Parimal D. Mehta, a former chief executive officer of FutureNet Group Inc, admits to giving $6,500 in bribe.
An Indian American executive has pleaded guilty to one count of federal bribery charge after he allegedly indulged in illegal money exchange in return for favors to his company.
Parimal D. Mehta, a former chief executive officer of FutureNet Group Inc., an information technology company, tried to illegally benefit from the City of Detroit by offering bribe, according to the prosecution.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said Mehta, 54, of Northville, Michigan, pleaded guilty to one count of federal program bribery before US District Judge Robert H. Cleland of the Eastern District of Michigan.
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According to the submission before the court, Mehta allegedly handed over more than $6,500 to Charles L Dodd, who was then serving as the Director of Detroit’s office of Departmental Technology Services.
Dodd previously pleaded guilty to bribery on September 27, 2016.
The court documents suggest that it was Mehta who hand-delivered the bribe to Dodd, which included two cash bribes paid in the restroom of a Detroit-area restaurant in 2016.
The plea agreement says that the Indian American executive sought special treatment for his company in exchange for bribes.
Mehta asked Dodd to cause FutureNet to be selected to fill open positions for contract personnel and to implement particular technological projects in various city departments.
Moreover, the court documents also suggest that Mehta even tried to influence Dodd to supply him with confidential information pertaining to internal administration of Detroit. This include data on budgets for technology projects and personnel so as to gain unlawful benefit for FutureNet.
The FBI’s Detroit Division investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Robert J. Heberle and James I. Pearce of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case.
His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 27.