The owner of a painting company that received contracts from the University admitted in 1997 to socializing outside of work with Facilities Management employees, according to Internal Revenue Service documents.
The IRS documents show John Sandalis, then owner of Dalis Painting, Inc., which formerly contracted with the University, told government officials he fraternized with Spike Weeks, a contracts manager in Facilities Management, as well as Don Hicklin, a former contracts manager.
Ed Kirby, another painting contractor, contends that his company, Rainbow Painting, had its contract to paint Maury Hall terminated last spring as a result of the relationship between Weeks and Sandalis.
In 1997, the IRS was investigating Sandalis and his wife Michelle Sandalis for tax evasion. Both later were convicted.
An IRS Criminal Investigation Division Memorandum of Interview reports John Sandalis said he "occasionally socialized" with Weeks and Hicklin at Awful Arthur's seafood restaurant.
Sandalis indicated he would sometimes buy drinks for Weeks and Hicklin, the document said.
Another IRS memorandum also may indicate a close relationship between Weeks and Sandalis.
In the document, Donna Snow, a receptionist withDalis Painting, said Weeks frequently visited Sandalis at his office.
"This man, who wore a leather jacket, worked for U.Va. and came by to see John at least weekly," the document said. "She recognized the name Spike Weeks as being this person."
Earlier this month Kirby gave The Cavalier Daily a receipt from a Western Union transfer of $300 from Sandalis to Weeks. He also provided documentation of a $374.37 purchase from Davis TV & Appliance that was sent to Weeks and paid for with a Dalis Painting check.
According to the Commonwealth of Virginia Purchasing Manual for Institutions of Higher Education, such activities are forbidden for employees such as Weeks, who have authority to give out contracts.
Both receipts date from 1992. In the IRS interview memo Sandalis said he had worked with the University since 1990. Weeks has worked for the University for more than 20 years.
Earlier this month, Weeks said he was not friends with Sandalis outside of work and that he had not accepted money from Sandalis.
In the IRS interview, Sandalis attempted to explain the receipts, telling investigators the Western Union money was sent to Weeks to pay off a gambling debt of one of Sandalis' employees, according to one of the memos.
The IRS documents also reported that Sandalis said he did not remember the Davis TV & Appliance purchase, but that he may have been transporting something for Weeks.
All calls to Facilities Management personnel were directed to University spokeswoman Carol Wood. Wood said an investigation is ongoing but that she did not have more information at the time.
Some employees in Facilities Management said last week that Weeks was escorted off University property, but no one has confirmed or denied this in an official capacity.
Kirby said University officials have not contacted him about the investigation.
"That's why I'm wondering what kind of investigation they're doing," he said.
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