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SAVANNAH, Ga. — Timothy "Bo" Strickland, the owner of Evans Concrete LLC, was sentenced to five months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to his role in a bid-rigging and price-fixing scheme in coastal Georgia. U.S. District Judge R. Stan Baker delivered the sentence on Thursday, also imposing a $150,000 fine on Strickland, consistent with his plea agreement.

Federal prosecutors had sought a stiffer sentence of one year and one day, arguing that Strickland had "ultimate authority" over pricing decisions at Evans Concrete and used this power to coordinate with competitors. However, Judge Baker reduced the prison term by seven months but upheld the financial penalty.

Strickland's sentencing is part of a broader investigation into a conspiracy involving multiple companies in the Savannah area. The scheme, which violated the federal Sherman Act, involved rigging bids and fixing prices for ready-mix concrete between 2010 and 2016. Evans Concrete, alongside competitors Argos USA and Elite Concrete, was accused of manipulating markets for public and commercial projects, including work at Georgia Southern University.

Strickland admitted in April under a plea agreement that he participated in price-fixing, bid-rigging, and job allocation for concrete sales in Statesboro, Georgia, from at least 2011 to 2013.

Other Sentences and Ongoing Legal Proceedings

James Pedrick, a former Evans sales representative and another participant in the scheme, was sentenced to two years of probation on Thursday after pleading guilty to violating the Sherman Act. Pedrick, who previously worked at Argos, was described by prosecutors as a "minor participant" but cooperated fully with the investigation, which influenced his probation sentence.

Meanwhile, the Melton brothers, Gregory Hall Melton and John David Melton, who were also involved in the scheme, were convicted by a jury in July. They have since requested a new trial.

The government’s case was led by Patrick S. Brown and Julia M. Maloney of the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division, alongside E. Gregory Gilluly Jr. from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia. Strickland was represented by Thomas A. Peterson IV, and Evans Concrete by Daniel P. Griffin and R. Brian Tanner. Pedrick's defense was handled by Nicholas A. Lotito and Harry D. Dixon Jr.

The case is U.S. v. Evans Concrete LLC et al., case number 4:20-cr-00081, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia.