Ex-Highway Official Admits to Fraud Conspiracy

A former West Virginia Division of Highways employee has pleaded guilty to wire and tax fraud, admitting he used his position to funnel work to a South Carolina business and received secret payments of almost $200,000.

Bruce Kenney III, of Norfolk, Virginia, was indicted in what prosecutors call a conspiracy from 2008 to 2014 to bypass normal state procedures and steer $1.5 million of inspection work to Dennis Corp. of Columbia.

The 60-year-old Kenney, who pleaded guilty in federal court to two charges, worked in the Traffic Engineering Division.

A plea agreement calls for him to forfeit $197,250. He could face up to 25 years in prison. Prosecutors are recommending less.

Also charged are a former Dennis manager, another contractor and an ex-state employee who went to work for Dennis.