NJ Business, Owner Sentenced For Bribing Con Ed Manager

Federal officials say a New Jersey industrial pipe supply company and its owner have been sentenced for participating in a conspiracy to commit fraud and pay bribes to a purchasing manager with Consolidated Edison of New York.

Bernard Grobart received a five-year term Tuesday and was fined $125,000, while Lyndhurst-based Teneyck Inc. -- formerly known as Neill Supply Co. -- was ordered to pay a $550,000 fine. Grobart and Teneyck were also ordered to pay portions of $297,000 in restitution owed to Con Ed.

Grobart and Teneyck pleaded guilty last March to participating in a conspiracy to defraud Con Ed that ran from November 2003 to August 2008. Grobart also pleaded guilty to obstruction for having a company employee delete an electronic document that was subpoenaed by the government.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)