A contractor confessed in court on Wednesday that he had coordinated a system of collusion between different snow removal companies who won contracts with Hydro-Québec, under the benevolent eye of an official from the state company he covered of gifts.
Posted at 7:23 p.m.
Giuseppe Nuccio, leader of the Triforce Group, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and fraud against the government, before Judge Lyne Décarie, at the Montreal courthouse.
According to a summary of the facts filed in court, Mr. Nuccio allegedly coordinated the tenders made by various contractors for snow removal contracts for Hydro-Québec facilities between 2009 and 2012. The amounts of the tenders were fixed in advance for rig the process, and Mr. Nuccio collected kickbacks from participants. He reportedly pocketed a total of $400,000 this way. Of note, he says he declared these sums to the tax authorities.
Mr. Nuccio acknowledged that he had a special relationship with a Hydro-Québec official responsible for contracts, Denis Hervieux. According to the summary filed with the court, Mr. Nuccio offered Mr. Hervieux hockey tickets, weekends in a condo in Mont-Tremblant, the rental of a mini-warehouse to store one of his vehicles as well as a Weber barbecue. He also provided free snow removal at the grievor’s residence and provided employment for the grievor’s daughter.
Mr. Hervieux had been made aware of the collusion, but did not intervene, according to the summary presented to the court on Wednesday. The former civil servant has already been sentenced to six months of detention to be served at home in this case, in addition to having to perform 80 hours of community service and being fined $10,000.
Denounced by an ex-partner
It was a former business partner who denounced Mr. Nuccio to the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC). The police force arrested him in 2019. His lawyer, Mand Marc Labelle, explained to the court on Wednesday that the consequences for his client had been “catastrophic”.
“When the charges were laid, it became impossible for him to get contracts. Economically, it hit a wall,” explained the lawyer.
Mr. Nuccio, 63 years old and father of three children, lost his house and his chalet. His wife had to return to the labor market. Himself, who had always been an entrepreneur on his own, now finds himself a simple employee in a snow removal company.
The crown and defense have agreed to suggest an 18-month sentence to be served in the community, along with 50 hours of community service. The judge accepted the parties’ recommendation.