Ex-Bear accused in fraud involving local landscaper

A former Chicago Bear was charged with one count of mail fraud this week in connection with a scheme to defraud Chicago Public Schools of landscaping contracts worth about $1.5 million, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Roland Harper, 55, owned a trucking company called Rohar Construction that authorities said was used as front to secure Chicago Public Schools contracts set aside for minority-owned firms.

Monahan Landscaping Co. of Arlington Heights actually performed most of the work done between 2003 and 2006, according to court papers.

Harper's mail fraud charge stems from a $110,000 check he mailed to the schools, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy Miller said.

A court date for Harper hasn't been set yet, Miller said. If convicted, Harper could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

In July 2007, Aidan E. Monahan, president of Monahan's Landscaping Inc., was indicted on mail fraud charges. He is scheduled to plead guilty to that charge Tuesday, Miller said.

Monahan's plea agreement is not yet finalized, Miller said.

Harper -- a fullback -- was drafted the same year as Walter Payton and played for the Bears from 1975 to 1982.

According to the Chicago Bears official Web site, Harper lives in suburban Algonquin and has operated Rohar Trucking and Excavating since 1990.

Rohar Trucking employs up to 200 people, removes snow at O'Hare International and Midway airports and helped construct part of the skyboxes at the new Soldier Field, according to the site.