A former City of Barrie manager and his friend have pleaded guilty to making a cash deal under the table. Ryan Thompson, 39, who served as Barrie’s manager of corporate facilities, pleaded guilty Sept. 27 to accepting a $127,000 kickback from his friend, Travis Wilkes, 31, of Innisfil, who owned a contracting company.

Inflated invoices for maintenance work

According to Barrie Police, the pair worked together on deals between Nov. 7, 2011 and May 31, 2015, through which Wilkes would receive contracts for renovations or maintenance work at various city facilities. Wilkes would submit inflated invoices, with Thompson approving them. In turn, Thompson was paid for showing favour to his friend.

$2 million obtained money through fraud

Police believe, over the course of four years, more than $3 million was paid to Wilkes, with $2 million of that obtained through fraud. On June 2, 2015, Thompson and Wilkes were charged with fraud over $5,000, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, possession of the proceeds of crime and secret commissions. Thompson was subsequently fired from his job. Justice Glenn Krelove will sentence the men Jan. 19.

This article is summarized by Canadian Fraud News.

Read the full article at Simcoe News.