Bribery and Corruption Casebook: The View from Under the Table

CHAPTER 12

The Construction of a Fraud

LORNA LEUNG

Billy Dodd was at his late 40s, married with two children who were about to start high school. He and his wife both worked to support the family, but Billy enjoyed a lavish lifestyle and was always shopping for the next trendy item. Billy had never excelled academically, but he enjoyed hands-on projects and managed to finish his secondary education with average grades. Instead of attending college, he made use of his strengths and enrolled in a building technician program at a trade school and earned a diploma.

Around the house, Billy was a very handy person and seemed able to build anything the family needed: new cabinets, shelves, replaced floor tiles, an extra bathroom and even a completely renovated basement. Despite a limited income, he loved his family and wanted to provide the best for them. He wanted to improve his financial position but was struggling to meet the desires of the average teenagers and maintain his spending habits.

Billy began his career in construction as a carpenter. He worked hard and gained valuable experience. Over the years, he learned how to coordinate with different tradesmen and to resolve many challenges at the construction site. Billy took pride in his skills and enjoyed the completion of beautiful homes with details and craftsmanship. He developed good working relationships with suppliers and his coworkers. Eventually he was promoted to estimator, finishing site supervisor and then site supervisor. ...