Platte City Contractor Sentenced in $900,000 Kick-back Scheme

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Platte City, Mo., contractor has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a nearly $900,000 bid-rigging conspiracy that involved several contractors.

Tim Rowland, 45, of Platte City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner on March 30, 2013 to five years of probation and ordered to pay $298,765 in restitution.

On Oct. 19, 2012, Rowland pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Rowland was the owner of ATNJ, a construction company that fulfilled contracts for Aimco Apartment Management. Between November 2004 and May 2009, Rowland conspired to pay approximately $298,765 in kickbacks to co-conspirators Christopher Grimsley, 43, of Overland Park, Kan., and JoDen Napper, 40, of Lenexa, Kan.

Grimsley and Napper were directors of construction for Aimco (and, later, Cres Management) and in charge of procuring bids for renovating apartment complexes. In exchange for these kickbacks, Grimsley and Napper agreed to rig bids in Rowland’s favor without the knowledge of Aimco or Cres Management.

Grimsley was sentenced on March 28, 2011 to 41 months in federal prison without parole and ordered to pay $538,340 in restitution after pleading guilty to mail fraud. Between May 2003 and May 2009 Grimsley accepted approximately $538,340 in kickbacks from various contractors in the Kansas City area. In exchange for these kickbacks, Grimsley agreed to rig bids in favor of the contractors without the knowledge of Aimco.

Napper pleaded guilty to mail fraud and awaits sentencing. Between August 2004 and May 2009 Napper accepted approximately $355,749 in kickbacks from various contractors. In exchange for these kickbacks, Napper agreed to rig bids in favor of the contractors without the knowledge of Cres Management.

In separate but related cases, three more contractors have pleaded guilty to paying bribes in exchange for construction contracts and await sentencing.

Chris Childers, 43, of Olathe, Kan., pleaded guilty on Jan. 15, 2013 to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Childers was the owner of All State Renovations, which fulfilled construction contracts for Cres Management. Between May 2004 and April 2009, Childers conspired to pay approximately $179,570 in kickbacks to Grimsley and Napper. In exchange for these kickbacks, they agreed to rig bids in Childers’s favor without the knowledge of Cres Management.

Tom Villirillo, 49, of Olathe, Kan., pleaded guilty on Jan. 3, 2013 to participating in a conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Villirillo was the owner of Reliable Construction, which fulfilled construction contracts for Cres Management. Between June 2008 and May 2009, Villirillo conspired to pay approximately $105,560 in kickbacks to Grimsley and Napper. In exchange for these kickbacks, they agreed to rig bids in Villirillo’s favor without the knowledge of Cres Management. Among other things, Villirillo used his credit card to pay for hotel accommodations in Las Vegas for Grimsley and his wife in exchange for granting his bids to complete construction work.

Bernie Belcher, 56, of Olathe, Kan., pleaded guilty on Nov. 8, 2012 to participating in a conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Belcher was the owner of All State Roofing, which fulfilled construction contracts for Aimco Apartment Management. Between May 2003 and May 2009, Belcher conspired to pay approximately $201,224 in kickbacks to Grimsley and Napper. In exchange for these kickbacks, they agreed to rig bids in Belcher’s favor without the knowledge of Aimco.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William L. Meiners. They were investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General.