Case Details

Year Initiated/Committed

2012

Year Resolved

2012

Lead State

NY

Participating States

Defendant(s)

Joseph Sdao

Offenses

2 counts Combination in Restraint of Trade and competition; 2 counts Bribe Receiving in the 2nd Degree; 1 count Bribe Receiving in the 3rd Degree

Sentence Imposed

12 weekends in jail, five years of probation, $30,000 forfeiture

Case Description

A former project manager for the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation was convicted of accepting more than $20,000 in bribes to rig Bronx playground contracts. Among other counts, the defendant was charged with two counts of Combination in Restraint of Trade and Competition, a violation of the Donnelly Act. According to the indictment, in his official capacity as a Project Manager for the Parks Department, the defendant provided a particular vendor with copies of the engineer’s estimate for two projects, prior to the date sealed and competitive bids were due. The engineer’s estimate is an internal Parks Department document not intended for distribution to bidders before they submit their bids. In exchange, the defendant agreed to accept a percentage of the contract price if that vendor won the contracts. The defendant was sentenced to 12 weekends in jail and five years of probation and ordered to pay forfeiture of $30,000.