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Former
Manager of UMBC Construction Sentenced to Three Years in
Prison
George Alinsod Led Scheme that Resulted in Theft
of Over $200,000
BALTIMORE,
MD (February 23, 2009) - Attorney General Douglas F.
Gansler announced today that George Flores Alinsod, former manager
of UMBC Construction Services, was sentenced in Baltimore County
Circuit Court to three years in prison for masterminding a theft
scheme against UMBC. Judge John Grason Turnbull, II, also sentenced
Alinsod to concurrent sentences of three years each for the crimes
of Soliciting Bribes and Procurement Fraud, and suspended sentences
for Perjury and Obstruction of Justice. In addition, Alinsod
was ordered to serve five years of supervised probation upon
his release and must pay restitution to UMBC in the amount of
$206,069. Alinsod, a mechanical engineer, is also prohibited
from performing work as a contractor, subcontractor, or consultant
for the State of Maryland.
Alinsod used his influence as manager of UMBC Construction Services
to solicit bribes from a number of contractors, subcontractors,
and vendors conducting business or trying to win construction projects
at UMBC. In exchange for bribes, Alinsod fraudulently manipulated
the procurement process to steer construction projects toward favored
contractors and suppliers. Alinsod also conceived other procurement
frauds, such as allowing contractors and vendors to inflate their
bills to UMBC, allowing fictitious invoices to be paid by UMBC,
and arranging for unnecessary cost allowances to be built into
some contracts. The overages would then be siphoned off by Alinsod
to buy personal items including sporting goods, electronics and
expensive meals and trips.
This sentencing concludes the ninth case arising from the Attorney
General’s investigation of corruption at UMBC, corruption
largely conceived and spread by Alinsod. The investigation and
prosecution was conducted by the Attorney General’s Criminal
Division with the assistance of the Maryland State Police, and
the University System of Maryland Internal Audit Office.
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