A construction company CEO and a vendor hired by the city of Newark to replace lead pipes across the city were arrested and charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for alleged fraud in the city’s vaunted replacement program.
The department alleged Michael Sawyer, 57, of Burlington and Latronia Sanders, 55, of Roselle, intentionally left lead service lines in the ground, concealed that fact from the city’s administration, and defrauded the city by collecting payment for work they did not perform.
“These defendants allegedly undercut Newark’s lead service line replacement project that sought removal of all lead lines throughout the city,” said Tyler Amon, the federal special agent in charge.“Violators who employ deception to compromise the integrity of important public drinking water-related projects will be criminally investigated and held to account.”
In March 2019, Newark announced ambitious plans to replace tens of thousands of lead service lines throughout the city after high lead levels were found in drinking water. Earlier this year, Newark and state environmental officials launched an investigation into faulty work in that program.
The latest complaint accused the pair of defrauding the city by submitting falsified documents and pictures to make it appear they replaced the water lines. Both are charged for their roles in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud and appeared in court on Thursday before a federal judge in Newark.
