Condominium stay
in Florida Keys |
$3,000.00 |
LLOYD WHANN and
M.M. PARRISH
CONSTRUCTION CO. |
| 35 |
October 2008 |
Travel and vacation
expenses |
$1,200.00 |
M.M. PARRISH
CONSTRUCTION CO. |
All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 666(a)(2) and 2.
FORFEITURES
17. The allegations contained in Counts One through Thirty-Five, of this
Indictment are hereby realleged and incorporated by reference for the purpose of
alleging forfeitures pursuant to the provisions of Title 18, United States Code, Section
981(a)(1)(C) and Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c).
18. From their engagement in the violations alleged in Counts One through Thirty-Five of this Indictment, the defendants shall forfeit to the United States of
America, pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 981(a)(1)(C) and Title 28,
United States Code, Section 2461(c), all of their interest in any property constituting or
derived from proceeds obtained directly or indirectly as a result of the said violations, representing the amount of proceeds obtained as a result of the conspiracy to commit
bribery for which the defendants are jointly and severally liable and the substantive
counts of bribery for which the defendants are also liable.
19. If any of the property described in paragraph eighteen, as a result of any
act or omission of the defendants:
- cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence;
- has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a third party;
- has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court;
- has been substantially diminished in value; or
- has been commingled with other property which cannot be divided
without difficulty,
the United States of America shall be entitled to forfeiture of substitute property under the provisions of Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(p), as incorporated by Title
28, United States Code, Section 2461(c).
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_______________/s/________________ Foreperson
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ROBERT E. O'NEILL United States Attorney
By:_______________/s/________________
ROBERT T. MONK
Assistant United States Attorney
By:_______________/s/________________
ROBERT T. MONK
Assistant United States Attorney
By:_______________/s/________________
ROBERT A. MOSAKOWSKI
Assistant United States Attorney
Chief, Tampa Division
By:_______________/s/________________
WILLIAM D. DILLON
Trial Attorney
Antitrust Division
By:_______________/s/________________
ROCHELLE BOZMAN
Trial Attorney
Antitrust Division
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