The actions of one demolition contractor have been described by the Office of the Inspector General as anything from negligent to deceitful after submitting altered photos of sidewalks to cover up incomplete work.
Employees of the Detroit Land Bank Authority were first to spot what they say were five fake photos from Timothy Drakeford of Direct Construction in Detroit.
The photos were from locations where Drakeford's company was contracted to demolish the house and replace any sidewalk that was damaged during the demolition.
In at least one photo, a perfectly laid sidewalk can be seen, but upon closer examination, there are signs that it's been altered.
City officials say Drakeford tried to blame the fake photos and incomplete work on a subcontractor, but after an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General, it was suggested that Drakeford made up the story about the subcontractor in hopes of keeping his city contract.
Land Bank officials have now suspended Drakeford's contract until 2020. He recently lost his appeal.
Another demolition contractor, Rickman Enterprise Group in Detroit, is appealing their 90-day suspension after a Land Bank employee spotted a poorly altered photo that was submitted for proof of a job completed.
Suspicious of the photo, the Land Bank inspected the property and found the sidewalk had been completed.
Rickman claims the photo was an "inside joke" that was inadvertently submitted for payment.
An investigation by the Office of the Inspector General determined that the "lack of procedural safeguards" that allowed for a "fraudulent submission as proof of work is troubling."
See reports from the Office of Inspector General below.
R Direct.construction.report 2016-0083 16DEC16 JB (003) by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd
R Direct.construction.report 2016-0083 16DEC16 JB (003) by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd
