Mr. David's Pleads Guilty in Bid Rigging Scheme from 2013 to 2018

Washington, DC, August 31, 2021-Mr. David’s Flooring International, a Chicago-based commercial flooring contractor, pleaded guilty after being charged for its role in a long-running conspiracy to rig bids and fix prices for commercial flooring products and services, and for its role in a money laundering conspiracy involving kickbacks, reports the United States Department of Justice.

“Mr. David’s agreed to pay at least a $1.2 million criminal fine for its role in the conspiracies. Mr. David’s is the third corporation charged in the ongoing investigation; five individuals have also been charged to date.

“According to a two-count felony charge filed in the U.S. District Court in Chicago, Illinois, Mr. David’s conspired with other companies to rig bids for commercial flooring by agreeing which company would win the bid, and which would submit a complementary, intentionally-losing bid. Mr. David’s participated in the conspiracy from at least as early as 2009 until at least June 22, 2017.

“The second count charges Mr. David’s with conspiring to launder money to conceal kickback payments the company made to Carter Brett, an account executive for a large flooring manufacturer, in exchange for unauthorized discounts. According to the charge, Mr. David’s issued checks to a shell corporation established by Brett for the sole purpose of receiving the illegal kickback payments, and Mr. David’s and its co-conspirators carried out the conspiracy from at least as early as 2013 until as late as June 13, 2018.” More on Brett is available here.