Feds reported investigating Mass. contract

BOSTON, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- A federal grand jury is investigating a contract given to a Massachusetts software company with alleged ties to associates of the state Assembly speaker.

Cognos ULC won a $13 million contract from the state Education Department in 2007 after being awarded a smaller one the previous year. The Boston Globe reported the company made payments to two close associates of Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, his accountant, Richard Vitale, and a lawyer he shares office space with, Steven Topazio.

The state later canceled the Cognos contract. IBM, which now owns the company, has repaid all money it received.

Several lawyers confirmed the grand jury investigation, the Globe said. DiMasi's office refused to comment.

A state grand jury is investigating a $60,000 payment the Massachusetts Association of Ticket Brokers paid to Vitale while the group was trying to get legislation to deregulate the industry. Vitale, in addition to being DiMasi's accountant, gave him a below-market-rate mortgage in 2006, the Globe said.