Former CEO of Detroit-Based Technology Company Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Bribery | OPA

The former chief executive officer of FutureNet Group Inc., an information technology company, was sentenced today to 12 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release and a fine in the amount of $10,000 for his role in orchestrating a scheme to bribe an official from the City of Detroit to obtain benefits for FutureNet.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Timothy Slater of the FBI’s Detroit Division made the announcement.

Parimal D. Mehta, 55, of Northville, Michigan, previously pleaded guilty to one count of federal program bribery before U.S. District Judge Robert H. Cleland of the Eastern District of Michigan.

According to admissions made in connection with his plea, from 2009 through August 2016, Mehta hand-delivered more than $6,500 to Charles L. Dodd, the former Director of Detroit’s Office of Departmental Technology Services, including two cash bribes paid in the restroom of a Detroit-area restaurant in 2016.  Dodd previously pleaded guilty to bribery and was sentenced to 20 months in prison on Sept. 11, 2018.

Mehta admitted that he sought preferential treatment for FutureNet in exchange for the bribes he paid to Dodd.  Among other things, Mehta asked Dodd to cause FutureNet to be selected to fill open positions for contract personnel and to implement particular technological projects in various city departments.  Mehta also asked Dodd to supply him with confidential information regarding Detroit’s internal operations, including information regarding Detroit’s internal budgets for particular technology projects and personnel, which would benefit FutureNet in its dealings with Detroit.

The FBI’s Detroit Division investigated the case.  Deputy Chief Robert J. Heberle and Trial Attorney James I. Pearce of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case.