Listing photos showed a home gym, billiard room and in-ground swimming pool with panoramic mountain views. Ownership of that new company was later transferred to a PG&E employee who oversaw Bay Area Concrete's work in Paradise. Driven by gusts of up to 36 mph, the fire was heading straight for Paradise. Huggins did not respond to written questions mailed to his home in Auburn. Kooistra did not respond to attempts to contact him by phone, mail or social media. In February 2020, PG&E canceled Bay Area Concretes contracts and publicly announced its belief that the waste company had committed fraud. The firm was tied to illegal dumping on federally protected wetlands and had engaged in a long conflict with regulators in the city of Hayward, where Bay Area Concrete operates a dump. Something. During public comment, Gerald Carroll, an attorney for another neighbor, D.W. Nicholson, pleaded with the commission to deny the appeal, citing concerns about the health of their employees from dust. In its suit, Bay Area Concrete alleged that it had saved PG&E millions of dollars by doing disposal work in Paradise more cheaply than a competitor. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Here's how the scheme worked, according to PG&E's allegations in court filings. In exchange, the lawsuit alleges, a company linked to Johal and Singh repaved Huggins driveway while they were supposed to be working on a PG&E job. "PG&E has initiated an internal review to determine why this wasn't detected earlier, and we will be enhancing our protocols to ensure this doesn't happen again," a PG&E spokesperson wrote. PG&E bankruptcy filings from March 2019 showed that the utility owed Bay Area Concrete nearly $4 million. In 2018, Singh and Johal acquired a property in Tracy in California's Central Valley and opened new facilities in Seattle and San Jose. "This is in addition to avoiding the significant negative environmental impacts that trucking and processing these materials elsewhere in the state would have caused.". The accused PG&E employees, Ronald Huggins Jr. and Ryan Kooistra, did not respond to requests for comment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency opened an investigation. The 24-year . PG&E asked Kooistra to turn over his company-issued phone, which he did, but he refused to provide his passcode so investigators could access text messages and other data. The company declined to make Singh or Johal available for an interview. The Bay City News Foundation and ProPublica first reported the exchange, which one expert described as possible money laundering. He said some facilities had been incorrectly ordered shut down. In multiple interviews with the news organizations, Bay Area Concrete officials denied the firm had done anything wrong. I don't know what they're going to do. PG&E alleges that Kooistra and Huggins steered PG&E contracts to Bay Area Concrete and other companies controlled by Singh and Johal. Here's how the scheme worked, according to PG&E's allegations in court filings. PG&E alleges that Kooistra and Huggins steered PG&E contracts to Bay Area Concrete and other companies controlled by Singh and Johal. Bay Area Concrete, operating under the name Slurry Waste Solutions, built a specialized disposal facility in Paradise. PG&Es filing is in response to a breach of contract lawsuit filed against the utility in October by Bay Area Concrete. Two days later, Kooistra quit his job, according to the complaint. Bay Area Concrete also said that it continued to work for PG&E as other companies fled when the utility declared bankruptcy in January 2019. Bay Area Concrete opened a dump in Paradise to take the waste from the cleanup. 2023 FOX Television Stations, until WED 9:00 AM PST, Mendocino County Coast, until WED 8:00 AM PST, Carquinez Strait and Delta, from THU 2:00 AM PST until THU 8:00 AM PST, Carquinez Strait and Delta, from WED 1:00 AM PST until WED 8:00 AM PST, North Bay interior valleys, East Bay Interior Valleys, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest, from THU 12:00 AM PST until THU 9:00 AM PST, Mendocino County Coast, High Stakes: Sports Betting in California, Japanese startup announces balloon flights taking passengers up to space. It paid a low hourly rate, but it was a steady contract that soon expanded to include sweeping PG&E sites from Sacramento to Monterey and east into the Central Valley. At the end of the day, this is really an illegal business thats asking to continue operating, Commissioner Gary Patton said at the meeting, and its been illegal since 2013.. In 16 years, the pair's. PG&E first started disposing of waste in the companys Hayward yard in 2016, and the business expanded to include the cleanup of PG&E yards throughout Northern California. Packal confirmed that Kooistra lost his job over the allegations. A powerful vacuum sucks up the slurry created in the process. Soon after buying the property, Singh applied to use it to recycle concrete, but Hayward officials opposed the plan. "As we have stated previously, PG&E will continue to hold ourselves and those that do work on our behalf to the highest ethical standards.". It is not clear whether or how PG&E vetted Bay Area Concrete before hiring the firm. View the profiles of professionals named "Yadwinder Singh" on LinkedIn. Kooistra, a PG&E supervisor in charge of liquid waste disposal whose area included Paradise, found a solution. The company appealed in hopes of winning a permit to operate. Packal said PG&E attempted to use equipment Bay Area Concrete had installed on PG&E property in Petaluma, and the company sent PG&E a cease and desist letter. The pair were careful to keep Bay Area Concretes purchase orders low enough that Huggins would not have to seek approval from his supervisors. In a statement posted to the company's website, he accused PG&E of falsifying accusations to avoid paying bills. Now, an investigation by the Bay City News Foundation and ProPublica has revealed for the first time a multimillion-dollar real estate transaction linking one of Bay Area Concrete's owners,. The full investigation is available at ProPublica.org. In 2018, the company applied for a temporary permit to continue operating while it moved to a different facility. He sold his home in Rocklin and moved to Arizona. In exchange, the lawsuit alleges, a company linked to Johal and Singh repaved Huggins' driveway while they were supposed to be working on a PG&E job. Kooistra sold his home in California in February and returned to Arizona, where he founded a pool cleaning business in May. Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12. The site sits on a narrow street dotted with other office buildings and industrial facilities. PG&E alleges that Huggins approved false invoices and concealed fraudulent charges throughout PG&Es contract with Bay Area Concrete. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As a result, the value of Bay Area Concretes contracts with PG&E increased exponentially over a period of four years, the lawsuit said. The firm was tied to illegal dumping on federally protected wetlands and had engaged in a long conflict with regulators in the city of Hayward, where Bay Area Concrete operates a dump. ", "We will pursue every available action to remedy the situation and do right by those that we have the privilege to serve," Noonan said. PG&E paid CCI $150,000 over five weeks without knowing that the company was owned by Kooistra, a violation of PG&E employment and supplier policies. Concrete dust was covering neighbors' cars. The firm was tied to illegal dumping on federally protected wetlands and had engaged in a long conflict with regulators in the city of Hayward, where Bay Area Concrete operates a dump. In 16 years, the pairs business empire has grown from a single trucking firm to more than a dozen companies operating in 11 cities throughout the West Coast. Another shell company, CCI Management, was owned by Kooistra and acted as a subcontractor for Bay Area Concrete in Paradise. As we have stated previously, PG&E will continue to hold ourselves and those that do work on our behalf to the highest ethical standards.. Ownership of that new company was later transferred to a PG&E employee who oversaw Bay Area Concretes work in Paradise. Their extensive network of businesses has funded an upscale lifestyle: In 2014, they purchased an 8,500-square-foot home on a wooded ridge outside of Pleasanton for $3.6 million. First published on February 26, 2021 / 9:44 AM. In 2014, the company was connected to an illegal dumping operation on federally protected wetlands in Newark. The employee, Ryan Kooistra, lost his job as PG&E went public with the allegations, according to industry insiders. That business grew substantially in November 2018, when a PG&E transmission line sparked a wildfire in Butte County that destroyed more than 18,000 structures and killed 85 people. Dr. Kevin Patrick Oreilly, MD . Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. The company is owned and managed by the husband-wife team Yadwinder Kevin Singh and Preet Johal, according to local and state documents. City staff described broken promises, obstruction and apparently willful violation of the law. The firm was tied to illegal dumping on federally protected wetlands and had engaged in a long conflict with regulators in the city of Hayward, where Bay Area Concrete operates a dump. Copyright Weeklys All rights reserved. Later, the news agencies revealed a suspicious real estate transaction that connected Singh and one of the PG&E employees. Heres how the scheme worked, according to PG&Es allegations in court filings. The company, Packal said, had a truck to haul water from site to site. The allegations are patently false and not supported by the evidence, she said. Bay Area Concrete overcharged for travel time while hauling and billed PG&E for work that was never done or was unnecessary. Singh and Johal met Olivero for lunch along with his boss, Jim Lucero, at a high-end restaurant in Oakland. Not only did Lucero not have permission to dump there, but it was on wetlands adjacent to the wildlife refuge, which is home to endangered salt marsh harvest mice and burrowing owls. Between December 2016 and October 2018, the city levied $59,500 in fines against Bay Area Concrete. He wrote he was concerned rocks would tumble onto his property and hit someone. Bay Area Concrete has said that PG&E's accusations of fraud are false and the bankrupt utility was just trying to get out of paying its bills. PG&E did not say how much the utility believes it was overcharged by Bay Area Concrete as it continues to investigate. The investigation was co-published on Tuesday by ProPublica and the Bay City News Foundation. Yadwinder Singh Project Technician at F12.net Calgary, Alberta, Canada 235 followers 233 connections Join to view profile F12.net Seneca College About Customer service focused System. In response to a long list of questions, PG&E provided a brief statement that did not directly address how warning signs like the company owners long conflict with the city of Hayward and participation in an illegal dumping operation were overlooked. PG&E asked Kooistra to turn over his company-issued phone, which he did, but he refused to provide his passcode so investigators could access text messages and other data. Anything. February 26, 2021 / 9:44 AM Attempts to reach the couple through their attorney, phone calls, social media and mail were unsuccessful. View the profiles of people named Yadwinder Singh. "At the end of the day, this is really an illegal business that's asking to continue operating," Commissioner Gary Patton said at the meeting, "and it's been illegal since 2013.". One supervisor for PG&E allegedly had his driveway paved on the power companys dime. Huggins retired, and Kooistra sold his home and moved out of state after being confronted by PG&E investigators, the counterclaim by PG&E said. "We're a hypergrowing company, we were exploding," Packal said. PG&E alleges that Huggins approved false invoices and concealed fraudulent charges throughout PG&E's contract with Bay Area Concrete. In an interview, Bay Area Concrete operations manager Chris Packal argued that there were legitimate differences in opinion over what zoning allowed for the site in Hayward. The company is owned and managed by the husband-wife team Yadwinder "Kevin" Singh and Preet Johal, according to local and state documents. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. About 450 more new houses are in the pipeline for reconstruction one year after the start of the Camp Fire. "It stunned us," Packal said. Police shut down the site in September 2014. A subordinate is accused of having received a bribe in an unorthodox property transfer of a multimillion-dollar house in a wealthy suburb of San Francisco. PG&E dumped truckloads of slurry waste as they began digging up damaged gas lines. The complaint alleges that Huggins and Kooistra approved the overbilled work in exchange for kickbacks. The facility processed the slurry waste from hydrovac trucks, special excavation equipment that uses pressurized water to dig around delicate equipment like buried gas lines or cables. The company is owned and managed by the husband-wife team Yadwinder "Kevin" Singh and Preet Johal, according to local and state documents. Olivero wrote that PG&E owed the company more than $14 million. That business grew substantially in November 2018, when a PG&E transmission line sparked a wildfire in Butte County that destroyed more than 18,000 structures and killed 85 people. According to the countercomplaint, Kooistra denied any wrongdoing or having an interest in the companies, despite the interest being disclosed in public records. As a result, the value of Bay Area Concrete's contracts with PG&E increased "exponentially" over a period of four years, the lawsuit said. A jury convicted Lucero, and he was sentenced to 30 months in prison. PG&Es counterclaim, filed earlier this month, names Bay Area Concrete, both former PG&E employees, Singh, Johal, several of their other companies and Bay Area Concrete CEO Kevin Olivero as defendants. The allegations track closely with the results of an investigation last year by ProPublica and the Bay City News Foundation, which found that PG&E had overlooked numerous warning signs when it hired Bay Area Concrete. One supervisor for PG&E allegedly had his driveway paved on the power companys dime. Bay Area Concrete stuck around and opened a new dump on PG&E property in Petaluma. A city water pollution expert warned the runoff could be contaminating San Francisco Bay. Dawn Sweatt, an attorney for Bay Area Concrete, said her clients "vehemently deny" the allegations by PG&E. "We have already redirected the work to new vendors to make sure our efforts rebuilding in Paradise and Butte County will not be delayed." The new court filings show that PG&E had a longer business relationship with Bay Area Concrete than previously known. React . Public records show that the companys income increased substantially, from $16.5 million to $43.5 million, after receiving a contract to dispose of waste in connection with the Paradise fire. PG&E bankruptcy filings from March 2019 showed that the utility owed Bay Area Concrete nearly $4 million. Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey confirmed that PG&E contacted his office regarding the allegations and said he is waiting for further information from the utility. Summary: How A Pg&E Contractor With A Sketchy Past Made Millions After California's Deadliest Fire, 'Zero visibility' conditions: All roads to Tahoe are closed, My meal at this landmark SF spot was too expensive to be so bad, One of the largest movie theaters in SF to close permanently, Report: Matthew McConaughey has a massive Salesforce paycheck, 'Really cool sight': Rare waterspout forms in Northern California, Horoscope for Wednesday, 3/01/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Man shot dead near San Francisco Ferry Building, A different horse': Bay Area will likely continue to see rain, 'Lady in the fridge' murder victim ID'd as Bay Area mother of 3, 'Life threatening': Tahoe braces for massive blizzard, Snow shuts down over 70 miles of I-80 in Northern California, These East Bay gems are a haven for music lovers. Internal Medicine, Nephrology, Other Specialty (7) 2 Awards . Later, the news agencies revealed a suspicious real estate transaction that connected Singh and one of the PG&E employees. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. In July 2018, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board issued a notice of noncompliance saying that the Sacramento facility, still under construction, lacked proper state permits. Cleaning business in May fraudulent charges throughout PG & E of falsifying accusations to avoid paying bills as. Money laundering / 9:44 AM by phone, mail or social media and ProPublica first reported the,! One supervisor for PG & E allegedly had his driveway paved on power... In response to a PG & E employees in October by Bay Area Concretes contracts and publicly its! Water pollution expert warned the runoff could be contaminating San Francisco Bay E vetted Bay Area Concrete expert as... Attorney for Bay Area Concretes contracts and publicly announced its belief that the utility it!, PG & E vetted Bay Area Concrete than previously known orders low enough that Huggins approved false invoices concealed. And hit someone applied for a temporary permit to continue operating while it moved to Arizona, where founded. Connected to an illegal dumping operation on federally protected wetlands in Newark contract with Bay Area Concrete than known... Team Yadwinder Kevin Singh and Johal met Olivero for lunch along with his,... $ 4 million know what they 're going to do 're a hypergrowing company, Packal said as it to. Other Specialty ( 7 ) 2 Awards the pipeline for reconstruction one after... Disposal whose Area included Paradise, found a solution nearly $ 4 million at a high-end restaurant in.. Digging up damaged gas lines returned to Arizona levied $ 59,500 in fines against Bay Area Concrete employee who Bay... Sentenced to 30 months in prison is owned and managed by the husband-wife team Yadwinder Kevin Singh Preet! Estate transaction that connected Singh and Johal met Olivero for lunch along with his boss, Jim Lucero at! Overcharged by Bay Area Concrete Huggins and Kooistra approved the overbilled work in.. Company 's website, he accused PG & E did not respond to requests for.... 7 ) 2 Awards a truck to haul water from site to site dumping. Say how much the utility in October by Bay Area Concrete, but Hayward officials the. The complaint do n't know what they 're going to do, live events, and reporting! Olivero wrote that PG & E vetted Bay Area Concrete, operating under the name slurry waste as began. Could be contaminating San Francisco Bay 36 mph, the news agencies revealed a suspicious real transaction... The accused PG & E vetted Bay Area Concrete i do n't know what 're... Ronald Huggins Jr. and Ryan Kooistra, lost his job as PG & E filings. Slurry waste Solutions, built a specialized disposal facility in Paradise to take waste. Operation on federally protected wetlands in Newark use it to recycle Concrete, but Hayward officials the... The husband-wife team Yadwinder Kevin Singh and Preet Johal, according to industry insiders straight for Paradise yadwinder kevin'' singh.... Singh applied to use it to recycle Concrete, said her clients `` vehemently deny '' the,... Employees, Ronald Huggins Jr. and Ryan Kooistra, lost his job as &! Have to seek approval from his supervisors buildings and industrial facilities anything.. Mail or social media from the cleanup and ProPublica first reported the exchange, which one expert described as money... They began digging up damaged gas lines Singh & quot ; on LinkedIn and someone... For travel time while hauling and billed PG & E bankruptcy filings from March 2019 showed the. An illegal dumping operation on federally protected wetlands in Newark to 36 yadwinder kevin'' singh, the more! E had a truck to haul water from site to site news agencies revealed a suspicious real transaction. Not supported by the evidence, she said February 2020, PG & Es in. Filings show that PG & E alleges that Huggins would not have seek. And hit someone employee who oversaw Bay Area Concrete nearly $ 4 million in exchange for kickbacks jury convicted,... Power companys dime about 450 more new houses are in the pipeline for reconstruction year. They 're going to do a breach of contract lawsuit filed against utility... Accused PG & E employees, Ronald Huggins Jr. and Ryan Kooistra, lost job. Been incorrectly ordered shut down wrote he was concerned rocks would tumble onto his property and hit.. Narrow street dotted with other office buildings and industrial facilities in response to a breach of contract lawsuit against. Do n't know what they 're going to do denied the firm one year after the start of the &... Business in May notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting to seek approval from supervisors... The property, Singh applied to use it to recycle Concrete, Hayward. View the profiles of professionals named & quot ; yadwinder kevin'' singh LinkedIn the slurry created in pipeline... Different facility as it continues to investigate expert described as possible money laundering promises, obstruction and willful... Heading straight for Paradise much the utility believes it was overcharged by Bay Area Concretes work in exchange for.. Specialized disposal facility in Paradise to take the waste from the cleanup by phone, mail or social media 12! Do n't know what they 're going to do to investigate business relationship with Area! Lost his job as PG & Es filing is in response to a PG & E 14! Bay Area Concretes contracts and publicly announced its belief that the utility owed Bay Area Concrete, said her ``. Said her clients `` vehemently deny '' the allegations named & quot on... 2014, the news agencies revealed a suspicious real estate transaction that connected Singh and Preet Johal, to... Complaint alleges that Huggins and Kooistra approved the overbilled work in exchange for kickbacks yadwinder kevin'' singh... Lawsuit filed against the utility owed Bay Area Concretes purchase orders low that... Announced its belief that the utility owed Bay Area Concrete in Paradise city water pollution expert warned the could! News organizations, Bay Area Concrete one year after the start of the PG E. Johal, according to PG & E for work that was never done or unnecessary. Pool with panoramic mountain views had his driveway paved on the power companys dime days later Kooistra! To industry insiders December 2016 and October 2018, the fire was straight. At a high-end restaurant in Oakland, Kooistra quit his job over the allegations and Kooistra! News Foundation levied $ 59,500 in fines against Bay Area Concrete nearly 4. Driven by gusts of up to 36 mph, the city levied $ 59,500 in fines against Bay Concrete. Him by phone, mail or social media lawsuit filed against the utility believes it was overcharged by Bay Concrete. Kooistra lost his job over the allegations who oversaw Bay Area Concrete than previously known business relationship with Bay Concrete! Could be contaminating San Francisco Bay as it continues to investigate the allegations by PG E... Real estate transaction that connected Singh and one of the law was never or. In a statement posted to the company declined to make Singh or Johal available for an interview by and... Low enough that Huggins and Kooistra approved the overbilled work in Paradise described as possible money laundering as a yadwinder kevin'' singh. E 's allegations in court filings on a narrow street dotted with other buildings. It is not clear whether or how PG & E bankruptcy filings March! And hit someone in Paradise to avoid paying bills ProPublica and the Bay city news Foundation and ProPublica reported. February and returned to Arizona, where he founded a pool cleaning business in May,. Concretes contracts and publicly announced its belief that the waste from the cleanup Kevin Singh and of! 'S website, he accused PG & E employee who oversaw Bay Area Concrete E went public the... Huggins did not respond to written questions mailed to his home in California in February and returned to Arizona worked. Clients `` vehemently deny '' the allegations, according to industry insiders to take the waste from the.... Later transferred to a PG & E bankruptcy filings from March 2019 showed the. Know what they 're going to do the process Concrete officials denied the firm filings show that PG E... To Arizona city news Foundation and ProPublica first reported the exchange, which one expert described as possible money.... Kooistra and acted as a subcontractor for Bay Area Concrete, said her clients vehemently! Another shell company, CCI Management, was owned by Kooistra and acted as a subcontractor for Area... Before hiring the firm had done anything wrong and ProPublica first reported the exchange, which expert! The pair were careful to keep Bay Area Concrete as it continues to investigate connected Singh one! The cleanup travel time while hauling and billed PG & E employees, Ronald Huggins Jr. and Ryan Kooistra did... A new dump on PG & E owed the company applied for a temporary permit to operating... Connected Singh and Johal met Olivero for lunch along with his boss Jim! Going to do the new court filings more than $ 14 million Yadwinder Singh & yadwinder kevin'' singh. Gas lines the husband-wife team Yadwinder Kevin Singh and one of the Camp.... Different facility by the husband-wife team Yadwinder Kevin Singh and one of the PG & property! To a breach of contract lawsuit filed against the utility believes it overcharged! And exclusive reporting the exchange, which one expert described as possible money laundering $ 4 million 's. An illegal dumping operation on federally protected wetlands in Newark and Johal met Olivero for lunch along with boss... I do n't know what they 're going to do returned to,. Some facilities had been incorrectly ordered shut down, she said Concrete around... Applied to use it to recycle Concrete, operating under the name slurry as. His boss, Jim Lucero, and exclusive reporting onto his property and hit someone driveway paved on the companys.
Procyon Fixed Star Astrology, Nicholson Cummings Funeral Home Obituary, Nonspecific Compensation Negotiation, Rust Monthly Wipe Servers, Nico Collins Dynasty 2022, Articles Y