Red Sox tickets allegedly used to reward Big Dig inspector

(Globe file photo)

Tickets similar to those shown above were allegedly given to a plumbing inspector by P.J. Riley & Co.

By Globe Staff

A Big Dig contractor is accused of improperly rewarding a state inspector with a pair of $80 Red Sox tickets for issuing plumbing permits and performing inspections on several projects, according to the State Ethics Commission.

A vice president of P.J. Riley & Co. allegedly gave inspector Taylor Roth two tickets to several games from 2004 to 2006 in violation of the state’s conflict of interest law, according to the Ethics Commission. Roth is a senior inspector at the State Board of Examiners of Plumbers and Gasfitters.

“Roth received the Red Sox tickets as a reward for permits he had issued and/or inspections that he had performed of P.J. Riley’s work as a senior inspector and/or to influence such official acts that he would perform as a senior inspector,” according to a complaint issued by the Ethics Commission.

To read copies of the Ethics Commission complaints in Microsoft Word, click here for Taylor, here for Thomas Riley, or here for P.J. Riley & Co.

The tickets were allegedly given to Roth in connection with projects at the Dewey Square ventilation building, the Massport Black Falcon Terminal, and the ventilation Buildings for the Sumner and Callahan tunnels.

Roth, the company, and the vice-president, Thomas Riley, all face charges before the Ethics Commission, which can impose civil penalties of up to $2,000 per violation of the conflict of interest law. A hearing will be scheduled within the next 90 days.

Riley and other officials at P.J. Riley & Co. could not be immediately reached for comment. There was no answer at the State Board of Examiners of Plumbers and Gasfitters.

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