Information technology firm owner indicted in bribery scheme

DETROIT (AP) — The owner of an information technology firm has been indicted in a scheme that allowed the company to get preferential treatment on contracts with the city of Detroit.

The Justice Department announced last week that 54-year-old Parimal Mehta faces bribery and mail and wire fraud charges.

His FutureNet Group, Inc. supplied contract personnel in Detroit’s IT department and implemented technology projects for the city. Detroit-based FutureNet is alleged to have received about $7.5 million from the city in 2015 and 2016.

The government says that between 2009 and 2016 multiple cash payments were made to then-city information technology services chief Charles Dodd Jr. Dodd pleaded guilty in 2016 to accepting more than $29,000 in bribe payments.