Area men charged in kickback scam

Three suburban men were among five people charged this week in a kickback scam alleged by the federal government.

Saverio "Pete" Barone, age unavailable, of Bartlett; Anthony Lee, 62, of Glen Ellyn; and Amirali Rehmat, 53, of Darien, all worked for Gas Technology Institute of Des Plaines or one of its subsidiaries, according to prosecutors.

The company provided research products and technical services to help customers solve environmental and energy problems related to the natural gas business. Much of its work was funded by grant monies from public and private entities, including federal agencies.

According to an indictment handed up Wednesday by a federal grand jury and made public Thursday, the three men "fraudulently caused (the companies they worked for) to award research contracts … to companies operated by their relatives and/or associates … in exchange for undisclosed kickbacks, namely an average of approximately 90 percent (and) … a total of approximately $7,000,000" from about 1992 to 2002.

Each defendant was charged with mail fraud.

Rehmat's brothers, Zulfikar Rehmat, 59, of Issaquah, Wash., and Minazali Rehmat, age unavailable, of British Columbia, were also charged with mail fraud.

Ted Poulos, attorney for Anthony Lee, could not be reached for comment. Chris Gair, Barone's attorney, declined to comment. No arraignment date has been set.