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City Of Warsaw Awarded Nearly Million Dollar Judgment

By Rebecca Green, IPB News | Published on in Government, Law
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The old Kosciusko County courthouse

 

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill obtained nearly one million dollars for the city of Warsaw.

Lacy Francis Jr., the former Warsaw street superintendent, participated in an illegal kickback scheme, helping a private contractor win bids on nearly a dozen city projects involving the lining for new sewer pipes.

According to a release from the Indiana Attorney General’s office, the company deliberately overcharged for its work and shared the difference with Francis.

Currently serving part of his sentence in the Kosciusko County work release program, Francis was convicted of some, and pleaded guilty to other felony charges in connection to the scheme.

Francis filed for bankruptcy in federal court in 2017, but in part due to the intervention of the State of Indiana, was unable to discharge the debt he owed to Warsaw.

On Thursday, a federal bankruptcy judge ordered Francis to pay to the State of Indiana and the city of Warsaw $955,707, plus costs and fees. Court actions against the contractor and his company are still pending, according to the release.