Floor Company Owner: I never gave a bid to GRTC

By Lindsey Ward

Published: December 3, 2008

We’re learning more about the investigation of a local couple accused of misusing federal grant money to pay for an interior design project.

We called all five companies listed in this search warrant as submitting bogus proposals.
   
One’s in Roanoke, another in Harrisonburg and the three others are out of state.
   
Jeff Sheaves, the owner of Sheaves Floors in Harrisonburg, told us he was contacted by Dawn Hope of the Roanoke City Auditor’s office about the investigation.
   
Sheaves says Hope asked him if his company had quoted GRTC for carpet and installation.
   
His reply was confusion, because he’s never done business in Roanoke and he’s never heard of GRTC.

According to the search warrant attachment, those alleged fake proposals looked very similar to detectives.  It says it seems to be written by the same person, because all five shared the same format, font and even the same typos.  The only difference was the logos, which detectives believe were copied and pasted.
   
Roanoke County Police now have their own paper work to deal with.
   
After searching the Holdren’s home, police took a computer, folders and files full of information, including ones that were specifically labeled with names of two of the five companies listed as giving fake proposals.
   
We called Diane Holdren’s company, Holdren’s interiors and we knocked on her door again, but no answer. 
   
She did, however, release this statement below through her attorney.

“Due to the fact that this is an ongoing investigation, my attorneys have instructed me not to comment at this time.

I have cooperated with the investigation. Once the investigation is complete, I am
confident there will be logical answers to any questions that might remain.”

It’s important to add, no charges have been filed in this case.