PHILADELPHIA—James N. Anders, Jr, 59, Willow Grove, PA, Patrick Squires, 58, of Voorhees, NJ, and Ernest Neff, 58, of Newtown, PA, were charged today by indictment with one count of conspiracy and five counts of wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the Bristol Township School District (“BTSD”), announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Anders is the former maintenance director at the school district.

The indictment charges that from September 2006 to September 2011, the defendants abused Anders’ position as maintenance director to enrich themselves and to advance their personal business interests, causing a loss to BTSD of approximately $373,453.43. It is alleged that on a dozen transactions between September 2006 and July 1, 2010, Anders, Squires and Neff manipulated the required “quote” process to ensure that a company controlled by defendant Squires would be selected for the transaction. It is also alleged that defendants Anders and Squires split BTSD maintenance department purchases into smaller transactions which could be purchased on the sole authority of defendant Anders, where he could direct those purchases to companies controlled by Squires. It is further alleged that Anders engaged in prohibited self-dealing by using his personal company for BTSD business and disguised the work by billing the work through a Squires-controlled company.

If convicted of all charges, the defendants each face a maximum possible statutory sentence of 105 years in prison, with an advisory guidelines range of 46-57 months, three years’ supervised release, a $1.5 million fine, a $600 special assessment, restitution of approximately $373,453.43 and forfeiture.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Education Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joan E. Burnes.