Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan | Department of Justice
Anthony Thelen, a current executive and co-owner of Surveying Solutions Inc. (SSI), and Adam Ball, a former owner and executive of the same company, pleaded guilty to defrauding the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) through the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). The announcement was made by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.
Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Michigan Division, and Anthony Licari, Special Agent in Charge at the United States Department of Transportation – Midwestern Region, joined Gorgon in announcing the plea.
Ball, 48, from Saginaw, Michigan, and Thelen, 47, from Pewamo, Michigan, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. On July 28, 2025, their co-defendants Jeffrey Bartlett, Brian Bartlett, and Andrew Semenchuk also entered guilty pleas. According to information presented during plea hearings, between February 2011 and July 2019 Ball and Thelen—along with their co-defendants—operated SSI while it received millions in highway construction contracts funded largely by federal dollars through USDOT.
The group engaged in fraudulent overbilling practices that led MDOT to overpay SSI by millions of dollars. These practices included submitting false claims for employee wages and IT costs as well as inflating equipment and real property lease expenses. They also concealed true ownership details about SSI entities to justify the inflated billing.
As part of a non-prosecution agreement with federal authorities, SSI will avoid criminal charges if it implements enhanced internal controls and corporate reporting requirements while paying a $1.1 million penalty. The agreement requires SSI to establish an improved compliance program and regularly report on its progress to government officials.
According to prosecutors, SSI’s cooperation with investigators was a key factor in reaching this resolution. The company has reorganized under new management and taken steps aimed at preventing future fraud.
The case resulted from an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Karen L. Reyolds, T. Patrick Martin, William Vailliencourt, and K. Craig Welkener are prosecuting.
"The United States Attorney’s Office reached this agreement with SSI based on numerous factors, among those the fact that SSI cooperated with federal agencies investigating the case and that SSI has implemented extensive remedial measures, including reorganizing under new management, and establishing a compliance program to detect and prevent similar fraud in the future," said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.
"This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General," added Gorgon.
