Barletta, CEO of Company That Is Lead on Washington Bridge, Is Target of Suit From Brother Over $60M
GoLocalProv News Team and Josh Fenton
Barletta, CEO of Company That Is Lead on Washington Bridge, Is Target of Suit From Brother Over $60M
Vincent Barletta’s construction firm was selected by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) under Director Peter Alviti for not only the Washington Bridge, but also the 6/10 project, the Henderson Bridge, the Pawtucket-Central Fall Transit Center and others. The company is presently under felony indictment in Rhode Island for environmental crimes.
Presently, Vincent Barletta is the defendant of a lawsuit filed in Middlesex County Superior Court by his brother Timothy Barletta, claiming that he has not received his share of the sale of assets.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“The sale and/or value of the properties and assets identified … have generated approximately $60 million revenue. Timothy, however, has not received distributions and/or proceeds from the sale of these properties and/or assets due and owing to him pursuant to his ownership and/or beneficial interest in these entities,” according to the lawsuit.
The assets in question range from the sale of Rolling Hills Development worth between $10 million and $14 million, the sale of Sparrows Point Shipyard for $35 million, the sale of Royal Equipment Leasing for nearly $11 million, and other assets.
Vincent Barletta, through his spokesperson Patti Doyle, said, “As clarified in the past, Tim Barletta has not been involved in Barletta Engineering/Barletta Heavy Division since 2010. The current case involves a family real estate matter unrelated to the construction company. Barletta Engineering/Barletta Heavy Division continues to successfully operate in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island and is grateful for the continued confidence and trust its clients place in this fourth-generation company.”
While Vincent Barletta reaffirms that Tim Barletta has no association with the company, GoLocal unveiled in October of 2020 that Timothy Barletta was a donor to top Rhode Island Democrats — and listed one of the Barletta companies as his employer.
Timothy Barletta Big Donor in RI, Vincent Barletta Was Barred From Giving Donations in Massachusetts.
A political fundraising event in December of 2017 for then-Governor Gina Raimondo and then-Speaker Nick Mattiello raised $26,000 in total, with the Barletta donations totaling $5,000, or nearly 20% of the total take.
Not only did Timothy Barletta list his employer as Barletta Engineer in connection with the donations to the Rhode Island Democratic Party in December 2017, but he also listed Barletta Engineering in another Rhode Island donation to a Democratic PAC, as well as on multiple federal campaign donations in the past few years.
In 2016, the Massachusetts campaign finance agency said that Vincent Barletta made or reimbursed improperly donations to 10 candidates including former Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. former Gov. Karyn Polito, former Gov. Deval Patrick, former Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, former Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and former Weymouth Mayor Sue Kay.
As part of the agreement between Barletta and Massachusetts state officials, he was forced to pay a "civil forfeiture" of $185,000.
In the 16-page agreement signed by Barletta, "Respondents First Fidelity Corp., Puma Corp., and Vincent Barletta, jointly and severally, shall make payments totaling $185,000 to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the nature of a civil forfeiture."
And, the agreement stipulated further, "The Respondents agree not to make any contributions to influence Massachusetts elections for a period of five ( 5) years from the date of this Agreement. The Respondents agree not to fund any independent expenditures or electioneering communications for a period of five ( 5) years from the date of this Agreement. Vincent Barletta agrees not to solicit contributions for any Massachusetts candidate or candidate committee from any employee of Barletta Engineering or its related corporate entities for a period of five (5) years from the date of this Agreement."
The prohibition ended in 2021.
Barletta Heavy Division Is Under Indictment in RI
Vincent Barletta’s company, Barletta Heavy Division, is under indictment for its dumping of hazardous material in Olneyville in Providence — next to homes with children, and at the time of the dumping, two pregnant women lived in the adjacent houses.
The Canton-based company did little work for the RIDOT before Alviti. Barletta is the lead contractor on four major projects — the total project costs exceed more than $600 million combined.
6/10 Reconstruction Project
Barletta Lead Contractor
Total Projected Cost: $410 Million
Contaminated soil was dumped on a portion of the 6/10 site by Barletta in the Olneyville neighborhood adjacent to homes and businesses. The U.S. Department of Justice signed a non-prosecution agreement with Barletta. The company paid $1.5 million. Barletta’s project supervisor, Dennis Ferreira, pled guilty to multiple federal charges. Barletta is presently under state indictment, as is Ferreira. The project has also incurred tens of millions in cost overruns.
Henderson Bridge No. 600 & Henderson Expressway
Barletta Lead Contractor
The total cost for this project is $84.4 million.
Washington Bridge
Barletta Lead Contractor
Total Projected Cost: $78 Million
The westbound Washington bridge failed forcing its closure.
The bridge’s failure is now under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Inspector General’s Office of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
McKee defends using Barletta to do emergency repair work while the company is under state indictment.
Pawtucket-Central Falls Transit Center
Barletta Lead Contractor
Total Projected Cost: $63 Million
Contaminated soil was taken from the Pawtucket site by Barletta construction and dumped in the Olneyville neighborhood adjacent to homes and businesses. This violation was cited in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Non-prosecution agreement with Barletta. Barletta’s project supervisor, Dennis Ferreira, pled guilty to multiple federal charges. Barletta is presently under state indictment, as is Ferreira.
This story was first published 3/7/24 1:19 PM