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A former Pennsylvania city manager pleaded guilty to having his staff submit phony bid proposals in order to help his son win a $9,995 contract to paint a nearby school.
Ralph Imbrogno, the former Clairton, PA, city manager, pleaded guilty Thursday (Aug. 9) in federal court to theft from an agency that receives federal funds, news reports relate.
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West Mifflin School District |
| The city manager directed his staff to submit fake bid proposals for painting work at the New Emerson Elementary School in West Mifflin, PA, so that his son could win the contract. |
As of Friday (Aug. 10), charges had not been filed against Imbrogno’s son, Anthony, or his business, Imbrogno Painting, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesperson.
Imbrogno served as city manager for 11 years and was furloughed in June 2010.
Phony Proposals
Prosecutors claim Imbrogno conspired with the former West Mifflin Superintendent Patrick Risha to defraud the school district in October 2009. Risha retired in November 2009 and died in October 2010.
Imbrogno admitted to having his staff submit two fake bids for higher amounts so that his son could submit the lowest of three bids required to paint the New Emerson Elementary School.
Fake bid proposals were submitted on behalf of Farkas Flooring for $10,995 and Yacavace & Planich Painting for $11,250, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
Imbrogno’s plea was for one contract; however, evidence in the case showed there were 10 other contracts awarded to his son between May 2008 and March 2010 that were obtained in the same manner, worth a total of $94,439, Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Bloch told the Post-Gazette.
Imbrogno is scheduled for sentencing Dec. 6 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years and a $250,000 fine.
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