Police Officer, Municipal Employee Accused In Bid-Rigging Scheme

Derek J. Gale and Brandon F. Valentino.
Credit: Bucks County District Attorney’s Office

A police officer who lives in Falls Township is accused of conspiring to lower the value of township vehicles listed on Municibid–an online portal used for the sale of municipal property–so he and another municipal employee could purchase them for artificially low prices.

A Bucks County grand jury presentment unsealed on Tuesday details a months-long investigation by Bucks County Detectives which alleges that Upper Southampton Township police Officer Derek J. Gale, 47, of Falls Township’s Morrisville section, and Upper Southampton Township Assistant Public Works Director Brandon F. Valentino, 28, of Chalfont, conspired to profit via the alleged bid rigging scheme, which authorities say they carried out from April 2024 to May 2025.

According to the presentment, the investigation began in February when Bucks County Detective Dante Montella received a complaint about possible fraud within the Upper Southampton Township Public Works Department.

Montella testified in April and June about his investigation, which revealed that a 2014 green Ford Explorer formerly used by the Upper Southampton Township Chief of Police was listed on Municibid with a starting bid of $500 on April 17, 2024.

“Valentino, ultimately, won the auction with a $1,005 bid,” the presentment said, and later allegedly registered it in his name with a listed value of $1,000.

Montella said Valentino later sold the Explorer to the son of a former Upper Southampton Township police official who purchased it in December 2024 for $7,500–which he testified was $5,000 more than the sale price listed on the vehicle’s title.

Montella also testified about a similar vehicle–a 2013 gray Ford Explorer previously driven by a Upper Southampton Township police lieutenant–that was similarly listed on Municibid in April of this year.

That vehicle “had upgraded, silver-in-color aluminum rims on it when it was used by the Police Department” but was pictured on the Municibid listing “with standard black rims,” the presentment said.

Bidding for that Explorer opened April 24 and resulted in its purchase by Gale for $2,105, according to Montella’s testimony, which included details from an interview he conducted with Valentino in June.

“Gale was responsible for the fleet maintenance on behalf of the Police Department,” Montella testified to the grand jury. “In their capacities, (Gale and Valentino) worked very closely together and had daily contact.”

Montella testified that Valentino told him Gale “became a father figure and mentor to him,” and that it was in that capacity that he reached out to him when he was looking for buy a vehicle for his fiance.

According to the presentment, “Gale suggested he should look into purchasing the 2014 green Ford Explorer that was about to be decommissioned.”

According to grand jury testimony by Upper Southampton Township Police Chief Dominic Varcallo, the department has a schedule according to which it decommissions two vehicles and replaces them with two new vehicles every other year. Varcallo said the decommissioned vehicles are either turned over to other township departments or sold on Municibid. He testified that since vehicles sold on Municibid were turned over to the public works department, Gale should have had no involvement in their sale.

Montella testified that according to Valentino, when the 2014 Explorer had been decommissioned it was Gale who suggested he write a description to include things that would devalue the vehicle.

“As a result, Valentino would be able to get a good deal if he won the bid,” the presentment said.

The Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown. File photo.

When Gale was called to testify before the grand jury in July, he pleaded the Fifth Amendment, responding to each question he was asked with the statement: “I respectfully refuse to answer the question as I believe the answer may tend to incriminate me.”

Further testimony heard by the grand jury came from Bucks County Detective Tim Fuhrmann–a Certified Inspection Mechanic with decades of experience in accident reconstruction–who testified that his inspection of the 2014 Explorer determined the vehicle was “in relatively good shape,” despite the fact that the Municibid listing had stated “needs new engine.”

Fuhrmann also testified that the 2013 Explorer was in “good condition” and that despite a Municibid listing that said “it will need a new battery,” was equipped with a battery manufactured in June 2024.

“The vehicle started without any problem,” the presentment said.

Also appearing before the grand jury was Tri-County Collision owner Scott Lavin, who testified that Gale had access to his Upper Southampton business’ lot and would sometimes leave vehicle parts there.

Lavin also provided the court with surveillance video that allegedly showed Gale entering the lot in the 2013 Ford Explorer equipped with black steel rims on May 7.

“On May 8, 2025, at 3:20 p.m., the video shows Gale arriving in his personal truck with the silver aluminum rims with tires in the bed of the truck,” the presentment said. “At 4 p.m., Gale and Tri County employees begin to remove the black steel rims from the 2013 gray Ford Explorer and replace them with the silver aluminum rims that Gale brought with him. Gale rolls the old steel rims out of the garage into the Tri-County back lot.” Later, the video allegedly showed Gale driving the Explorer off the lot with the aluminum rims on it, according to the document.

Gale and Valentino have both been charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors in the case, including multiple counts of bid-rigging, theft by deception, conspiracy, and receiving stolen property.

According to court papers, following a preliminary arraignment before Bucks County District Judge Brian Marriott in Richboro Tuesday, Valentino was released on $30,000 unsecured bail and Gale was released on $25,000 unsecured bail.

According to the Upper Southampton Township Police Department’s Crimewatch site, in 2018 Gale was the recipient of a letter of commendation for his involvement in the arrest of a bank robbery suspect.

Gale is being represented by attorney Louis Busico, of Newtown, according to court papers, and is scheduled to appear before Marriott at a preliminary hearing Oct. 16.

“Derek Gale has dedicated his life to the protection of Bucks County’s citizens. People love him-he’s committed no crime,” said Busico.

Valentino is being represented by attorney Blake Jackman, of Newtown, according to his case docket.

Jackman declined comment on behalf of his client.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.

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