Brazilian National Charged with Paying Bribes in Exchange for Contracts

BOSTON – A Brazilian national was arrested today and charged in connection with paying bribes to receive contracts for work at a collegiate institution in New York.

Willian Borges, 28, who resides in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was charged in an indictment unsealed today on one count of conspiracy and three counts of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. Borges will make an initial appearance tomorrow in U.S District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

According to the indictment, Borges was a principal of DWD Builders, a general contracting firm, from 2018 to 2019. Floyd Young held positions involving facility maintenance at a New York collegiate institution. It is alleged that Young steered contracts for construction, repair, maintenance, and other work for the collegiate institution to favored contractors, including Borges, who paid him bribes, typically in the amount of 15% of the contract. Borges allegedly paid bribes to Young in cash during face-to-face meetings. In addition, as Borges received payment for work done at the collegiate institution, he paid Young bribes on a periodic basis. Borges also allegedly inflated the amount of the invoices submitted to the collegiate institution in order to be repaid the cost of the bribe payment made to Young. On occasion, Young and Borges arranged for no-work invoices to be submitted to the collegiate institution and then split the payment.

Young pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to receive bribes by agent of organization receiving federal funds, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 1, 2020.

Borges faces a maximum of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss for Conspiracy.  For each of the counts charging him with Receiving Bribes, Borges faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.