Former Subcontractor on Dulles Metrorail Project Pleads Guilty to Fraud Conspiracy

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Florida man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit wire fraud in connection with the extension of the Silver Line, also known as Phase II of the Dulles Metrorail Project.

According to court documents, Andrew Nolan, 28, was the Quality Control Manager for a subcontractor hired to produce concrete for the Dulles Metrorail Project until approximately June 2016. While serving as the QC Manager, Nolan, and quality control employees under his supervision, falsified test records for the Dulles Metrorail Project to make it appear as though air content for the concrete was within the required range of air content. Nolan falsified test records knowing that the general contractor for the Dulles Metrorail Project would reject the concrete had it known that the concrete fell below the required air content for the project, which is partially funded by a U.S. Department of Transportation loan.

Nolan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces a maximum of five years in prison when sentenced November 9. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Civil Division for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Virginia Attorney General’s Office filed a complaint in intervention against Nolan and others under the federal False Claims Act and the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act on July 9, in connection with the concrete provided to the Dulles Metrorail Project.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Mark R. Herring, Attorney General of Virginia, Floyd Sherman, Regional Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, and Nancy McNamara, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Uzo Asonye is prosecuting the criminal case. 

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:18-cr-292.