Three men, including a Groveland man involved in a Haverhill office furnishings company, were charged last week in federal court in Boston with conspiracy to defraud the United States and mail fraud in connection with a scheme to obtain government contracts.
Frank Apicella, 63, of Groveland; Michael Sforza, 59, of Alpharetta, Ga.; and James Apicella, 37, of Kingston, N.H., were charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of mail fraud. James Apicella lists Tactical Office Solutions on his website as operating from 150 Summer St., and 80 Wingate St., Haverhill.
According to U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling’s office, James Apicella operated the office furnishings outlet to bid for and obtain government contract work that was set aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and Historically Underutilized Business Zone companies. Although the work was bid by and awarded to Tactical Office Solutions, jobs were actually mostly performed by FENS, a company owned and operated by Frank Apicella and Sforza that was not eligible for these contracts.
The charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, and forfeiture.