Subcontractor Accused Of Fraud In Cross Westchester Expressway Project

A subcontractor on a Cross Westchester Expressway construction project from 2006 to 2009 has been indicted for fraud in connection with a government program designed to increase the participation of disadvantaged business enterprises in federally-funded public works contracts.

Yona Jimenez, also known as Yona J. Bocchino, president and owner of Global Marine Construction Supply of Roslyn, NY, is accused of certifying that her company supplied 10 percent of the project’s structural steel — $6 million worth — when the material actually came from another company that did not meet requirements of the disadvantaged business program, according to Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

 “The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program serves the entire community, allowing competitive minority- and women-owned businesses to work on public construction projects from which they have historically been shut out,” Bharara said. “The conduct alleged in this case makes a travesty of the DBE Program. Contractors in Westchester County and throughout the Southern District of New York should hear the message that we will not tolerate corruption in our public works.”

Jimenez’s Global Marine Construction Supply is part of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program, but the company that was the true source of the steel was not, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Jimenez has denied the charges against her.

The project had a goal of having 10 percent of the steel coming from a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program. Bharara said Jimenez falsely certified that the project was in compliance with that goal and received payment for 1 percent of the steel.

 “DBE fraud harms the integrity of the DBE program and law-abiding contractors, including many small businesses, by defeating efforts to ensure a level playing field in which all firms can compete fairly for contracts,” said Douglas Shoemaker, regional special agent-in-charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General. “Our agents will continue to work with the Secretary of Transportation, the Administrator of Federal Highways, and our federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial colleagues to expose and shut down DBE fraud schemes that violate the public trust throughout New York and elsewhere.”

Jimenez is charged with mail fraud, and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted.

In addition to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DOT Office of Inspector General, the investigation included the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s Office of the Inspector General, the Metropolitan Transit Authority Office of Inspector General, the New York City Department of Investigation and the New York State Department of Transportation.