People of Ohio v. Quattro

In the first case in nearly three decades involving criminal antitrust charges under Ohio’s Valentine Act, a supplier of traffic control devices pleaded guilty to two felony counts in connection with bids submitted to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). Quattro, Inc. pleaded guilty to one count of entering into an unlawful combination, contract, or agreement with the intent to limit or fix the price and one count of attempting to engage in a pattern of corrupt activity. Quattro submitted multiple quotes from itself and several related companies to meet ODOT’s required number of quotes and give an appearance of competition. Quattro also worked with an unnamed co-conspirator to submit prearranged quotes for traffic control devices. Quattro paid $32,800 in restitution to ODOT and $10,000 to the state, and agreed to continue cooperating with the investigation.

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