Authorities have charged contractors for allegedly scamming the City of Newark in connection with its lead line replacement program.
Prosecutors allege the head of JAS Group Enterprise, Michael Sawyer and another person with the company had a contract to replace 15-hundred lead service lines to homes and billed the city 10 million dollars but never did the work. They allegedly left lead pipes in the ground that were supposed to be swapped out Newark Mayor Ras Baraka says the company allegedly submitted false paperwork and bogus pictures to trick the city.
"It's horrible that people would deliberately and intentionally try to cut corners and get paid for work they did not do."
City officials say residents were never in danger because of lead corrosion control mechanisms in place. About 20 thousand lead lines have been replaced as part of the program through eight contractors over the last few years.