Motorola Solutions in Schaumburg, Illinois is now ranked the number two contractor for the Department of Homeland Security according to Homeland Security weekly.
All information in this report has been verified, much of the evidence comes from a 2010 report by the outstanding Chicago Inspector General Joe Fergeson. All other documents are available upon request.
In December of 2007, in response to a complaint alleging that James Argiropoulos, First Deputy Executive Director for Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communication (at the time) lied to the FCC, the Inspector General Office launched an investigation into the matter.
The focus of the IGO investigation was a pleading by Argiropoulos filed with the the Federal Communication Commission in which he falsely claimed that OEMC facilities were equipt to operate a block of emergency radio channels licensed to the city of Chicago.
Evidence in the IGO report proved the information filed by Deputy Executive Director Argiropoulos was indeed false, and that Argiropoulos lied because he wanted to grant the new OEMC license for another project. The other project--a no bid contract to Motorola for $168 Million.
The FCC clearly stated that no new license would be granted to the OEMC until the emergency radio channels for the license they already had were constructed.
The complaint that prompted the IGO investigation came from Sandra Black, the President of EMR, a consulting firm that dealt with OEMC for the Federal Communication Commission.
The allegations by Sandra Black were true, however, the IGO report concluded that no contract existed between the city of Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications and EMR. The consulting firm's payments were routed through Motorola and two other vendors bank accounts and filed under "unrelated contracts."
The IGO blasted the OEMC for violating the city of Chicago's procurement and payment rules and wasting city funds especially considering that Motorola and other vendors added surcharges to the city's bill for routing the payments to EMR when only acting as a payment vehicle.
The IGO report stated they would have recomrneded that James Argiropoulos be fired, but he resigned first. The report called Argiropoulos' actions serious and even criminal for not only jeopardizing Chicago's relationship with the FCC but most importantly putting first responders and citizens at risk.
Argiropoulos, the scapecoat did resign from his $104,804 a year position-sort of. First, in 2009, James Argiropoulos received the IBM Global Public Sector Innovation Excellence Leadership Award.
Motorola and two other vendors received $24,000 for services not performed. The IGO recommended that the city seek reimbursement.
A source close to the case said after William Carter assumed control of the radio projects at OEMC, Motorola was awarded "Sole Source" contracts in excess of $50M.
In a letter dated March 06, 2007, Brandon Williams from Motorola submitted a false statement about the installation of another $4 to 5 million radio equipment deal.
In 2005, Ron Huberman was the Director of OEMC and William Carter the OEMC Chief of Radio Communications.
William Carter supported the sole source procurement of the $22M Fire Digital Radio System that is still reportedly "coming soon". Carter also supported the Motorola Sole Source Equipment" contract knowing the criteria used was false or erroneous. Mr Carter was also involved in the invoice scheme with Illinois Communications.
Frank Lindbloom, according to a source knew at least some of these issues if not most of the issues were at least out there and did nothing.
Interestingly, Lindbloom and Motorola continue the same practices, the latest on record in 2010 for $5 Million for transmitting equipment procured from the Motorola Sole Source Contract - even after quotes OEMC received from another vendor for the same equipment procured from Motorola.
Several sources have indicated that James Argiropoulos' legal team threatened the city of Chicago that higher ups would be implicated if the city pursued any action against Argiropoulos. The City of Chicago has shown no interest in pursuing Argiropoulos over the $4 Million Motorola case since.
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