Printer Charged With Bribery
Lisa Cross
By Graphic Arts Online Staff -- Graphic Arts Online, October 6, 2008
Printer Daniel Snyder, owner of DRS Printing Services, was arrested and charged for allegedly bribing a purchasing agent at the Pennsylvania's student loan agency. Synder and print buyer Kyle Becker were charged in an ongoing state investigation into alleged bribery and bid manipulation for printing work and supplies at the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency. (PHEAA). Snyder is charged with one count of bribery, a third-degree felony punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
Attorney General Tom Corbett said that between 2005 and 2007 Becker allegedly accepted more than $30,000 from Snyder, including a $10,000 check that was used as the down-payment for a truck. The payments were allegedly intended to keep PHEAA projects flowing to Snyder's printing business.
According to the criminal complaint, Becker would regularly meet Snyder in the lobby of the PHEAA office, where he would allegedly receive envelopes filled with $50 and $100 bills. A search of Becker's bank records from 2005 through 2007 indicate cash payments toward a loan totaling $10,800, deposits in another account totaling more than $36,000 and a receipt for a cashier's check totaling $10,000.
Additionally, Becker allegedly received other items from Snyder, including Penn State football tickets, Hershey Bears hockey tickets, Pittsburgh Steelers merchandise, two rifles, a tree stand and compound bow. Those items were allegedly exchanged for information from Becker about competitors' pricing for various projects, allowing Snyder to submit lower bids and be awarded contracts.
“This case is about the manipulation and corruption of the bidding process for personal profit, stealing from an agency whose mission is to fund college education for Pennsylvania's youth," Corbett said. "Trading of inside information for cash and gifts caused PHEAA to pay more than necessary for various printing projects, with Becker and Snyder allegedly enjoying the profits."
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I'm shocked! Shocked to find that bribery is going on in the printing industry!
MJ - 2008-6-10 14:14:00 MDT
