The Pennsylvania attorney general's office is charging a PennDOT contractor and consultant in the theft of $3.6 million in taxpayers' money.
Prosecutors said Thursday that 62-year-old Thanh Nguyen of King of Prussia bribed a PennDOT consultant inspector to steal money earmarked for herbicide, litter cleanup and other maintenance of state highways and bridges.
A statewide investigating grand jury looking into alleged corruption and fraud in PennDOT's southeastern Pennsylvania district alleges Nguyen billed the state for work that was never performed.
"This is a clear case of illegal activity driven by greed," Attorney General Kane said. "The grand jury determined that this contractor, already being paid millions of dollars, stole millions more from Pennsylvania taxpayers -- and found a state inspector whom he could bribe to help him do so. As a result, work was not done and the safety of drivers in five southeastern Pennsylvania counties was put at risk."
Nguyen and the inspector, 54-year-old Robert Slamon of Shillington, are to be arraigned Thursday.
Both men face charges that include corruption, theft and conspiracy.
Nguyen's lawyer did not immediately return a call seeking comment. No working number is listed for Slamon.
