Harford County Business Owner Convicted Of Fraud, Bribery Charges

BALTIMORE, MD — A Harford County business owner was convicted of federal fraud and bribery charges this week after prosecutors said he provided financial kickbacks to the CEO of a nonprofit that provided broadband internet to underserved areas.

Wayne I. Kacher Jr., the then-president of Bel Air Underground Services Inc., was convicted of conspiring to commit honest services wire fraud and bribery, honest services wire fraud, and bribery involving federal funds, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland announced.

The 51-year-old's conviction followed a seven-day trial, prosecutors said.

According to court documents, Kacher's company frequently worked as a subcontractor for the Maryland Broadband Cooperative (MdBC), a legislatively created nonprofit that worked with internet service providers to offer broadband internet service to underserved areas in the state.

Prosecutors said Kacher owned a second company — Baltimore County-based Pro Comm Engineering and Locating Services LLC — that also acted as a subcontractor on projects for MdBC.

From 2014 to 2018, MdBC paid Kacher’s company more than $11 million for broadband network-related work. Of that amount, approximately $7.9 million was for work installing and improving a fiber optic broadband connection from NASA Wallops Island to Patuxent River Naval Air Station in St. Mary’s County.

During that time, prosecutors said Kacher provided Mitchell with financial kickbacks, including cash payments and payments for an all-terrain vehicle and a John Deere Gator owned by Mitchell. Prosecutors said Kacher also paid for renovations and improvements to Mitchell’s home.

According to court documents, Kacher provided Mitchell with kickbacks in exchange for contracts with MdBC.

Kacher faces a combined maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

Mitchell previously pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the conspiracy, prosecutors said. He will be sentenced on Oct. 4.