FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, ILL. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Office of the Attorney General), published as received.

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – United Ironworkers (“United”), D&K Welding Services (“D&K”), Kim Rasnick, and Dorrie Wise-Harris have agreed to pay the United States and the State of Illinois
$440,000 to resolve a civil False Claims Act investigation relating to fraud on the Disadvantaged 
Business Enterprise (“DBE”) programs of the United States and the State of Illinois U.S. Attorney 
Steven  D.  Weinhoeft  announced  today.  United  and  D&K  are  steel  construction  companies 
operating on highway and bridge projects in Illinois and other midwestern states.

The  DBE  program  reflects  Congress’s  intent  to  combat  discrimination  against  minority  and 
women-owned  businesses  on  federally-assisted  surface  transportation  work.  Under  the  DBE 
regulations, only businesses independently owned and operated by a minority or woman may be 
certified as a DBE.

The government alleged that, as a non-DBE, United and its President, Kim Rasnick, conspired with   
a   DBE,   D&K,   and   its   President,   Dorrie   Wise-Harris,   to   provide   materially   
false representations and information regarding ownership and control of D&K for DBE certification 
and  recertification  purposes.  These  allegations  were  investigated  by  the  U.S.  Department  
of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General and culminated in this settlement.

“The DBE program is designed to provide business opportunities to minority and women owned 
businesses. Funds designated for that purpose should not be misallocated to   
businesses masquerading as legitimate DBEs,” said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.

Karl and Diana Jefferson, who own a steel construction firm in Southern Illinois,  
brought  the allegations  to  light.  The  False  Claims  Act  permits  private  individuals  to  
sue  on  behalf  of  the government  for  false  claims  and  to  share  in  any  recovery.  The  
civil  lawsuit  was  filed  in  the Southern District of Illinois and is captioned United States et 
al. v. United Ironworkers, Inc., et al., 17-cv-1402. The Jefferson’s will receive $79,200 from the 
settlement proceeds.

This matter was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois and the
Illinois Attorney General’s Office.