Illinois Landscape Company Executive Pleads Guilty to Bribery

The Chicago Tribune reported on Sept. 15 that the former controller and chief operating officer of James Michael Inc., a landscape company in Illinois, recently pleaded guilty to mail and wire fraud in U.S. District Court.

In exchange for a plea bargain, John Kevin Haas testified against Michael Lowecki, owner and CEO of the firm. Haas and Lowecki were charged with giving cash and gifts totaling more than $137,000 to former Chicago Park District Director of Natural Resources, Shirley McMayon. Money for the bribes allegedly came from false invoices submitted to the park district. Lowecki pleaded not guilty to five counts of mail fraud, three counts of bribery and one count of wire fraud. The charges are still pending against Lowecki.

McMayon pleased guilty in Aug. 2005 to one count each of mail fraud and bribery. She agreed to a 34-month prison sentence in exchange for her cooperation with federal prosecutors.

Prosecutors claim that McMayon awarded $8 million in park contracts to James Michael Inc. in exchange for cash and gifts.

Haas left James Michael Inc. in Nov. 2001. Under the terms of the plea agreement Haas will serve two years and seven months in prison, forfeit $350,000 and pay $49,000 in restitution to the Park District.

In his plea agreement statement, Haas stated that he and Lowecki agreed that the company would give McMayon 2 percent of the revenue the company received from the park district.

The allegations against James Michael Inc. and McMayon came about in 2003 during testimony in a civil case in which James Michael Inc. had sued a former employee for stealing money. Testimony obtained by the company?EUR??,,????'???s attorney brought to light checks that were written to McMayon.

Currently, all of the accused are free on bail as the case proceeds.

Source: Chicago Tribune