Two more men, including a De Soto man, have been charged with felony conspiracy in connection with a “kickback scheme” involving contracts at the John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reports.
David Graham, 24, of De Soto and Tony Pedretti, 43, of Whiting, Ind., were arrested early this month in Whiting and on Jan. 4, each one was charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the government. If convicted, each man faces up to five years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, according to the report from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Previously, Scott Geary, 54, of De Soto was charged with the same offense, and in December, he pleaded guilty to the charge. His sentencing is scheduled for March 15, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported.
Between 2014 and 2016, Geary, Graham and Pedretti allegedly “conspired to secure and pay kickbacks for work at the medical center," according to the indictment. “Initially, Geary paid Pedretti a kickback for each job Pedretti awarded him as manager of the HVAC shop at the medical center. Later, after Geary joined the VA as an employee, Graham stepped into Geary’s shoes and began paying both Pedretti and Geary kickbacks for work they steered him at the medical center.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the scheme “caused more than $270,000 in unnecessary work to be ordered at the medical center."
Assistant U.S. attorney Tom Albus is handling the case.