Man Charged with Selling Clean Urine Samples to Parolees
Russell Grant, 31, was arrested on April 23rd, 2008 for allegedly selling clean urine samples to parolees and people on probation. He is being charged with bribery and attempting to influence a public official.
Grant was employed at the Williams Street Center, a drug-rehabilitation center which has a contract with the Colorado Department of Corrections. An investigation was launched approximately one year ago by the Office of Inspector General in Colorado after they received a complaint that someone was selling clean urine samples. The samples were sold to people on probation or parole who were required to undergo urinalysis screening.
Grant sold a clean urine sample to an undercover police officer posing as a parolee. He received $180.
Williams Street Center is owned and operated by Community Education Centers Inc., which is based out of New Jersey. Our staff attempted to contact Bill Palatucci, senior vice president of Community Education Centers, by phone and email, but received no response. Mr. Palatucci was quoted in the Rocky Mountain News as stating that background checks are conducted on all employees, even Grant. However, a quick search at the Denver County Courts website showed that Grant had a 2004 misdemeanor conviction for disturbing the peace.
Grant was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond and is scheduled to appear in court again on May 24th, 2008.
Grant was employed at the Williams Street Center, a drug-rehabilitation center which has a contract with the Colorado Department of Corrections. An investigation was launched approximately one year ago by the Office of Inspector General in Colorado after they received a complaint that someone was selling clean urine samples. The samples were sold to people on probation or parole who were required to undergo urinalysis screening.
Grant sold a clean urine sample to an undercover police officer posing as a parolee. He received $180.
Williams Street Center is owned and operated by Community Education Centers Inc., which is based out of New Jersey. Our staff attempted to contact Bill Palatucci, senior vice president of Community Education Centers, by phone and email, but received no response. Mr. Palatucci was quoted in the Rocky Mountain News as stating that background checks are conducted on all employees, even Grant. However, a quick search at the Denver County Courts website showed that Grant had a 2004 misdemeanor conviction for disturbing the peace.
Grant was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond and is scheduled to appear in court again on May 24th, 2008.
Labels: Colorado, denver, employee background checks, urinalysis
posted by JenWiehl at 10:29 AM
13 Comments:
Forget going to college, I think I've find my career calling! Wow, so bizarre.
Seriously. $180 a pop?!?!
someone asked me to pee for them one time. i was appalled and so mad.
Who knew it was worth so much. That is insane.
The sad thing about this is that a company that is working to help addicts recover is actually enabling them because they didn't run one background check on one employee. Background Checks are especially important when working with an "at-risk" community.
Anything for a buck and a quick fix to a problem, just come clean.
Wow. I guess if they did the background check before 2004, they wouldn't have found anything, but seeing as they have a contract with the Department of Corrections, you'd think this company would be a little more diligent about background checks!!
Everybody's got an angle!
that's really crazy
on one hand, I guess these people are total innovators!
It is very difficult for state agencies and private companies to hire and retain competent people. People like this should be banned from working. They should make an example of this character.
I can't stop thinking about the Seinfeld episode when Elaine uses Mrs. Seinfeld's urine to pass a test.
Now days people will do anything just to get a buck, or should I say $180 bucks. This guy should be band obtaing a job where he would have any opportunity to set and example.
That's why a Criminal Record is sometimes called a Criminal History. History tells about the past in order to understand the future. A person's past can be a good indicator of their future.
Screen your employees--it's for everyone's good.
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