Former Town Of Cortlandt Supervisor And Peekskill Business Owner Indicted For Public Corruption And Fraud Offenses | USAO-SDNY

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), introduced at the moment the unsealing of a seven-count Indictment in White Plains federal court docket charging GLENN GRIFFIN, the proprietor, president, and principal of Griffin’s Landscaping Corporation, in separate bribery and bid rigging schemes, and GRIFFIN and ROBERT DYCKMAN, a former Assistant General Foreman with the Town of Cortlandt, within the bribery scheme by which DYCKMAN allowed GRIFFIN to dump tons of of truckloads of unauthorized supplies at a Cortlandt facility.  GRIFFIN and DYCKMAN had been arrested this morning and will likely be introduced earlier than United States Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause in White Plains federal court docket later at the moment.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated:  “As alleged, Robert Dyckman, a former Town of Cortlandt employee, used his position of trust to enrich himself by allowing Glenn Griffin to dump unauthorized materials at the Town’s facility, which will cost the Town as much as $1.5 million to clean up.  Griffin is also alleged to have defrauded the village of Croton-on-Hudson and the hamlet of Verplanck in a separate bid rigging scheme.  My Office will continue to ensure that corrupt business leaders and public officials will be brought to justice.”

As alleged within the Indictment unsealed at the moment in White Plains federal court docket^[[1]]:

Illegal Dumping Scheme

            From 2018 till February 2020, GRIFFIN and DYCKMAN engaged in an unauthorized dumping scheme.  DYCKMAN gave GRIFFIN and his workers unauthorized entry to Arlo Lane, a Cortlandt facility, to dump tons of of enormous truckloads of unauthorized supplies similar to thick concrete, cement with rebar, massive rocks, and soil.  Based on estimates supplied by third-party distributors, the Town of Cortlandt estimates that it’s going to value between $600,000 to $1.5 million to take away these supplies.

            DYCKMAN typically allowed GRIFFIN and his workers entry to Arlo Lane on Saturdays or after working hours.  To perform the scheme, DYCKMAN would try to clear senior Town of Cortlandt administration away Arlo Lane across the time of the unauthorized dumping.  When DYCKMAN organized for a subordinate Town of Cortlandt employee to work extra time when GRIFFIN was dumping unauthorized masses, DYCKMAN would falsely report the employee’s extra time as having occurred in the course of the week in an effort to conceal the scheme.

            In change for entry to Arlo Lane, GRIFFIN gave DYCKMAN money bribes, firewood, flowers and gardening supplies and made intensive enhancements to DYCKMAN’s house for free of charge.  GRIFFIN additionally gave DYCKMAN a backdated, false bill for DYCKMAN to provide to his insurance coverage firm in assist of a false insurance coverage declare.

Bid-Rigging Scheme

            Between 2015 and 2018, GRIFFIN additionally engaged in a bid-rigging scheme.  GRIFFIN defrauded the village of Croton-on-Hudson, for work on its faculties, and the hamlet of Verplanck, for work at its hearth division.  He made sham, non-competitive, and inflated bids on behalf of entities that GRIFFIN didn’t work for or have authorization to submit bids on behalf of, in order that GRIFFIN can be the low bidder in a pool of purportedly aggressive bids and obtain public cash for work on the initiatives.  Based on these sham, non-competitive, and inflated bids, GRIFFIN was awarded contracts with a mixed worth exceeding $133,000. 

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           A chart containing the costs and most penalties for GRIFFIN, 53, of Cortlandt Manor, New York and DYCKMAN, 51, of Verplanck, New York, are set forth beneath.  The most potential sentences on this case are prescribed by Congress and are supplied right here for informational functions solely, as any sentencing of the defendants will likely be decided by the decide.

            Mr. Williams praised the excellent investigative work of the FBI and the Westchester County Police Department on this investigation.  Mr. Williams additionally thanked the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and the New York City Department of Investigation for his or her help within the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys David R. Felton and James McMahon are accountable for the prosecution.

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