The forced resignation of high-ranking state Division of Highways administrator Bob Andrew last Friday came just days after Andrew’s name surfaced during a plea hearing for a former DOH supervisor.
Edward Tuttle, who resigned from the DOH last April, pleaded guilty Aug. 13 to lying to federal investigators about his role in delivering a sold surplus vehicle, on state time, to the Port of Baltimore, where it was to be shipped overseas.
During Tuttle’s plea hearing, federal officials say, FBI special agent Morgan Spurlock testified that Andrew told Tuttle to deliver the vehicle. Officials say Spurlock further testified that Andrew filed forms with the DOH stating that the travel by Tuttle and a second unidentified individual was for a different purpose.
Andrew has not been charged with any crime.
Andrew has worked for the DOH for 16 years. He’s the former head of the equipment division in Buckhannon, but was reassigned earlier this year to an $82,000 a year job as a special executive assistant to Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox.
Federal and state authorities have focused on the Buckhannon office for some time now, looking into allegations of bid rigging, fraud and political activity on state time. U.S. Attorney Bill Ihlenfeld said on a recent Talkline show that their investigation is expanding.
“It’s not just an Upshur County issue. It’s a statewide issue,” Ihlenfeld said. “There are other areas that we’re looking at and other parts of the state of concern.”
The Charleston Gazette’s Eric Eyre reports that the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the State Police, the FBI and the state Legislature’s Commission on Special Investigations are all working on the case.
Eyre writes that “In 2006, the West Virginia Ethics Commission and the Legislative Auditor investigated truck and equipment purchases at the DOH equipment office. At the time, Andrew called the investigation ‘a bunch of malarkey.’ The investigation’s findings were never made public.”
Ihlenfeld also confirmed that subpoenas have been issued to individuals at the main DOH office in Charleston. It’s believed that the subpoenas, as well as Andrew’s name surfacing during Tuttle’s plea hearing, prompted the abrupt departure of Andrew last Friday.
DOH officials are saying very little, only that they are continuing to cooperate with the investigation.
Tuttle’s plea includes an agreement for him to continue cooperating with authorities. However, another former Buckhannon supervisor, Barry D. Thompson, is fighting the charge against him. He’s scheduled for trial next month on a charge of lying to investigators.
It’s hard to say where the investigation may lead. Investigators have been working this case for awhile now and the results, so far at least, have been modest. However, this probe could also be like cracked plaster; once a couple pieces come loose, the rest could come crumbling down.