The former head of a paving company turned himself in to authorities today after he was charged with 23 counts of theft, conspiracy and attempting to influence a public official in a case in which Adams County allegedly paid for $1.8 million for work that was never done.
Jerry Rhea, who was fired from Quality Paving Co. several months ago, is the sixth person to be charged in connection with allegations stemming from fraud alleged in numerous road and construction projects funded by Adams County taxpayers between 2004 and 2007.
Rhea, 61, turned himself in, posted bond and was released.
Rhea was accused of being involved in a scheme in which prices were inflated and, in some cases, Adams County approved and paid for work that was never done.
The other five people who have been charged in the ongoing investigation include two Adams County officials and three people who worked at Quality Paving or its sister, Quality Resurfacing, at the time of the scheme is alleged to have been carried out.
Quality Paving was sold in May 2010 and is under new management.
“There’s nothing in this investigation to suggest that the new owners of Quality Paving have or had anything to do with Rhea and the history of Quality Paving in terms of these allegations,” said Gary Lozow, an attorney representing the company’s new owners.
