An Indian-origin man named Bhaskar Patel has been found guilty of taking USD 2.5 million in bribes and kickbacks from companies seeking contracts to work on energy saving projects in the US government buildings, according to a media report.
The 67-year-old from Windermere, Florida, was serving as a senior project manager for Schneider Electric Building Americas when he received the bribes and kickbacks, reported VT Digger, a Vermont news portal.
At Schneider Electric Building Americas, Patel was involved in obtaining bids from subcontractors and recommending who would be awarded a contract.
Patel has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rutland to two felony charges, each carrying maximum penalties of 10 years in prison. The sentencing hearing will be done on December 7.
Patel's scheme was unearthed after law enforcement received information that he had altered and falsified a bid document submitted to Schneider Electric by a Vermont subcontractor bidding for work on an energy savings project at the White River Junction VA facility, court records revealed.
Assistant US Attorney Abigail Averbach, a prosecutor in the case, said charges against other individuals involved in the case are possible, however she did not reveal who these people could be.
It is possible his children could be charged, as in some cases Patel directed those paying him to write checks to his adult son and daughter, who have been identified only as "JP" and "FP" in court documents.
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