Phila. Water Dept. Clerk Guilty of Running Toner Cartridge Fraud
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A former mailroom clerk for the Philadelphia Water Department today pleaded guilty to a million-dollar fraud.
Calvin Duncan, 61, who was responsible for ordering and stocking ink cartridges and copier toner for the water department, today admitted he bought excess supplies with city funds, then secretly sold them to a private company at a reduced price, in exchange for a payoff (see previous story).
"Mr. Duncan ultimately was paid by Laser Cartridge Plus, a company in Russellville, Arkansas, a total of 545,412 dollars and 79 cents," notes federal prosecutor Tomika Stevens.
A tip from another city employee prompted the investigation that ended the six-year fraud which cost the city over $1.3 million. He'll be sentenced later.
Two co-defendants from the Arkansas company are still awaiting trial.
