Institute of Management Accountants Mid-America Council

1. Office of the DuPage County Auditor Institute of Management Accountants Mid-America Council Government Fraud April 25, 2014 Bob Grogan, CPA, CFE

2. Historic Fraud Anyone ever hear of Dixon Illinois? In 1983 Rita Crundwell was appointed the treasurer-comptroller for city. She had a great reputation; for instance in 2011 one of the city commissioners praised Crundwell for her stewardship of city finances, saying: "she looks after every tax dollar as if it were her own."

3. Historic Fraud • Stole $54 million • Bank and Accounting Firms settle for $40 million • Rita sentenced to 20 years • Looking for Bank Accounts • Follow the MONEY • Untold story about the Levy

4. Something different about Government

5. Government FraudDisclaimer • The following are examples of suspected fraud • Final proof of fraud is a matter for the courts

6. Audit FindingsAsphalt Repairs

7. 4 companies bid for work Contract awarded to low bid Prices based on area and thickness of asphalt patch Audit FindingsAsphalt Repairs Less than 4” = $12.95 More than 4” = $2.25

8. Audit FindingsAsphalt Repairs Un-balanced pricing, more material was less money, per square foot Thick patch = $2.25 Thin patch = $12.95

9. Audit FindingsAsphalt Repairs • Auditor interviewed staff • Supervisor was friend of company owner • Supervisor authorized payment of invoices

10. Audit FindingsAsphalt Repairs • The invoice prices did not agree to the bid • More than 4” should be $2.25 • Invoice price is $12.95 • On this invoice, vendor overcharged $22,555

11. Audit FindingsAsphalt Repairs • The auditor identified other erroneous invoices • Auditor refused to approve several other invoices totaling $65,000 • The vendor went to court seeking payment • County refused payment • Vendor dropped lawsuit, went out of business • County HIRED the foreman!

12. Audit FindingsRepair Work • Begins with a clerk noticing “INVIOCE” spelled wrong • Repair/replace siding on building • Not bid, three quotes • Investigation shows business address is a residence • Problem? • Unusual – no • Social media search

13. Audit FindingsRepair Work • Social media search • Owner is engaged to staff member daughter • Staff member worked overtime on weekend to “supervise” the job • Materials’ receipts were paid for by staff member • Vender payroll showed no payments to 2nd laborer

14. Audit FindingsRepair Work • Withheld final payment • Rationale “Laborer might come back to be paid” • Owner charged with operating a business without a license • Employee suspended

15. Audit FindingsAUDIT HOTLINE • “I didn’t know who to tell” • Expands information collected • Anonymous • Inexpensive • New Hires • Lunch Room

16. Audit FindingsWelfare Fraud • Recipient claimed that father/husband was not in home • Investigation showed father still lived with family • Conviction for fraud Receiving more tips from the Audit Hotline about potential welfare fraud. • Recipient listed neighbor’s address • Husband using home address • Actually living together

17. Audit FindingsCapital Equipment Purchase • Replacement aeration equipment used to purify waste water was needed by the Public Works Department • A bid for 3 turbo blowers used in the aeration process was prepared

18. Audit FindingsCapital Equipment Purchase • 4 vendors responded to the bid • The lowest cost bids were disallowed because the Department wanted parts unique to one vendor brand • The specific brand was not a mandatory requirement in the bid specifications • The highest bid was selected to win the contract

19. Audit FindingsCapital Equipment Purchase The County Auditor became aware of allegations of wrongdoing by the Public Works Department in preparing and awarding the bid.

20. Audit FindingsCapital Equipment Purchase The allegations included: • The salesman represented several equipment vendors • The salesman assisted in writing the bid specifications • Only the salesman’s clients had a likely chance to meet the bid specifications

21. Audit FindingsCapital Equipment Purchase The audit investigation found: • The allegations were true • The salesman represented 6 County vendors • There were 7 contracts with the 6 vendors totaling over $2 million • 6 of the 7 were subcontracts or no bid, sole source contracts

22. Audit FindingsCapital Equipment Purchase • The County Auditor provided the results of the investigation to the Committee • The contract was awarded to the lowest bidder for $465,000 • The County saved $75,000, and the bid process was fair to all bidders

23. Audit FindingsArchitectural Services • A professional services (no bid) contract was awarded for construction documents for window replacement at the County nursing home • The vendor would also oversee the construction • The vendor’s fee was 10% of project cost, $190,000

24. Audit FindingsArchitectural Services • The contract required the vendor invoice to show the fee for each project phase and the percentage of phase completion • The contract required the vendor to provide actual payroll records and detail of reimbursable expenses related to the project

25. Audit FindingsArchitectural Services • Pre-audit review of vendor invoices showed suspicious activity • The contractor did not install any windows when the vendor invoiced for construction observation • Vendor payroll records proved overbilling

26. $88,945, labor/costs invoiced to date VENDOR RECORDS Audit FindingsArchitectural Services VENDOR INVOICE 247 hours worked on project 595 hours worked on project Average wage of $99 per hour Average wage of $170 per hour $25,000, actual labor costs and expenses incurred to date

27. Audit FindingsArchitectural Services • The vendor was charging double the actual number of hours worked on the project • The County was invoiced for the most skilled employees but the work was actually performed by lower level employees • The County refused to pay the remaining $100,000, of the contract

28. Internet Information DuPage County Auditor http://www.dupageco.org/auditor/

29. THANK YOU! Contact Info: Bob Grogan, CPA, CFE auditor@dupageco.org Ph: 630-407-6075 421 N. County Farm Road Wheaton, IL 60187