The Canadian top executive of a steel company who secured nearly $1 billion in contracts to rebuild the World Trade Center was convicted Wednesday on charges that he defrauded a program meant to benefit minorities and women. A day earlier his lawyer, Sanford Talkin, told jurors in a closing argument that Davis was not guilty.

The Manhattan federal court jury deliberated less than a day before convicting Larry Davis, 65, of Mississauga, Ontario, on wire fraud and conspiracy charges. Talkin, said in a statement after the verdict: “We are of course disappointed in the verdict and will file the appropriate motions and appeal.”