Huggins retired, and Kooistra sold his home and moved out of state after being confronted by PG&E investigators, the counterclaim by PG&E said. In August 2017, Bay Area Concrete hired an environmental engineer, Tim Bauters, to oversee the process. The complaint alleges that Huggins and Kooistra approved the overbilled work in exchange for kickbacks. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. But slurry can be tough to get rid of. Adding water to dirt makes it illegal to take to ordinary landfills, since dumping it can allow common pollutants like lead or hydrocarbons ?to seep into groundwater. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. According to the countercomplaint, Kooistra denied any wrongdoing or having an interest in the companies, despite the interest being disclosed in public records. To pay the bribes, Singh used a series of real estate transactions involving a 5,600-square-foot home in Saratoga to transfer money to Kooistra, PG&E alleges. In a letter to PG&E posted to the companys website, Olivero accused PG&E of falsifying accusations to avoid paying bills as the utility still owes the company a substantial sum. "The litigation process will make this clear in time.". Lucero, who pleaded guilty in a 2008 case involving the payment of bribes to landfill operators in San Jose, told one of Johal and Singh's employees that he had permission to dump on a national wildlife refuge site on the shores of San Francisco Bay. (Another skier died on the same slope that same weekend.) As we have stated previously, PG&E will continue to hold ourselves and those that do work on our behalf to the highest ethical standards.. "We have already redirected the work to new vendors to make sure our efforts rebuilding in Paradise and Butte County will not be delayed." "We have confronted the two PG&E employees supervising BAC with the evidence that they received large sums of money and gifts from the vendor; those employees are no longer with the company," Johnson wrote. As a result, the value of Bay Area Concretes contracts with PG&E increased exponentially over a period of four years, the lawsuit said. The water board declined to comment or confirm the existence of any ongoing investigations. According to the countercomplaint, Kooistra denied any wrongdoing or having an interest in the companies, despite the interest being disclosed in public records. In 16 years, the pair's. Bay Area Concrete has denied the allegations of fraud and bribery in Paradise. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Since 2010, the power and gas company has been found responsible for 117 deaths and hit with more than $15 billion in fines and damages for failing to maintain gas and power lines that stretch across California. PG&E's counterclaim, filed earlier this month, names Bay Area Concrete, both former PG&E employees, Singh, Johal, several of their other companies and Bay Area Concrete CEO Kevin Olivero as defendants. The firm was tied to illegal dumping on federally protected wetlands and had engaged in a long conflict with regulators in the city of Hayward, where Bay Area Concrete operates a dump. Neighbors complained about dust blowing off a massive pile of crushed concrete. Bay Area Concrete is part of a sprawling network of hauling, recycling and construction companies owned by Bay Area couple Preet Johal and Yadwinder "Kevin" Singh. PG&E asked Kooistra to turn over his company-issued phone, which he did, but he refused to provide his passcode so investigators could access text messages and other data. He currently plays for Haryana Gold of India's UBA Pro Basketball League. Here's how the scheme worked, according to PG&E's allegations in court filings. The employee, Ryan Kooistra, lost his job as PG&E went public with the allegations, according to industry insiders. PG&E alleges that Huggins was aware of Kooistas actions and did not disclose them. According to PG&Es complaint, CCI did hauling work for Bay Area Concrete, which would submit invoices directly to PG&E. Packal said the arrangement resulted in substantial savings for PG&E in the labor and gas for trips to faraway disposal sites. Huggins did not respond to written questions mailed to his home in Auburn. "It is unfortunate that you decided to terminate our contract without first consulting us or making sure that your purported grounds had merit," he wrote. Please subscribe to keep reading. After contracting for the Paradise cleanup, Bay Area Concrete's annual revenue jumped from $16.5 million to $43.5 million, according to documents filed with a lease application. The full investigation is available here: https://www.propublica.org/article/how-a-pg-e-contractor-with-a-sketchy-past-made-millions-after-californias-deadliest-fire. The employee, Ryan Kooistra, lost his job as PG&E went public with the allegations, according to industry insiders. The facility processed the slurry waste from hydrovac trucks, special excavation equipment that uses pressurized water to dig around delicate equipment like buried gas lines or cables. Some of those sites ran afoul of regulators as well. PG&E alleges that Kooistra and Huggins steered PG&E contracts to Bay Area Concrete and other companies controlled by Singh and Johal. In July 2018, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board issued a notice of noncompliance saying that the Sacramento facility, still under construction, lacked proper state permits. In the summer of 2014, Economy Trucking used an illegal dump site in Newark, a nearby suburb, to get rid of thousands of tons of concrete and asphalt, court records show. PG&E alleges that Huggins approved false invoices and concealed fraudulent charges throughout PG&Es contract with Bay Area Concrete. Filed by Bank of America N.A., and Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC. Trucks began dumping potentially toxic slurry at the disposal site, which did not require environmental review as an emergency project and helped speed cleanup operations. In 2019, they leased land on Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay for concrete recycling. The accused PG&E employees, Ronald Huggins Jr. and Ryan Kooistra, did not respond to requests for comment. The complaint alleges that Huggins and Kooistra approved the overbilled work in exchange for kickbacks. By this time, Johal and Singh's companies had expanded rapidly. In state filings, its business address was listed as 1580 Chabot Court in Hayward, where another of Singh and Johal's companies is located. HAYWARD, CA It was a last-ditch effort to save a scofflaw business. The pair were careful to keep Bay Area Concrete's purchase orders low enough that Huggins would not have to seek approval from his supervisors. Liked by Yadwinder singh Happy Shree Krishna Janmashtami #sparkbrains #janmashtami2021 #webdevelopment #searchengineoptimisation #webdesigning Bay Area Concrete also said that it continued to work for PG&E as other companies fled when the utility declared bankruptcy in January 2019. Here's how the scheme worked, according to PG&E's allegations in court filings. The same month, San Jose code enforcement officials cited the company for operating a recycling transfer facility without permits. Dr. Yadwinder Singh, MD is an Internal Medicine Specialist in Circleville, OH and has over 32 years of experience in the medical field. The couple did not respond to requests for comment via mail, phone, email and social media. PG&E hired Bay Area Concrete to dispose of waste from hydrovac trucks -- special vacuum trucks that use pressurized water for precise excavation. PG&E first started disposing of waste in the companys Hayward yard in 2016, and the business expanded to include the cleanup of PG&E yards throughout Northern California. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Update: Highway 29, Howell Mountain Road may stay closed through weekend after Napa Valley snows, Former NFL star Chad Johnson says he saved money by living inside Cincinnati Bengals stadium for 2 years, American Canyon delays warehouse amid Vallejo concerns, Homeless people to get permanent housing at former Napa motel, A plan for paid parking set to emerge in Napa three decades after meters were removed, Two arrested in Napa after crash of stolen SUV, police say, Police: Man arrested after Napa apartment break-in, Man dies in apparent Napa County drowning, Browns Valley Road homes approved by Napa City Council, Police: Man arrested after reported knife threat in Napa, American Canyon considers Chicken Guy restaurant amid drive-thru concerns, Premiere Napa Valley fundraiser brings in $3.4 million for the Napa Valley Vintners, American Canyon police arrest Napa man on assault allegation, Catnapped: Napa pet adoption van stolen with cats inside, State, federal officials take different paths trying to stop utilities from causing wildfires, Judge fines PG&E in Camp Fire manslaughter case, laments utility 'cannot be sent to prison', PG&E pleads guilty to 84 deaths in 2018 California wildfire, Millions at Risk of Slipping Into Poverty as COVID-Era SNAP Benefits Set to End, More than 300 words have been added to the English dictionary, Citizens travel to Peru's capitol Lima to protest against Boluarte, Senators react to the end of emergency SNAP benefits. Later, the news agencies revealed a suspicious real estate transaction that connected Singh and one of the PG&E employees. NodeJs<br>2. PG&E bankruptcy filings from March 2019 showed that the utility owed Bay Area Concrete nearly $4 million. At the time, PG&E owed Bay Area Concrete nearly $4 million, according to bankruptcy filings. Corporate records unearthed by the news organizations show that while the fire still burned in Paradise, an attorney for Bay Area Concrete's owners registered a limited liability company at the business address of another one of the owners' companies. Bay Area Concrete opened a dump in Paradise to take the waste from the cleanup. PG&E alleges that Huggins approved false invoices and concealed fraudulent charges throughout PG&E's contract with Bay Area Concrete. PG&E paid CCI $150,000 over five weeks without knowing that the company was owned by Kooistra, a violation of PG&E employment and supplier policies. Bay Area Concrete hired a manager of that site, Kevin Olivero, to be its CEO. Over the next year, crews working for the state Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery removed nearly 3.7 million tons of debris, including 673,244 tons of contaminated soil. In November 2013, Hayward officials received a complaint alleging that Singh and Johal had ignored the city and begun operating the recycling facility without a permit. "We were doing a ridiculous amount of volume at a much lower rate than what they could possibly have done." Bay Area Concrete appealed. "These guys have been a problem." Bay Area Concrete is part of a sprawling network of hauling, recycling and construction companies owned by Bay Area couple Preet Johal and Yadwinder "Kevin" Singh. Ownership of that new company was later transferred to a PG&E employee who oversaw Bay Area Concretes work in Paradise. Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey confirmed that PG&E contacted his office regarding the allegations and said he is waiting for further information from the utility. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). In February 2020, PG&E canceled Bay Area Concrete's contracts and publicly announced its belief that the waste company had committed fraud. A subordinate is accused of having received a bribe in an unorthodox property transfer of a multimillion-dollar house in a wealthy suburb of San Francisco. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. . PG&E alleges that in exchange for these kickbacks, the employees provided lucrative clean-up jobs to Hayward-based Bay Area Concrete Recycling. PG&E did not say how much the utility believes it was overcharged by Bay Area Concrete as it continues to investigate. PG&E did not say how much the utility believes it was overcharged by Bay Area Concrete as it continues to investigate. I don't know what they're going to do. The firm was tied to illegal dumping on federally protected wetlands and had engaged in a long conflict with regulators in the city of Hayward, where Bay Area Concrete operates a dump. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. But at a city Planning Commission meeting in November 2018, commissioners were unmoved. PG&E hired Bay Area Concrete to dispose of waste from hydrovac trucks special vacuum trucks that use pressurized water for precise excavation. According to the countercomplaint, Kooistra denied any wrongdoing or having an interest in the companies, despite the interest being disclosed in public records. They show that while the 2018 fire still burned in Paradise, an attorney for Bay Area Concrete's owners registered a limited liability company at the business address of another one of the owners' companies. Entire neighborhoods were reduced to ash and rubble. The company is owned and managed by the husband-wife team Yadwinder "Kevin" Singh and Preet Johal, according to local and state documents. Packal confirmed that Kooistra lost his job over the allegations. Thanks for Not Procreating: Making Census of the Moment. Kooistra did not respond to attempts to contact him by phone, mail or social media. PG&E's filing is in response to a breach of contract lawsuit filed against the utility in October by Bay Area Concrete. PG&E asked Kooistra to turn over his company-issued phone, which he did, but he refused to provide his passcode so investigators could access text messages and other data. "PG&E has initiated an internal review to determine why this wasn't detected earlier, and we will be enhancing our protocols to ensure this doesn't happen again," a PG&E spokesperson wrote. I'm Yadwinder Singh and I'm here to help you deliver better and faster solutions for your mobile and web app requirements!<br><br>I have 7 years of experience in total and over the span of time I have developed and deployed many products in Mobile app and Web app zone.<br><br>Technologies I am enrich with :<br><br>MERN/MEAN Stack:<br><br>1. The accused PG&E employees, Ronald Huggins Jr. and Ryan Kooistra, did not respond to requests for comment. Bay Area Concrete overcharged for travel time while hauling and billed PG&E for work that was never done or was unnecessary. "Imagine how cavalier they will be if you approve this permit.". Anything. 2023 FOX Television Stations, until WED 9:00 AM PST, Mendocino County Coast, until WED 8:00 AM PST, Carquinez Strait and Delta, from THU 2:00 AM PST until THU 8:00 AM PST, Carquinez Strait and Delta, from WED 1:00 AM PST until WED 8:00 AM PST, North Bay interior valleys, East Bay Interior Valleys, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest, from THU 12:00 AM PST until THU 9:00 AM PST, Mendocino County Coast, High Stakes: Sports Betting in California, Japanese startup announces balloon flights taking passengers up to space. Bay Area Concrete is part of a sprawling network of hauling, recycling and construction companies owned by Bay Area couple Preet Johal and Yadwinder "Kevin" Singh. It is unfortunate that you decided to terminate our contract without first consulting us or making sure that your purported grounds had merit, he wrote. Bay Area Concrete opened a dump in Paradise to take the waste from the cleanup. The Bay City News Foundation and ProPublica first reported the exchange, which one expert described as possible money laundering. PG&E first started disposing of waste in the company's Hayward yard in 2016, and the business expanded to include the cleanup of PG&E yards throughout Northern California. Under Kooistra's supervision, PG&E hired Bay Area Concrete to build a new slurry disposal center at a former Waste Management facility in Paradise. "We built that site in Paradise for [PG&E], growing an entire site dedicated to rebuilding Paradise," Packal said. To pay the bribes, Singh used a series of real estate transactions involving a 5,600-square-foot home in Saratoga to transfer money to Kooistra, PG&E alleges. Packal also alleged that PG&E-contracted hydrovac trucks were dumping illegally. In February 2020, PG&E canceled Bay Area Concretes contracts and publicly announced its belief that the waste company had committed fraud. Singh and Johal met Olivero for lunch along with his boss, Jim Lucero, at a high-end restaurant in Oakland. Kooistra sold his home in California in February and returned to Arizona, where he founded a pool cleaning business in May. On March 15, 2016, Lucero was indicted for violations of the federal Clean Water Act. The blaze grew into the most destructive wildfire in state history and destroyed the town of Paradise. Is the Stanley Quencher tumbler worth its TikTok hype? Kooistra resigned and his supervisor, superintendent of gas transmission and distribution Ron Huggins, also no longer works at PG&E, they said. A jury convicted Lucero, and he was sentenced to 30 months in prison. You have permission to edit this article. Another shell company, CCI Management, was owned by Kooistra and acted as a subcontractor for Bay Area Concrete in Paradise. The Bay City News Foundation and ProPublica first reported the exchange, which one expert described as possible money laundering. Now, an investigation by the Bay City News Foundation and ProPublica has revealed for the first time a multimillion-dollar real estate transaction linking one of Bay Area Concrete's owners,. By then, Singh and Johal's Hayward site included the slurry disposal operation, the hauling business and the unpermitted concrete recycling business. Neither Singh, Johal nor Olivero attended the Hayward Planning Commission hearing on Nov. 8, 2018. This Dec. 3, 2018, file photo, shows homes leveled by the Camp Fire line at the Ridgewood Mobile Home Park retirement community in Paradise, Calif. A PG&E contractor accused of bribery and fraud during the Camp Fire cleanup had a history of illicit dumping, conflict with regulators and employed a senior manager connected to environmental crimes, according to a new investigation by the Bay City News Foundation and ProPublica. Packal also alleged that PG & E went public with the allegations of fraud and in. 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