INFORMATION James F. Nicolaus

The U.S. attorney's office in Cleveland has filed a bill of information accusing Warren contractor James F. Nicolaus of paying kickbacks to an unidentified public official. Some allegations in the information document:
From March to June 1995, Nicolaus paid a public official between $5,000 and $10,000 for the official's assistance in obtaining the contract to build a new clubhouse at the city-owned Avalon South Golf Course. The project was funded by a city-guaranteed loan under which T & amp;J construction was paid about $230,000.
From April 1995 to January 1997, Nicolaus paid a public official about $20,000 in exchange for the official's help in getting the contract to work on Warren's Community Development Building. T & amp;J was paid about $272,000 by the city.
Beginning in the mid-1990s and continuing through June 2000, Nicolaus obtained city-funded contracts to perform work on houses. Nicolaus submitted change orders on the contracts and, at a public official's request, paid the official in exchange for the official's recommendations that the change orders be approved.
During the mid-to-late 1990s, Nicolaus contracted with the city to board up about six homes and businesses. At the request of a public official, Nicolaus paid the official for assistance in obtaining the contracts for Key Auto Sales, Youngstown Road, and another structure at 1908 Parkman Road.
In 1997 and 1998, Nicolaus obtained about 12 subcontracts funded by the city to rehabilitate vacant houses and paid a public official in exchange for the official's help in getting the contracts.
From December 1995 to September 1996, at a public official's request, Nicolaus created five fictitious T & amp;J Construction invoices stating that the company had performed work for South Main Sand and Gravel, a now-defunct company that was owned by Dante Massacci Sr. and Dante Massacci Jr.
When South Main paid the invoices, Nicolaus retained a portion of the proceeds and gave most of the funds to a public official in exchange for that official's help in getting the contracts for South Main. South Main demolished the Mahoningside Power Plant, Warren Music Center and the Sanitary Dairy Building and was paid about $324,000 for the projects.