06/10/2021
152-21025
Employee Misconduct
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a complaint forwarded from the Florida Highway Patrol wherein it was alleged that a Department employee attempted
to fraudulently obtain payment for a Uniform Commercial Citation from an individual who had received a citation. The OIG conducted interviews and reviewed documents to include citation and related documents, as well as Department
telephone records, and determined that neither the employee, or any other Department employee or representative, contacted the complainant in attempt to obtain payment. Accordingly, the allegations were disproved and
this case was closed. |
04/20/2021
152-20088
Falsification of Records
The Florida Department of Transportation (Department), Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a complaint wherein the complainant alleged that a current
consultant employee falsified a timesheet submitted to the Department. Based on records reviewed, and interviews conducted, it was proved that the consultant employee falsified a timesheet submitted to the Department
by claiming hours worked when not present at work. |
04/14/2021
150-19190
False Certifications
The Florida Department of Transportation (Department), Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a complaint wherein it was alleged that a contractor doing
business with the Department submitted false pay certifications to the state and was aware they owed money to subcontractors, but did not list them as an exception.
Based on testimony provided by witnesses, records
reviewed, and acknowledgement by the contractor, the OIG determined four false Certification submissions were submitted to the Department. |
02/01/2021
152-20035
Contractor Misconduct
The Florida Department of Transportation (Department) Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a complaint wherein the complainant stated they were a subcontractor
on a large FDOT project, and that the contractor and the Construction Engineering Inspector (CEI) were involved in falsifying invoices and reports. Specifically, the complainant reported alleged falsified video pipe inspections,
and falsified invoices created by the prime contractor. While the OIG found the video pipe inspections were completed and documented appropriately, there were discrepancies noted regarding the payment of subcontractors on this
project. Observations by the OIG were provided to management for informational purposes. |
01/26/2021
152-20021
Employee Misconduct
The Florida Department of Transportation (Department) Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a complaint wherein allegations of misconduct on the part of
a Department employee was received, to include instances of theft, Purchasing Card (P-Card) misuse, and utilizing Department resources for personal gain. Based on the interviews conducted, and the subject's admission, the allegations
that the employee used Department resources for personal use were proved. Further, based on interviews conducted and the subject''s admission, the allegations that the employee used Department resources for personal use and used
a P-Card to make personal purchases were proved. During this investigation, the OIG discovered that Department employees allowed other employees to use their P-Cards to make purchases for Department business. Additionally, the
OIG learned of other employees who have used Department resources for personal use. |
01/12/2021
152-20090
Conflict of Interest
The Florida Department of Transportation (Department), Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a complaint wherein an anonymous complainant alleged that a
now former Department employee was either directly or indirectly involved in the selection of contracts awarded to their current employer while employed at the Department. Based on the interviews conducted and records reviewed,
the OIG found no evidence to support the allegation. |
01/07/2021
152-20073
Employee Misconduct
The Florida Department of Transportation (Department), Office of Inspector General (OIG) received an anonymous complaint which alleged various acts of misconduct
on the part of Department employees to include the misuse of a Department vehicle, sabotaging Department equipment, and the striking of an employee with equipment. Based on the interviews conducted and records reviewed, the OIG
found
no evidence to support the allegations. |
01/04/2021
150-20077
Misconduct
The Florida Department of Transportation (Department), Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a complaint wherein the complainant alleged various discrepancies with
Maintenance Rating Program (MRP) scores on a maintenance contract. Specifically, the complainant alleged a former employee of a District maintenance contractor was able to access the Department’s secured VPN to locate MRP
predetermined data sets before the Department released the information. Based on the interviews conducted and records reviewed, the OIG found no evidence to support the allegation presented in the complaint. |
11/19/2020
152-20030
Employee Misconduct
The Florida Department of Transportation (Department), Office of Inspector General (OIG) received an anonymous complaint wherein the complainant alleged that
a Department employee was issuing Final Acceptance on Department contracts prior to project completion. Additionally, it was alleged that another Department employee was allowing the Department to pay for a consultant’s company
vehicle. Based on the interviews conducted and records reviewed, the OIG found no evidence to support the allegations presented in the complaint against the employees. |
10/13/2020
152-20092
Employee Misconduct
The Florida Department of Transportation (Department), Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a complaint wherein it was alleged that a Department employee
attempted to tamper with their random drug screening results by having another employee provide the sample submitted.
The OIG reviewed documents and conducted interviews. Based on interviews conducted and the employee's
admission, it was proved that the employee submitted a "synthetic" sample for their random drug test. Based on interviews conducted, it was disproved that another employee provided the sample that was
submitted for screening |
08/20/2020
152-19200
Conflict of Interest
The Florida Department of Transportation (Department), Office of Inspector General (OIG) received an anonymous complaint wherein the complainant expressed concerns
regarding a conflict of interest on the part of a Department employee. Specifically, it was alleged that on two separate occasions, the employee accepted a meal paid for by a consultant whose company contracts with the Department,
and accepted a meal paid for by a subordinate employee. It was further alleged the companies and the employee were shown favoritism in return for the meals.
The OIG reviewed emails and documents and conducted interviews.
The OIG was unable to determine conclusively that the employee accepted a meal from one of the consultants; however, it was proved the employee accepted a meal paid for by the second consultant. There was no evidence found to support that the employee showed any favoritism to the companies or the subordinate employee. |
07/22/2020
152-20012
Contract Tampering
The Florida Department of Transportation (Department) Office of Inspector General (OIG) received an anonymous complaint wherein the complainant alleged that Department
employees had shown disregard for Section 838.22 of the Florida Statutes and directly tampered with a contract selection process. According to the complainant, one of the employees was promised employment with a Department contractor
contingent upon the contractor winning work with the District. The complainant also alleged this employee directed another Department contractor to add a contractor to a contract. Additionally, the complainant alleged
the Department influenced a procurement process by helping define a requirement to preclude other consultants from being able to compete fairly for the contract. Based on the interviews conducted and records reviewed, the OIG found
no evidence to support the allegations and this investigation was administratively closed. |
07/20/2020
150-19192
Conflict of Interest
On October 3, 2019, the Florida Department of Transportation (Department) Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a complaint wherein a Department employee
expressed concerns regarding a possible conflict of interest by two retired Department employees who subsequently went to work as consultants for a Department contractor. The employee alleged the former employees were not qualified
for their new positions, and that one of the employees was in violation of Florida Statute 112.3185(5) by earning more money working for the contractor during their first year of employment than they made while working at the Department.
Additionally, it was alleged that the former employee mismanaged Federal funds. The OIG found no evidence to support the allegations against the former employees. As such, this investigation was administratively closed. |
