 Thomas J. Williams, 81, who was president of the Peoria Heights-based Williams
Brothers Construction Inc., pleaded guilty Wednesday afternoon before Judge John
Schmidt in Sangamon County Circuit Court to two counts of mail fraud. Williams
admitted using a minority-owned business, BJB Enterprises in Peoria, as a front
to obtain two state contracts in 2010 to restore the historic Lincoln Hall at
the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and to construct a new science
complex at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.The felony conviction is
the result of an investigation by the attorney general's Public Integrity
Bureau, which Madigan created to uncover fraud, abuse and waste of government
resources.
Madigan said Williams represented to the Illinois Capital Development Board
that his company would employ BJB Enterprises on the two projects to meet the
state contracts' requirements that a portion of the work be completed by
minority-owned businesses. Madigan's Public Integrity Bureau investigation
revealed that BJB Enterprises did not do any work associated with the two
contracts or provide any materials for the projects.
"Williams Brothers used this subcontractor as a front to win significant
state construction contracts. The company's illegal acts denied legitimate
minority-owned businesses from securing public contracts and defrauded
taxpayers," Madigan said.
Williams, of Peoria, was ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution to the
state and was sentenced to 30 months of probation. Williams resigned as
president of the construction firm in February.
Madigan formed the Public Integrity Bureau and tasked it with using the tools
afforded the office within statutory limits to uncover public corruption and
enforce state law. Investigations by the bureau have led to the convictions of
elected officials, public employees and government vendors -- from an elected
state representative and county state's attorney to local officials, police
officers and rank-and file government workers -- who used their positions for
personal or political gain.
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The attorney general's work to fight corruption has extended beyond the scope
of the Public Integrity Bureau. During her tenure, Madigan's office has
investigated and prosecuted fraud against government programs, including child
care, in-home care, unemployment insurance and student loan programs, Medicaid
and state grant funding, and minority business fraud. The attorney general took
legal action to revoke the Emerald Casino license over deep concerns of
corruption, and acted to deny taxpayer-funded pension benefits to federally
convicted former Govs. George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich.
Madigan also created the new position of public access counselor in
her office to serve as a watchdog to public bodies that refuse
access to public records. The public access counselor reviews and
resolves thousands of public record disputes each year, working to
reverse Illinois' long legacy of a lack of government transparency.
The attorney general's office has continued this work in the
state legislature by helping to draft the State Employees and
Officials Ethics Act, tightening revolving-door prohibitions on
state employees and requiring greater public disclosure of inspector
general investigative reports.
"Public corruption comes in many forms, whether it's public
officials misusing their position for personal gain, government
agencies abusing taxpayer funds or government vendors unfairly
obtaining public contracts," Madigan said. "With the legal tools
afforded to my office, I've fought to uncover corruption, increase
accountability and restore the public's faith in its government at
all levels."
Deputy Bureau Chief Mary Bucaro, Assistant Attorney General David
Navarro and Associate Director James S. Dorger handled the Williams
case for the Public Integrity Bureau.
[Text from file received from the office
of
Illinois Attorney General Lisa
Madigan] |
