COLUMBUS, Ohio -- An Ohio Department of Transportation garage, which was known for taking contractors on boating trips with strippers, is now facing more controversy.
The claims surfaced six months ago: $11 million in state bids were allegedly obtained through fraud, state workers were allegedly attending fishing trips during work hours and a Christmas party was held at a Columbus strip club.
When Ohio Inspector General Tom Charles released a report in October 2008, detailing a scheme involving a Cleveland-area ODOT office, the chapter was far from over, NBC 4's Mike Bowersock reported.
The IG's office has since discovered a scheme involving at least eight companies which the office claims were rigging bids and getting kickbacks in deals with ODOT.
Dennis Kratochvil, a former facilities manager at the Ohio Department of Transportation's office in Garfield Heights, is believed to have been the instigator of the scheme to steer contracts that was bigger than previously documented.
Kratochvil was one of seven ODOT employees who resigned or were fired last year following a report by the inspector general outlining nearly $11 million in questionable or improper payments to contractors.
Kratochvil kept a banker's box in an attic above a garage filled with ODOT quotes, invoices and other documents containing signatures that were obvious forgeries, the report said.
The records, seized by investigators in December, showed that Kratochvil, who had unilateral authority to make and approve requisitions, steered about $210,900 in ODOT business to companies owned by Solon businessman Philip Marek.
A message seeking comment was left Tuesday at a phone listing for Kratochvil. There was no listing for Marek.
The case was referred to prosecutors for possible criminal charges, as were the latest allegations against Kratochvil, the new report said.
Kratochvil's son, who runs a Cleveland-area plumbing company, is accused of being part of the latest discovered plot.
Ryan Miday, a spokesman for Cuyahoga County prosecutor Bill Mason, said the case remains under investigation. There have been no indictments, he said.
ODOT has instituted or is in the process of making changes to its purchasing process to prevent the kind of bid-rigging outlined in the probe, the new report said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
For additional information, stay with nbc4i.com and NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail us at stories@nbc4i.com.
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement