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Up until now, five former government officials have been indicted for allegedly taking bribes from Rizzo Environmental Services in exchange for helping secure trash hauling contracts.
Now, for the first time, somebody linked to the company has been charged.
Quintin Ramanauskas, a former commercial manager, has been charged with delivering cash bribes to two local officials — Clinton Township Trustee Dean Reynolds and former Chesterfield Township Supervisor Michael Lovelock, reports Tresa Baldas of the Detroit Free Press.
Court documents filed Thursday charge that Ramanauskas left Reynolds a $3,000 cash bribe on Nov. 5, 2015 at a drop-off point. Reynolds, 49, of Clinton Township is charged with helping Rizzo secure an $18-million contract extension — without going out to bid. In exchange, he took money a free divorce lawyer. In all, he is charged with taking $50,000-plus in bribes. He awaits trial.
Ramanauskas is also accused of dropping off thousands of dollars in cash bribes to former Chesterfield Township Supervisor Michael Lovelock, 57, who faces a plea deal hearing on June 1.
Rizzo's president and CEO Chuck Rizzo Jr. resigned during the scandal and has not been charged. It's unclear if he's been cooperating with authorities.
Toronto-based GFL Environmental bought the trash-hauling company two weeks before the scandal surfaced in federal court, the Freep reports.
