71°
STAMFORD, Conn. Two men were arrested Thursday on suspicion of defrauding the city of Stamford by manipulating the weight of refuse in their garbage trucks at the citys transfer station, Stamford police said. Police estimate more than $330,000 was defrauded from the city over the past five years.
The trucks were traced to Margarum Refuse, and owners Wayne Margarum Sr., 65, and Wayne Margarum Jr., 48, turned themselves in after hearing about warrants for their arrests, a police statement said. Each was charged with first-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny. Both posted the $50,000 court-set bond.
The investigation began in April after police received a tip from transfer station employees, the police statement said. Police believe the Margarums made the weight of two trucks about 3,000 pounds heavier for the annual weigh-in and lighter during trips to the transfer station.
Because of the statute of limitations, police were able to track back only five years. Police suspect the city was defrauded $120 to $150 per trip per truck, and $332,116.68 in total, the statement said.
The two trucks were taken out of circulation and deemed not road worthy because of other defects, police said. All other garbage trucks were weighed and were consistent with their annual weight, the police statement said.
Sgt. Andrew Gallagher and Sgt. Peter diSpagna were the lead investigators on the case, along with the state polices truck squad and the state Department of Motor Vehicles Commercial Vehicle Safety Division.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Stamford and receive free news updates.
