Contractor Lied About Using Small Businesses In Camden County DOT Project: Feds

CAMDEN, NJ - A South Jersey construction contracting company and its president will have to shell out $400,000 amid allegations they circumvented a federal law aimed at employing disadvantaged small businesses for federally funded projects, federal officials said.

Sewell-based C. Abbonizio Contractors Inc. and company president Peter Abbonizio allegedly violated the False Claims Act by falsely claiming that they used Disadvantaged Business Enterprises for a Camden County roadway improvements contract with the New Jersey Department of Transportation, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.

According to documents filed in court, C. Abbonizio and its president falsely certified that DBE companies Sanzo Ltd. (Sanzo) and Multifacet LLC (Multifacet) worked on the Direct Connection Project, a NJ DOT project aimed to provide infrastructure improvements to the intersection of Routes I-295, I-76, and Route 42.

However, Sanzo and Multifacet were not actually performing work, but instead were allegedly billing C. Abbonizio for work performed by other vendors, with an added mark-up for their participation, Sellinger said.

Under the terms of the settlement, C. Abbonizio Contractors will pay $375,000, and Peter Abbonizio will pay $25,000.