WARSAW — Marc Campbell, Mishawaka, pleaded guilty to four counts of providing false information to a government entity, all Class D felonies.

The charges stem from a 2013 case. Campbell was the owner and president of ProForm Pipe Lining. The company schemed with the former Warsaw Street Department Superintendent Lacy Francis receive bids on multiple city contracts. After obtaining the contracts, the company intentionally overcharged the City of Warsaw for the work.

The Indiana State Board of Account performed an investigation and concluded that Campbell and Francis were both “jointly and severally liable to the city of Warsaw for overpayments in the amount of $318,569.”

Campbell appeared in Kosciusko Circuit Court this afternoon, Jan. 27 with his attorney Vincent Campiti. Campiti and Kosciusko County’s Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Hampton presented a plea agreement for consideration to Judge Michael Reed.

By pleading guilty to four counts of providing false information to a government entity, Campbell had the charges of corrupt business influence and theft dropped from the case. The plea agreement states that all sentences shall be served consecutively, one after another, and that the initial executed portion of the sentence cannot exceed six years.

Campbell must pay full restitution to the City of Warsaw and $70,000 of the sentence must be paid prior to the plea acceptance date. If accepted into the program, Campbell may serve his sentence through Community Corrections in either Kosciusko, Elkhart or St. Joseph counties.

Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer, Warsaw Police Chief Scott Whitaker and other public officials were present at the plea hearing. 

“The abuse of power in any fashion is reprehensible; especially when it involves the manipulation, fraud, and deceit of the citizens of the City of Warsaw,” said Thallemer. “The City expects that today’s plea will set in motion a long awaited judicial resolution to this case and, finally, an accounting for and repayment of stolen taxpayers’ money.”

Campbell’s sentencing is scheduled to take place at 9:30 a.m. on March 9. Francis has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for 3 p.m. on Feb. 6.