Former Detroit Public Library Contractor Indicted for Bribery of a Public Official
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 31, 2013 |
James Henley, a former contractor with the Detroit Public Library (DPL), was charged in an indictment for bribery of a public official, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today.
Joining McQuade in the announcement were Robert D. Foley, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Special Agent in Charge Erick Martinez, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.
According to the six-count indictment, James Henley bribed a public official of the DPL from about January 2007 until about July 28, 2008. Henley owned a company called Core Consulting and Professional Services. The DPL official approved a proposal submitted by Core Consulting to provide information technology work and approved various extensions and change orders to the contract. Ultimately, DPL paid Core Consulting $1.5 million under the contract, and Henley secretly paid kickbacks to the DPL official totaling at least $600,000.
Henley is also charged with failing to file individual and corporate tax returns for years 2007 and 2008.
If convicted, Henley faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of proceeds and payments associated with the bribery scheme.
United States Attorney McQuade said, “The citizens lose when public contracts are awarded on the basis of bribery instead of on the merits of the bids. We will do all we can to root out corruption in public contracting in hopes of deterring officials from using public funds for self-enrichment.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert D. Foley, III said, “Those individuals who engage in bribery and kickbacks rob citizens of the honest government they deserve. The FBI-led Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force is committed to stopping these illegal acts.”
“Kickbacks will not be tolerated as a way to do business in Detroit,” said Special Agent in Charge Erick Martinez, IRS-Criminal Investigation.
The case was investigated by agents of the FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth A. Stafford and Julie Beck.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.