State: 2 Men Stole Businesses’ IDs To Get Public Contracts

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say two upstate New York contractors used the stolen identities of two minority-owned businesses to fraudulently obtain public construction contracts worth millions of dollars.

The state inspector general, attorney general and labor commissioner say Tuesday that 47-year-old Michael Martin and 52-year-old D. Scott Henzel have been indicted on charges that include identity theft and scheme to defraud.

Authorities say the two Albany-area men ran a now-defunct contracting company that took over two minority-owned businesses and used those businesses to land millions of dollars in public works projects.

Officials say Martin spent $1 million of the funds on a lavish lifestyle that included Caribbean trips. He's charged separately with stealing $350,000 from two businesses.

Martin is being held in jail on $100,000 cash bail. Henzel was released after posting bail.

Messages left with their attorneys weren't returned.