Contractor and inspector stole $3.6 million from PennDOT, AG says

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- Two men, a contractor and an inspection consultant, have been charged with conspiring to steal $3.6 million in taxpayer money from PennDOT.

Thanh Nguyen, 62, of King of Prussia and Robert Slamon, 54, of Shillington, Berks County, are charged with theft, bribery, corruption and related offenses.

Nguyen, the owner of V-Tech Services Inc. (V-Tech) and Utility Line Clearance Inc. (ULC), has received $26 million in maintenance contracts from PennDOT since 2009.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General says during that time Nguyen knowingly over-billed the agency to the tune of at least $3.6 million for herbicide spraying, litter cleanup, graffiti removal and landscaping work that his crews never completed.

Prosecutors say Nguyen covered up the theft by laundering money through checks made out to employees, who were instructed to cash those checks and deliver the money back to Nguyen.

"My client is a well-respected, hard-working businessman. He spent the last couple decades performing admirable work. We're stunned by these accusations and we're taking time to digest them as we read the presentment," said Nguyen's lawer, Brian McMonaglen.

Prosecutors say Slamon, in his role of PennDOT consultant inspector for Czop Specter Inc. in Norristown, falsified records, allowing Nguyen to be paid for work never completed.

They say on one occasion Slamon was seen accepting a $5,000 cash payment from Nguyen.

Both men were arraigned Thursday and released on $50,000 bail each.

"I'm telling you emphatically this is an ongoing investigation. A lot of times we say there may be additional arrests - in this case, I guarantee there will be additional arrests," said Asst. Pa. Attorney General Erik Olsen.

If convicted, Nguyen faces a maximum of 150 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 plus restitution.

Slamon faces up to 95 years in behind bars and a possible $150,000 fine.

A preliminary hearing has been set for August 13.