A former commercial roofing executive from Fort Lauderdale has admitted he helped rig bids on jobs across Florida, a scheme that prosecutors say steered more than $3.5 million in ill‑gotten business to his company.
Federal prosecutors identified the defendant as Gregg Wallick, the former president and chief executive officer of a commercial roofing company. Wallick pleaded guilty to one felony count of restraining trade in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Court filings say his conduct ran from at least September 2020 through February 2022 and involved what insiders call a "comp" or "cover" bidding scheme, where competitors secretly decide in advance who will land the work.
How Prosecutors Say the Scheme Worked
According to prosecutors, Wallick and his co‑conspirators coordinated bids so one company would “win” while others submitted deliberately high cover bids. On paper it looked like a fair fight. In reality, customers were paying more while the supposed competitors quietly played on the same team.
"Bid rigging is cheating, plain and simple," Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel W. Glad said in a statement from the Antitrust Division, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice. The scheme, prosecutors say, corrupted the bidding process on commercial roofing projects and undercut honest contractors who refused to play along.
Investigation and Prosecution
The FBI’s Miami Field Office investigated the case and has urged anyone who suspects they overpaid because of rigged bids to speak up. Agents posted notice of Wallick’s guilty plea on the bureau’s social account and asked the public for tips, according to FBI Miami. Federal prosecutors brought the case in the Southern District of Florida, keeping the prosecution close to the community where the contracts were won.
Penalties and Next Steps
Wallick’s felony plea carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. Any punishment will be set by a judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, according to MLex.
Why This Matters in South Florida
Antitrust experts warn that bid‑rigging cases like this do not just nick a few big clients. They can quietly inflate costs for businesses, small property owners, and taxpayers who rely on honest competitive bidding for repair jobs and storm‑recovery work. Recent enforcement activity shows the Antitrust Division has stepped up attention to local bid‑rigging schemes, including probes into commercial roofing in Florida, as part of a broader effort to police procurement collusion, according to Wolters Kluwer’s Antitrust Connect blog.
How to Report Suspected Bid Rigging
Officials say anyone who believes they may have been a victim of inflated prices or suspiciously synchronized bids should contact law enforcement. The FBI Miami Field Office accepts tips online and by phone, and provides local contact details and a web form for submissions. For more information or to file a tip, visit FBI Miami.
