NEW YORK – The owner of
a Rockland County bus repair company has been charged with ripping off
Rockland County BOCES by falsifying repair bills for the cooperative school
consortium’s bus fleet.
Richard Brega, 49, of Rockland County, was charged with conspiracy to
commit mail fraud, mail fraud, bribery concerning a program receiving
federal funds, theft concerning a program receiving federal funds, and
obstructing justice.
If convicted, he could face up to 80 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Brega, who owns and operates Brega D.O.T. Maintenance Corporation, is
alleged to have submitted maintenance bills for work he never performed
on BOCES buses.
His accomplice in the scheme, William Popkave, 61, also of Rockland County,
worked for BOCES and approved the false invoices after he emailed Brega
lists of vehicles and their mileages for purposes of creating the fraudulent
invoices and approved payments totaling more than $86,000.
In return for Popkave’s services, Brega bribed him with some $47,000
worth of free personal vehicle repairs.
Popkave previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail
fraud, theft concerning a program receiving federal funds, bribery concerning
a program receiving federal funds, and obstruction of justice. He also
faces up to 80 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 when sentenced at
a future date.
