WHITE PLAINS – The former owner of Brega D.O.T. Maintenance Corp. in Rockland County has been found guilty by a federal grand jury in White Plains of fraud, bribery and theft of government property.
When sentenced in October, Richard Brega, 50, of Rockland County, faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
The convictions stem from Brega’s billing the Rockland County BOCES for maintenance of school buses that was never performed, and bribery of a Rockland BOCES official. From 20121 through about 2014, Brega submitted invoices for maintenance work on BOCES buses that was never done and BOCES director of transportation William Popkave would approve them as accurate and approve payment.
Popkave, 62, who now lives in Florida, pled guilty in January 2017 to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud, theft concerning a program receiving federal funds, bribery and obstruction of justice. He faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced later.
