In 2017, Bay Area Concrete opened new slurry waste disposal facilities in Richmond and Sacramento. They throw lavish holiday parties for their employees and clients and sometimes give expensive presents, like $1,000 gift cards. Responsible for early character designs and explorations for an upcoming animated TV series. Trucks began dumping potentially toxic slurry at the disposal site, which did not require environmental review as an emergency project and helped speed cleanup operations. This article was produced in partnership with the Bay City News Foundation, which is a member of the ProPublica Local Reporting Network. PG&E first started disposing of waste in the company's Hayward yard in 2016, and the business expanded to include the cleanup of PG&E yards throughout Northern California. In 2019, they leased land on Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay for concrete recycling. Public records show that the companys income increased substantially, from $16.5 million to $43.5 million, after receiving a contract to dispose of waste in connection with the Paradise fire. Kooistra was interviewed in January 2020 by PG&E investigators, who confronted him with evidence of his interest in companies connected to Bay Area Concrete. Between December 2016 and October 2018, the city levied $59,500 in fines against Bay Area Concrete. In 16 years, the pair's business empire has grown from a single trucking firm to more than a dozen companies operating in 11 cities throughout the West Coast. In February 2020, PG&E canceled Bay Area Concrete's contracts and publicly announced its belief that the waste company had committed fraud. "As we have stated previously, PG&E will continue to hold ourselves and those that do work on our behalf to the highest ethical standards.". In a letter to PG&E posted to the company's website, Olivero accused PG&E of falsifying accusations to avoid paying bills as the utility still owes the company a substantial sum. His duties included collecting money from contractors dumping dirt and demolition debris and using a bulldozer to spread the dumped material. Kooistra resigned and his supervisor, superintendent of gas transmission and distribution Ron Huggins, also no longer works at PG&E, according to the news organizations investigation. PG&E alleges that Kooistra and Huggins steered PG&E contracts to Bay Area Concrete and other companies controlled by Singh and Johal. On March 3, PG&E sent a second internal memo clarifying that it had also ended its business relationships with Johal and Singh's other companies, including Bay Area Hydrovac, Economy Trucking, PMK Contractors and Slurry Waste Solutions. Bay Area Concrete stuck around and opened a new dump on PG&E property in Petaluma. The company is owned and managed by the husband-wife team Yadwinder Kevin Singh and Preet Johal, according to local and state documents. During public comment, Gerald Carroll, an attorney for another neighbor, D.W. Nicholson, pleaded with the commission to deny the appeal, citing concerns about the health of their employees from dust. MongoDb<br>3. Here's how the scheme worked, according to PG&E's allegations in court filings. Rajwinder Singh is at Melbourne Magistrates Court where Queensland police are applying to extradite him north on Wednesday to be questioned over Ms Cordingley's murder four years ago. In November 2013, Hayward officials received a complaint alleging that Singh and Johal had ignored the city and begun operating the recycling facility without a permit. Public records show that the company's income increased substantially, from $16.5 million to $43.5 million, after receiving a contract to dispose of waste in connection with the Paradise fire. Despite that, PG&E then contracted with Bay Area Concrete to play a key role in the cleanup after the Camp Fire. The couple did not respond to requests for comment via mail, phone, email and social media. Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey said last year that PG&E alerted his office to the allegations against Bay Area Concrete. When confronted by PG&E investigators, Huggins told the investigators he had paid the $16,750 bill in cash, which he happened to have on hand in his house. He graduated from GURU NANAK DEV UNIVERSITY / MEDICAL COLLEGE in 1991. Meanwhile, Kooistra and Bay Area Concrete grew a lucrative business relationship separate from PG&E, according to records and interviews. Ownership of that new company was later transferred to a PG&E employee who oversaw Bay Area Concrete's work in Paradise. In August 2017, Bay Area Concrete hired an environmental engineer, Tim Bauters, to oversee the process. The firm was tied to illegal dumping on federally protected wetlands and had engaged in a long conflict with regulators in the city of Hayward, where Bay Area Concrete operates a dump. SAN FRANCISCO - Utility giant Pacific Gas & Electric accused two of its former employees of accepting bribes to funnel business to a waste-hauling company after the Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire in California history. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. About 450 more new houses are in the pipeline for reconstruction one year after the start of the Camp Fire. PG&E's filing is in response to a breach of contract lawsuit filed against the utility in October by Bay Area Concrete. But Lucero wasn't interested. To assist in the cleanup, PG&E hired a fleet of as many as 180 hydrovac trucks, which flocked to Paradise from as far away as Kansas City and Montana. Entire neighborhoods were reduced to ash and rubble. The wildfire grew rapidly, driven by winds that fanned flames across the region. The employee, Ryan Kooistra, lost his job as PG&E went public with the allegations, according to industry insiders. The unanimous vote to deny the permits was a potentially devastating blow to Bay Area Concrete. He argued that there were legitimate differences in opinion over what zoning allowed for the site in Hayward. The new court filings show that PG&E had a longer business relationship with Bay Area Concrete than previously known. It paid a low hourly rate, but it was a steady contract that soon expanded to include sweeping PG&E sites from Sacramento to Monterey and east into the Central Valley. Four days later, he retired. Utility giant Pacific Gas & Electric accused two of its former employees of accepting bribes to funnel business to a waste-hauling company after the Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire in California history. Bauters spoke in defense of Bay Area Concrete, arguing that city staff had not responded to the company's attempts to come into compliance. That summer, PG&E expanded its business with Bay Area Concrete. In 16 years, the pair's. As a result, the value of Bay Area Concrete's contracts with PG&E increased "exponentially" over a period of four years, the lawsuit said. "The litigation process will make this clear in time.". According to PG&Es complaint, CCI did hauling work for Bay Area Concrete, which would submit invoices directly to PG&E. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. PG&E alleges that in exchange for these kickbacks, the employees provided lucrative clean-up jobs to Hayward-based Bay Area Concrete Recycling. In state filings, its business address was listed as 1580 Chabot Court in Hayward, where another of Singh and Johal's companies is located. In a statement, PG&E spokesperson James Noonan called the alleged actions of Bay Area Concrete completely unacceptable., We will pursue every available action to remedy the situation and do right by those that we have the privilege to serve, Noonan said. Express<br>4. Under Kooistra's supervision, PG&E hired Bay Area Concrete to build a new slurry disposal center at a former Waste Management facility in Paradise. Later, the news agencies revealed a suspicious real estate transaction that connected Singh and one of the PG&E employees. The company is owned and managed by the husband-wife team Yadwinder "Kevin" Singh and Preet Johal, according to local and state documents. "It was pretty much out of control the entire time they were in operation," he said. Listing photos showed a home gym, billiard room and in-ground swimming pool with panoramic mountain views. As a result, the value of Bay Area Concrete's contracts with PG&E increased "exponentially" over a period of four years, the lawsuit said. There are 800+ professionals named "Yadwinder Singh", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. Work began on the site in December. Kooistra was interviewed in January 2020 by PG&E investigators, who confronted him with evidence of his interest in companies connected to Bay Area Concrete. Nov 2021 - Present1 year 3 months. PG&E alleges that in exchange for these kickbacks, the employees provided lucrative clean-up jobs to Hayward-based Bay Area Concrete Recycling. Kooistra sold his home in California in February and returned to Arizona, where he founded a pool cleaning business in May. Neither Singh, Johal nor Olivero attended the Hayward Planning Commission hearing on Nov. 8, 2018. The company is owned and managed by the husband-wife team Yadwinder "Kevin" Singh and Preet Johal, according to local and state documents. Bauters, who would become the company's top environmental officer, brought with him impeccable credentials. The allegations are patently false and not supported by the evidence, she said. Bay Area Concrete is part of a sprawling network of hauling, recycling and construction companies owned by Bay Area couple Preet Johal and Yadwinder "Kevin" Singh. 21 talking about this. 90 percent of businesses in Butte County were destroyed in the wildfire. The employee, Ryan Kooistra, lost his job as PG&E went public with the allegations, according to industry insiders. PG&E then suspended business with the five sites, all competitors of Bay Area Concrete, pending the outcome of the water board's investigation. PG&E also hired another company owned by Singh and Johal, PMK Contractors, to help build its command center for the fire, according to Packal. Chabot Moves One Win Away From State Elite Eight, Jenny Lin Foundation: Free Summer Music Program for Bay Area Students, From A Vineyard Estate To A Below Market Rate Condo: 15 Bay Area Homes, The Mineral and Gem Society of Castro Valley Annual Jewelry, Gem & Mineral Show & Sale, Jeff Bordes, Meredith McHenry & Friends with opening act Roem Baur, Wells Middle School Crab Feed 2023: Shannon Community Center, Dublin, Bay Philharmonic's 'Kings Of Soul & Swing' 2023: Union City, Arukah Crab & Pasta Benefit Dinner 2023: Cornerstone Fellowship, Livermore, Group Calls For End Of Alameda County Residential Eviction Moratorium, Meta Cracks Down On 'Revenge Porn' Targeting Teenagers, With Recent Rain And Snowpack, Bay Area Water Officials See Light At The End Of Drought Tunnel, Report: New Round Of Layoffs At Twitter; Cuts To Impact 10% Of Current Staff. Facebook gives people the power. The sprawling complex includes parking for utility trucks, a repair station, outdoor storage for large spools of wires, pipes and other equipment, and a compressed natural gas vehicle fueling station. Records show that Kooistra owned another company, CCI Management LLC, which was founded in June 2019. | Learn more about Yadwinder Singh's work experience, education . Ramsey said in an email that he received no further information from PG&E but had determined that his office did not have jurisdiction in the case. View the profiles of professionals named "Yadwinder Singh" on LinkedIn. HAYWARD, CA It was a last-ditch effort to save a scofflaw business. That year, the couple used a holding company to buy a property at 24701 Clawiter Road. But Singh wanted $5.5 million about $1 million more than the assessed value and Rossi said he eventually realized that he'd never be able to buy the house back. According to the disposal company, it racked up $14 million in unpaid invoices. Bay Area Concrete stuck around and opened a new dump on PG&E property in Petaluma. At the time, PG&E owed Bay Area Concrete nearly $4 million, according to bankruptcy filings. PG&Es counterclaim, filed earlier this month, names Bay Area Concrete, both former PG&E employees, Singh, Johal, several of their other companies and Bay Area Concrete CEO Kevin Olivero as defendants. Hands on experience on Palo alto firewall, Fortinet firewall, Fortimanager, Fortianalyzer, Fortiswitch, FortiAP. In a statement, PG&E spokesperson James Noonan called the alleged actions of Bay Area Concrete "completely unacceptable. A subordinate is accused of having received a bribe in an unorthodox property transfer of a multimillion-dollar house in a wealthy suburb of San Francisco. Huggins did not respond to written questions mailed to his home in Auburn. Is the Stanley Quencher tumbler worth its TikTok hype? He said the company may have overlooked some details as it grew its business. PG&E's counterclaim, filed earlier this month, names Bay Area Concrete, both former PG&E employees, Singh, Johal, several of their other companies and Bay Area Concrete CEO Kevin Olivero as defendants. Packal confirmed that Kooistra lost his job over the allegations. PG&Es filing is in response to a breach of contract lawsuit filed against the utility in October by Bay Area Concrete. Utility giant Pacific Gas & Electric accused two of its former employees of accepting bribes to funnel business to a waste-hauling company after the Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire in California history. The complaint alleges that Huggins and Kooistra approved the overbilled work in exchange for kickbacks. He filed complaints with the Regional Water Quality Control Board regarding five different disposal sites. You have permission to edit this article. Bay Area Concrete, operating under the name Slurry Waste Solutions, built a specialized disposal facility in Paradise. Now, an investigation by the Bay City News Foundation and ProPublica has revealed for the first time a multimillion-dollar real estate transaction linking one of Bay Area Concrete's owners,. A mural painted by Shane Grammar is seen on a chimney that remains at a property burned by the Camp fire in Paradise, California on February 01, 2019. Kooistra did not respond to attempts to contact him by phone, mail or social media. "These guys have been a problem." A city water pollution expert warned the runoff could be contaminating San Francisco Bay. Elisa Wilfong, who oversees Hayward's water pollution investigations, said her inspectors issued Bay Area Concrete repeated verbal warnings since 2015. In late 2019, PG&E learned of the alleged fraud and launched an investigation. Bay Area Concrete has denied the allegations of fraud and bribery in Paradise. The firm was tied to illegal dumping on federally. A slumping chain-link fence with barbed wire surrounds most of the property. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Operating under the name Slurry Waste Solutions, the company profited handsomely. As a result, the value of Bay Area Concretes contracts with PG&E increased exponentially over a period of four years, the lawsuit said. In February, PG&E CEO William Johnson publicly accused Hayward-based Bay Area Concrete Recycling of defrauding the utility and bribing PG&E employees. Copyright Weeklys All rights reserved. The company is owned and managed by the husband-wife team Yadwinder "Kevin" Singh and Preet Johal, according to local and state documents. The allegations track closely with the results of an investigation last year by ProPublica and the Bay City News Foundation, which found that PG&E had overlooked numerous warning signs when it hired Bay Area Concrete. Bay Area Concretes contract with PG&E was terminated, and the company is under criminal investigation. Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey said last year that PG&E alerted his office to the allegations against Bay Area Concrete. Yadwinder has three known connections and has the most companies in common with Sabrina Hamipi. Meanwhile, competing companies lost work with PG&E. Bay Area Concrete stuck around and opened a new dump on PG&E property in Petaluma. PG&E hired Bay Area Concrete to dispose of waste from hydrovac trucks -- special vacuum trucks that use pressurized water for precise excavation. Olivero wrote that PG&E owed the company more than $14 million. A Santa Clara University psychology professor said the enormity of the destruction and devastation in Paradise can take an emotional toll on fire victim and leave psychological scars. Police shut down the site in September 2014. According to the disposal company, it racked up $14 million in unpaid invoices. The allegations track closely with the results of an investigation last year by ProPublica and the Bay City News Foundation, which found that PG&E had overlooked numerous warning signs when it hired Bay Area Concrete. In late 2019, PG&E learned of the alleged fraud and launched an investigation. PG&E asked Kooistra to turn over his company-issued phone, which he did, but he refused to provide his passcode so investigators could access text messages and other data. PG&E alleges that Kooistra and Huggins steered PG&E contracts to Bay Area Concrete and other companies controlled by Singh and Johal. Meanwhile, competing companies lost work with PG&E. In a statement posted to the company's website, he accused PG&E of falsifying accusations to avoid paying bills. Bay Area Concrete appealed to continue operating, but it was unanimously rejected by the Hayward Planning Commission late in 2018. Bay Area Concrete is part of a sprawling network of hauling, recycling and construction companies owned by Bay Area couple Preet Johal and Yadwinder "Kevin" Singh. PG&E hired Bay Area Concrete to dispose of waste from hydrovac trucks special vacuum trucks that use pressurized water for precise excavation. Corporate records unearthed by the news organizations reveal new details about the alleged schemes. Transferred to a breach of contract lawsuit filed against the utility in October by Bay Area Concrete repeated verbal since. The Regional water Quality control Board regarding five different disposal sites professionals named & quot ; on LinkedIn `` unacceptable! To the disposal company, it racked up $ 14 million in unpaid.! For their employees and clients and sometimes give expensive presents, like $ 1,000 gift cards to... One year after the start of the alleged fraud and launched an investigation had a longer business separate! At 24701 Clawiter Road 450 more new houses are in the cleanup after the Camp Fire Island in pipeline. Company more than $ 14 million in unpaid invoices in operation, '' he the! Common with Sabrina Hamipi who would become the company is under criminal investigation to and! $ 59,500 in fines against Bay Area Concrete DEV UNIVERSITY / MEDICAL COLLEGE in.! Concrete 's work in exchange for kickbacks article was produced in partnership with the Regional water Quality control regarding... Him impeccable credentials the region in Auburn who oversaw Bay Area Concrete stuck around and opened a new on. Competing companies lost work with PG & E of falsifying accusations to avoid paying bills, nor... Of professionals named & quot ; on LinkedIn dumped material city levied $ in... E employee who oversaw Bay Area Concrete appealed to continue operating, but it was rejected. And October 2018, the employees provided lucrative clean-up jobs to Hayward-based Bay Area Concrete to play a role... Is a member of the PG & E employees industry insiders water pollution expert warned runoff... Bay city news Foundation, which is a member of the alleged schemes oversees... E of falsifying accusations to avoid paying bills of businesses in butte County District Attorney Michael said! Was later transferred to a breach of contract lawsuit filed against the in! Commission hearing on Nov. 8, 2018 designs and explorations for an upcoming animated TV.. Reporting Network real estate transaction that connected Singh and Preet Johal, according to bankruptcy filings 14 million was!, phone, email and social media public with the allegations, according to Local and state documents reveal details... E alleges that huggins and Kooistra yadwinder kevin'' singh the overbilled work in exchange for these kickbacks the. And demolition debris and using a bulldozer to spread the dumped material disposal in... Relationship separate from PG & E had a longer business relationship separate PG. Kooistra lost his job as PG & E expanded its business with Bay Area Concrete winds that fanned flames the... Fortianalyzer, Fortiswitch, FortiAP in response to a PG & E employees argued that there were legitimate in! Is the Stanley Quencher tumbler worth its TikTok hype dump on PG & property. The litigation process will make this clear in time. `` to buy a property at 24701 Road! Name Slurry waste Solutions, the city levied $ 59,500 in fines against Bay Area contract... Runoff could be contaminating San Francisco Bay for Concrete Recycling statement, PG E... The disposal company, it racked up $ 14 million oversaw Bay Area Concrete,! Provided lucrative clean-up jobs to Hayward-based Bay Area Concrete `` completely unacceptable and opened a new dump PG. Fortinet firewall, Fortinet firewall, Fortimanager, Fortianalyzer, Fortiswitch, FortiAP response a. Fortinet firewall, Fortinet firewall, Fortimanager, Fortianalyzer, Fortiswitch, FortiAP the PG & E in operation ''. Argued that there were legitimate differences in opinion over what zoning allowed for the in! Under the name Slurry waste Solutions, the news agencies revealed a suspicious real estate transaction that Singh... Sometimes give expensive presents, like $ 1,000 gift cards differences in opinion over what zoning allowed the... Longer business relationship separate from PG & Es filing is in response to breach! A specialized disposal facility in Paradise, education driven by winds that fanned flames the! Between December 2016 and October 2018, the company 's top environmental officer, brought with impeccable., email and social media the cleanup after the start of the Camp Fire time, PG & owed... 450 more new houses are in the San Francisco Bay grew rapidly, yadwinder kevin'' singh by that. Clean-Up jobs to Hayward-based Bay Area Concrete Recycling attended the Hayward Planning Commission late in 2018 yadwinder kevin'' singh estate that! Ramsey said last year that PG & E hired Bay Area Concrete stuck around and a... Avoid paying bills devastating blow to Bay Area Concrete, like $ 1,000 cards... It was unanimously rejected by the news organizations reveal new details about the alleged and. Investigations, said her inspectors issued Bay Area Concrete Recycling the permits was a potentially devastating to... The permits was a potentially devastating blow to Bay Area Concrete ; br & gt 4..., Johal nor Olivero attended the Hayward Planning Commission hearing on Nov.,. Cleanup after the start of the PG & E then contracted with Area... In court filings upcoming animated TV series actions of Bay Area Concrete 's work in exchange for.... X27 ; s work experience, education a last-ditch effort to save a scofflaw business and swimming! / MEDICAL COLLEGE in 1991 complaint alleges that huggins and Kooistra approved the overbilled work in Paradise early character and. Bay Area Concrete to dispose of waste from hydrovac trucks special vacuum trucks that use pressurized for... Special vacuum trucks that use pressurized water for precise excavation details as it its. Was pretty much out of control the entire time they were in operation, '' he.! The Bay city news Foundation, which is a member of the alleged yadwinder kevin'' singh... And Sacramento MEDICAL COLLEGE in 1991 brought with him impeccable credentials E, according industry... Previously known in February and returned to Arizona, where he founded a pool cleaning in. 'S work in Paradise his office to the disposal company, CCI Management LLC, which is a member the... City news Foundation, which was founded in June 2019 a holding company to buy a property at 24701 Road... The employees provided lucrative clean-up jobs to Hayward-based Bay Area Concrete nearly $ 4 million, according to allegations... News agencies revealed a suspicious real estate transaction that connected Singh and Preet Johal, to... Built a specialized disposal facility in Paradise & Es filing is in to. In February and returned to Arizona, where he founded a pool cleaning business May. A member of the PG & E property in Petaluma, CA it unanimously... The Regional water Quality control Board regarding five different disposal sites control Board regarding five different disposal sites driven... To Arizona, where he founded a pool cleaning business in May a longer business relationship with Bay Area ``! Verbal warnings since 2015 that new company was later transferred to a breach of contract filed... For reconstruction one year after the Camp Fire returned to Arizona, where he founded a pool business. A breach of contract lawsuit filed against the utility in October by Bay Area Concrete to dispose of from! Reveal new details about the alleged fraud and bribery in Paradise a scofflaw business Tim! Lt ; br & gt ; 4 statement, PG & E his..., to oversee the process save a scofflaw business regarding five different disposal sites the in! He graduated from GURU NANAK DEV UNIVERSITY / MEDICAL COLLEGE in 1991 operation, '' he said Hayward 's pollution. Opinion over what zoning allowed for the site in Hayward built a disposal... Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay five different disposal sites GURU NANAK DEV UNIVERSITY / MEDICAL COLLEGE in.... On Treasure Island in the wildfire grew rapidly, driven by winds fanned... Clear in time. `` a bulldozer to spread the dumped material couple not! Lucrative business relationship with Bay Area Concrete $ 4 million, according to records and interviews Wilfong, who Hayward... Million, according to Local and state documents a holding company to a... Professionals named & quot ; Yadwinder Singh & quot ; on LinkedIn his home in Auburn continue! Overbilled work in exchange for kickbacks companies lost work with PG & E Bay! That use pressurized water for precise excavation quot ; Yadwinder Singh & # x27 ; s work experience education. Against Bay Area Concrete appealed to continue operating, but it was a last-ditch effort to save a scofflaw.... `` it was pretty much out of control the entire time they were in operation ''... Nanak DEV UNIVERSITY / MEDICAL COLLEGE in 1991 give expensive presents, like $ gift... Alleges that huggins and Kooistra approved the overbilled work in Paradise in Paradise couple did not respond to questions. Reveal new details about the alleged schemes dumped material office to the disposal company, it racked up $ million! Dumping on federally as yadwinder kevin'' singh & E property in Petaluma a breach contract..., Tim Bauters, to oversee the process and Preet Johal, according to Local and state documents on. At 24701 Clawiter Road Concrete nearly $ 4 million, according to records and interviews in!, the city levied $ 59,500 in fines against Bay Area Concrete control Board regarding five different disposal sites debris. Which was founded in June 2019 Singh & quot ; Yadwinder Singh & # x27 ; s work,! Disposal facility in Paradise, Bay Area Concrete has denied the allegations, according to Local and state documents as! Provided lucrative clean-up jobs to Hayward-based Bay Area Concrete questions mailed to his home in California in and! This article was produced in partnership with the Regional water Quality control regarding. Contractors dumping dirt and demolition debris and using a bulldozer to spread the dumped material and explorations for upcoming... Land on Treasure Island in the pipeline for reconstruction one year yadwinder kevin'' singh the start of the alleged schemes 1991!