Contractor accused of defrauding suburbs

A Niles contractor is charged with fraud and theft of government property after being accused of violating the state’s Prevailing Wage Act.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced the charges against Alan M. Harris, 46, Thursday after he appeared in court for a bond hearing in the morning. Harris was released after posting $10,000 bail.

Madigan’s office accused Harris of obtaining public works contracts between 2010 and 2011 in Buffalo Grove, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Volo and Stevenson High School District 125 in Lincolnshire and forcing his employees to kick back some of their pay earned from working on those publicly funded projects to him.

Harris is accused of defrauding the taxing agencies out of more than $400,000, Madigan said.

If convicted, Harris faces a maximum of 30 years in prison on the theft charge. The fraud charge carries a maximum prison sentence of five years. His next court date is scheduled for Oct. 25.