2 LI men get prison terms in National Grid bribery scheme

Two former National Grid managers who previously pleaded guilty in connection with a bribery and kickback scheme received sentences Friday of a year and a day in prison. 

Patrick McCrann, 57, of Selden and Richard Zavada, 65, of Hicksville were among five ex-National Grid employees who pleaded guilty last year to receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gifts in exchange for no-bid contracts to a company with $50 million in business with National Grid. National Grid owns the natural gas distribution network and major power plants on Long Island. 

Bribes included college tuition payments, home improvements, international vacations and recreational vehicles, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District, which prosecuted the case after a probe by the FBI. 

“Today’s sentence metes out just punishment to these bid riggers who accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes and kickbacks,” said Carolyn Pokorny, first assistant U.S. attorney, said in a statement. 

Zavada also must pay a $10,000 fine and forfeit $330,735. McCrann will pay a $10,000 fine and forfeit $200,000. Both pleaded guilty in October to a single count of violating the Travel Act by accepting bribes and kickbacks in exchange for steering contracts to the contractor.

Three other former National Grid managers who also pleaded guilty, Devraj Balbir, Ricardo Garcia and Jevan Seepaul, are expected to be sentenced later this month or in June. 

Still unnamed by prosecutors are the cooperating witnesses who owned companies that did business with National Grid and paid the bribes and kickbacks. Court documents state those witnesses previously pleaded guilty but have not been identified or sentenced. 

Andrew Karpf, McCrann's attorney, said his client "accepts full responsibility for his actions, and does not pass blame or rationale to anyone but himself." McCrann's surrender date is July 6.

Edward Palermo, a lawyer for Zavada, said his client's conduct "since the inception of this case has consistently evidenced his complete acceptance of responsibility and sincere remorse." Additionally, Palermo said Zavada "has agreed to pay back all monies which he received through his conduct in this case."

By Mark Harrington

mark.harrington@newsday.comMHarringtonNews

Mark Harrington, a Newsday reporter since 1999, covers energy, wineries, Indian affairs and fisheries.