NEW YORK – The owner of a Rockland County bus repair company is 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.
