David Wikel, president of Florida-based Therma-Seal Roof Systems, LLC, was charged with providing kickbacks in connection with the $1.7 million dollar federal government subcontract to retrofit the roof of the Ron de Lugo Federal Building in St. Thomas, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced Monday.
According to the information filed in the case, in May through October 2014 Wikel paid more than $200,000 in kickbacks to a senior project manager for the prime contractor on the Ron de Lugo Project, and that person ultimately funneled $85,000 back to Wikel. The information also alleges that Wikel falsely inflated the costs billed under the subcontract in order to cover the kickbacks.
This case is being investigated by the General Services Administration – Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of the Inspector General, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Brooks.
This should wake up the rest of theives collecting money under the table. This is how business is done here in these islands for the past 40-50 years. It starts with liscencing wanting a little something, then officials in government offices wanting a little something. and ending with IRB wanting a little something. Nothing goes into the government money pit. Money is siphoned into the hands of theives and power hungry administrators. Hope they catch them all but I am afraid this is a show and tell demonstration. They just need one high profile case to justify their high salaries. Sad.