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Chicago landscaper admits paying bribes for city work
10 Oct, 2006 LM Direct!CHICAGO — This might not be the way to get those tough government landscaping contracts.
According to an article from the Chicago Sun-Times, the owner of a suburban landscaping company admitted paying bribes to a Chicago Park District official in exchange for millions of dollars worth of city business. He now faces up to five years in prison.
Michael Lowecki, 47, owner of the Mundelein, IL-based landscape company James Michael, Inc. pleaded guilty to the scheme in federal court. He admitted bribing Shirley McMayon, the park district's former director of natural resources, with cash, vacations, car payments and other kickbacks to secure business.
Prosecutors say the scheme occurred between 2000 and 2004.
McMayon pleaded guilty Aug. 31, 2005, to improperly doling out $8 million in landscaping work to Lowecki's company in return for the payoffs.
Former James Michael executive John Kevin Haas pleaded guilty to fraud Sept. 15, 2005, for his role in the scheme, striking a plea deal in exchange for testifying against Lowecki.
More info:
"Chicago-area landscape executive pleads guilty to bribing a Chicago Park District official," Landscape Management Week in Review, Sept. 26, 2005.
"Feds: Bribes unlocked Park coffers," Chicago Sun-Times, Aug. 5, 2005.
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