Associated Press Published

Four Charged in Contract Scheme

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  Four people have been charged with fraudulently using federal small-business programs to obtain contracts worth millions from the government.

U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld II said Monday that the defendants obtained contracts worth more than $140 million under a program that helps disadvantaged business operators compete for government contracts. Another $24 million was obtained under a program that helps disabled veterans.

A federal indictment charges 64-year-old Michael J. Marshall, 61-year-old Brandt Stover and 52-year-old Stephen M. Powell, all of Steubenville, Ohio, and 42-year-old Nichole P. Northcraft of New Cumberland, West Virginia, with conspiracy to defraud the United States and wire fraud.

Stover also is charged with willfully causing the submission of false claims and witness tampering.