Thursday, October 3, 2024 9:28PMFederal prosecutors have announced charges against a construction company CEO and foreperson tasked with replacing lead pipes in Newark.
"As our complaint alleges, Michael Sawyer and Latronia Sanders worked for a company hired by the city of Newark to replace lead pipes, but instead, they intentionally left lead pipes in the ground," U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said. "By causing misleading photographs and verification forms to be submitted, Sawyer and Sanders concealed that they intentionally did not replace lead pipes and defrauded Newark by collecting payment for work they did not properly perform.
"At several sites, Sawyer and Sanders deliberately instructed workers to leave lead pipes in the ground and then took steps to deceive Newark and others so that they would not find out that lead remained," Sellinger said.