Three South Florida men face fraud charges after they allegedly participated in a kickback scheme at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, according to the Department of Justice.
Steven Cross, 53, Israel Campos, 64 and Mark Cantrell, 45 have been charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Campos and Cantrell were also charged with tax evasion for failing to report their income for one year.
In 1992, Cross became the superintendent of Calder for 16 years and ordered chemicals to maintain the race course grounds. Working separately, Campos and Cantrell were employed with companies that sold the chemicals to businesses.
Cross allegedly ordered chemicals from Campos and Cantrell, who then filled the order and had it delivered to the race course. When the supplies arrived, Cross would allegedly sign for the false delivery, according to the department.
About 80 percent of the chemicals billed to Calder by Campos were never delivered. None of the chemicals billed by Cantrell were ever delivered.
The three men said that they would split the money in the scheme, according to the department. Over a 10 year period, Campos received $2 million that he split with Cross. Over nine years, Cantrell got $1.5 million that he would also split with Cross, the Department of Justice said.
A plumbing contractor, another alleged member of the kickback scheme, also may have been involved from 2004 to 2005.
Cross and Cantrell face up to 25 years in prison and Campos faces a maximum 20 years.
