Jeffrey Bartlett and Brian Bartlett, current owners and executives of Surveying Solutions Inc. (SSI) in Standish, Michigan, along with former owner Andrew Semenchuk, pleaded guilty to defrauding the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) through the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). The announcement was made by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr., with officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the USDOT Office of Inspector General.
The three individuals admitted to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Court records indicate that from February 2011 through July 2019, they owned and operated SSI, a company that received millions in highway construction contracts funded primarily by federal dollars via MDOT. During this period, they engaged in fraudulent overbilling practices that led MDOT to pay millions more than warranted for services rendered by SSI. These actions included reporting false employee and technology costs, inflating equipment and lease expenses, and hiding actual ownership details to support their overbilling activities.
Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office stated: “Today’s guilty plea highlights a calculated attempt to exploit the competitive contracting process for personal enrichment. Fraud of this nature erodes public trust, undermines the integrity of government programs, and unfairly disadvantages honest businesses. I want to commend the dedicated agents of our Bay City Resident Agency for their thorough and meticulous investigative efforts. The FBI in Michigan remains steadfast in our commitment to work alongside our law enforcement partners to uncover complex financial crimes and ensure those responsible are held fully accountable under the law.”
Anthony Licari, Special Agent in Charge at DOT’s Office of Inspector General for the Midwestern Region added: “Contracting with the United States government demands fairness and integrity. Our agents will continue to collaborate closely with law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to identify and dismantle fraud schemes that undermine public trust and compromise DOT-funded programs in Michigan and across the nation.”
The investigation was carried out by both the FBI and USDOT’s Office of Inspector General. Prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Karen L. Reyolds, T. Patrick Martin, William Vailliencourt, and K. Craig Welkener.
