More Legal Troubles for CEO of Contractor on Washington Bridge - Cited for Leaving Scene of Accident

More Legal Troubles for CEO of Contractor on Washington Bridge - Cited for Leaving Scene of Accident

GoLocal has learned that Vincent Barletta has even more legal troubles than previously reported.

Barletta is the CEO of Barletta Heavy Division, the lead contractor on the Washington Bridge, and his firm has also been contracted by the McKee Administration to conduct the emergency repairs to the failed bridge.

Court documents show that in addition to the multiple charges Barletta faces for a February 23 incident in Needham, Massachusetts, which GoLocal reported on Tuesday, he also faces multiple charges for another incident.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Barletta was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury and leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, as well as one other related charge.

That incident, which the Commonwealth is now prosecuting, took place on the Mass. Pike in May of 2023, according to court documents.

Each of those charges is a misdemeanor with a penalty of no greater than 100 days of incarceration.

In total, Barletta is facing six different charges for the two incidents.

 

 

Under Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti, Barletta’s company has been awarded many of Rhode Island’s top transportation contracts, including the 6/10 project, the construction of the Henderson Bridge, the construction of the Pawtucket-Central Fall Transit Center as well as the Washington Bridge. Some of these contracts have been to consortiums in which Barletta is the lead.

The contracts for those projects in total exceed $600 million.

Barletta’s office refused to comment on the charges in Massachusetts.

Governor Dan Mckee has repeatedly defended Barletta receiving the contracts to repair the bridge, and refused to comment on Vincent Barletta's arrest for driving under the influence. 

 

Other Legal Issues Pending for Barletta and Company

- Presently, Barletta’s company is under felony indictment by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office for its role in the dumping of contaminated material in the Olneyville section of Providence as the lead contractor on the 6/10 project.

In announcing the indictment in January of 2023, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said, “As alleged in the Information, Mr. Ferreira [then-the project supervisor for the 6/10 project] and Barletta used the 6/10 site as an environmental dumping ground, and not only for Rhode Island waste. Worse yet, they made Rhode Island a dumping ground for Massachusetts waste.”  

“Their actions come at the expense of Rhode Islander’s public health and their environment. Rhode Island’s environmental and public health laws exist for a reason. To keep Rhode Islanders safe, and to preserve our environment. We will continue to aggressively enforce those laws. Because Rhode Islanders deserve nothing less,” Neronha added.

 

- The company signed a non-prosecution agreement in October of 2022 with the U.S. Department of Justice. “When federal tax dollars fund work in our communities, we expect that the government will get what it bargains for,” said U.S Attorney for the District of Rhode Island Zachary Cunha.  “In this case, that didn’t happen.  Today’s resolution should serve as a reminder to any company or corporate official that, when the government is footing the bill, false statements have consequences.” 

 

- Vincent Barletta is also entangled in ongoing civil litigation with his brother Timothy Barletta for the sale of certain assets valued at $60 million.