Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau announced today that the supervisor of an electrical contracting company has pleaded guilty to failing to pay prevailing wages to six employees.

The defendant is JOHN MARI, JR., the supervisor of Atlas Electric Contractors Inc., a subcontractor for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Port Authority) and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

JOHN MARI, JR. pleaded guilty today to Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree.  Mari admitted filing documents from 2005 to 2007 that falsely indicated that Atlas Electric Contractors Inc. had paid prevailing wages to employees working on Port Authority and MTA contracts.  In total, the six workers were underpaid $211,092.  As a result of today's plea in New York State Supreme Court, JOHN MARI, .JR. will pay full restitution to the victim workers. 

Atlas Electric Contractors Inc. was hired as a subcontractor on several public works contracts with the Port Authority and MTA, and performed electrical work at the Chambers Street subway station in Manhattan, JFK International Airport, the Air Train project in Jamaica, New York and the Staten Island railway.

JOHN MARI, JR.'s conviction was the result of a joint investigation between the Inspector Generals of the Port Authority and the MTA, as well as the Labor Racketeering Unit of the  Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

Assistant District Attorney Beth Fisch Cohen of the Labor Racketeering Unit prosecuted the case under the supervision of Unit Chief Michael Scotto. 

The Port Authority's investigation was conducted by the Inspector General of the Port Authority, Robert E. Van Etten, investigators Jeffrey Schaffler, Fred Ferrone and Edward Kennedy, Deputy Inspector General Michael Nestor, and Assistant Inspector General Steven Pasichow. 

The MTA's investigation was conducted by the Inspector General of the MTA, Barry L. Kluger, Special Investigative Counsel, Charles C. Brock, and Senior Principal Investigator, Pat James.

JOHN MARI, JR. 10/23/56; 278 Robinson Avenue, Staten Island, New York

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