By AP/KWMU
Los Angeles – Two former executives of St. Louis-based public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard have been convicted of fraud and conspiracy in Los Angeles.
Tuesday a federal jury found Douglas Dowie and John Stodder Jr. guilty of bilking Los Angeles taxpayers and others out of more than $300,000 over four years.
Dowie is the one-time head of Fleishman-Hillard's Los Angeles office. Stodder worked as Dowie's aide.
The two were charged with illegally padding bills for consulting services paid by the Los Angeles Water Department and other clients.
Fleishman-Hillard was never charged with a crime, although the international public relations firm paid nearly $6 million last year to settle a lawsuit alleging repeated overbilling.
A sentencing date for Dowie and Stodder will be set later.