Racketeering indictment returned against former WV Division of Highways official

Topics:  Robert Glen Andrew II

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of West Virginia
1 September 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury returned a racketeering indictment today against the former director of the West Virginia Division of Highway’s Equipment Division, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

Robert Glen Andrew, II, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, has been charged in a 29-count indictment which alleges violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Andrew is alleged to have used his position to create a culture of corruption within the Division of Highways, and to have used the Division of Highways as a vehicle to engage in racketeering activity.

Andrew allegedly abused his position of trust in order to use state resources, including employees and equipment, to engage in political activity on state time. He is also alleged to have engaged in bid-rigging by creating non-competitive bid specifications that favored particular vendors and that did not seek to obtain the best value for the State of West Virginia. Andrew is also alleged to have violated, and to have directed others to violate, the statutes and regulations which govern the use and disposition of federal excess property. Andrew is also accused of having tampered with a witness and with documents.

Ohio corporation Mo-Trim, Inc., a business engaged in the building of large commercial mowers, was named in the indictment along with Andrew. Mo-Trim is a vendor which held a mower parts contract with the Division of Highways and which is alleged to have been involved in the preparation of non-competitive bid specifications which did not seek to obtain the best value for the State of West Virginia but instead specifically benefitted Mo-Trim.

Both Andrew and Mo-Trim, Inc. are charged with seven counts of “Wire Fraud,” and one count of “Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act Conspiracy.” Andrew, age 77, is further charged with eight counts of “Mail Fraud,” seven counts of “Causing Theft of Government Property,” four counts of “Wire Fraud,” one count of “Document Tampering,” and one count of “Witness Tampering."

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarod Douglas and Sarah Montoro, along with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John Parr, are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia Commission on Special Investigations, the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation conducted the inquiry.

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.