FBI arrest of Katonah contractor causes a stir
- Thane Grauel
- Apr 11
- 2 min read
By Thane Grauel
The arrest of a Katonah contractor by FBI agents last Thursday afternoon, April 3, rippled through his neighborhood and in local online forums.
Agents arrested Nadil Isa, 50, of Greenville Road. He is accused of giving kickbacks — in the form of money and gifts — in exchange for contracting work from Stephan DeGroat of Slate Hill, N.Y., who had been director of facilities and operations for Goodwill Industries.
Isa is the owner of Top Contractors, a Katonah-based home improvement and construction company, according to the indictment filed in federal court in Brooklyn.
Neighbors said they witnessed a presence of FBI agents at the intersection of Greenville and Anderson Roads and wondered about the cause. Some expressed concern that the agents were aiding an immigration enforcement action in the area, but there was no evidence of that.
Before the hubbub on April 3, a federal investigation had taken place, and a grand jury convened. It handed down an indictment.
“In or about and between June 2021 and August 2023, the defendant NIDAL ISA paid approximately $35,000 in bribes and kickbacks to the defendant STEPHAN DEGROAT in exchange for DEGROAT’s steering Company #1 business to Top Contractors,” the indictment reads, Company #1 being Goodwill Industries.
The kickbacks, the indictment said, were in the form of cash payments via Zelle, and goods including a washer and dryer costing more than $5,000, and an 65-inch Samsung television.
Top Contractors obtained some $2.3 million in work from Goodwill Industries, the indictment states. It alleges DeGroat told Isa what other firms had bid and paid invoices above the contracted amount. It states the criminal scheme also included fictitious bids.
The indictment details payments from Goodwill to Top Contractors, followed shortly after by payments or goods going to DeGroat. It quotes text communications between the two.
Isa pleaded not guilty to all charges and was released on $100,000 bond. DeGroat also pleaded not guilty and was being held on $250,000 bond.
Bedford police said they had been notified by the FBI that agents would be working in the area, but did not take part in the arrest.