Overview
- A 21-count federal indictment charges Michael Muller and vendor John Colantuoni, with Muller appearing in Boston and Colantuoni arrested in Florida for an initial appearance there.
- Prosecutors allege Muller solicited more than $870,000 from five vendors from 2010 to 2021 through cash, checks, a used pickup truck, $85,000 in building materials, and a required hire for his adult child.
- Schemes outlined include inflated power-wash billings, a $189,444 invoice for snow removal that was not performed, and kickbacks routed via fake invoices to a landscaping company.
- Colantuoni’s company allegedly bought materials for Muller’s Rhode Island vacation home as payments to his firm from the Transportation Company rose, and he is accused of giving false grand jury testimony.
- Boston Public Schools says it learned of the allegations in 2022, fired Muller, contacted law enforcement, cooperated with investigators, and added stronger payment oversight in a 2023 bus contract.