Springfield Man Pleads Guilty For Part In VDOT Bribery Scheme

SPRINGFIELD, VA—A Springfield man is among three private contractors that pleaded guilty in bribery schemes involving snow removal work in Alexandria federal court Thursday. Two former Virginia Department of Transportation officials also pleaded guilty for soliciting and receiving $440,000 in bribes from contractors for about five years.

The three contractors, John Williamson, 51, of Springfield, Rolando Pineda Moran, 46, of Alexandria and Elmer Mejia, 50 of Aldie, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.

The former VDOT officials, Anthony Willie, 55, of Culpeper and Kenneth Duane Adams, 42, of Fairfax, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services mail and wire fraud. Adams also admitted to previously distributing cocaine to colleagues at VDOT and others, and to obtaining cocaine from a VDOT co-worker's relative.

According to court documents, Willie and Adams would meet negotiate these bribes beginning in the 2012‑2013 winter season through the 2016‑2017 winter season. They could solicit and receive bribes at local restaurants, grocery stores, and parking lots in Burke and Fairfax.

The snow removal contracts totaled more than $10.3 million over five years. Each agreement gave a portion of their hourly contracts as cash payments to Willie and Adams, who would sign off on their VDOT invoices.

The five defendants will be sentenced in February 2018. The three contractors face up to 20 years in prison, while Willie faces 60 years and Adams 100 years. A sixth defendant, Shaheen Sariri, 31, of Fairfax, faces trial in January.

The defendants' lawyers have not responded to The Washington Post's request for comment.

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