SONOMA, Calif. -- A former water operations supervisor for the city of Sonoma was indicted Thursday for mail fraud stemming from an alleged kickback scheme with a Novato parts vendor, the United States Attorney's Office announced Friday.

Randall Cover, 46, of Rohnert Park will be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bernard Zimmerman in federal court in San Francisco on Nov. 13.

As a water operations supervisor for Sonoma between 2000 and 2007, Cover negotiated contracts with vendors for parts that were needed for capital improvement projects. He allegedly steered Sonoma contracts to Underground Express in Novato in exchange for kickbacks, U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello said.

Cover is allegedly received $102,795 from Underground Express.

The indictment also alleges Cover undermined the competitive bidding process for city contracts by providing Underground Express with pricing information that allowed the Novato company to consistently submit low bids and receive city business for parts contracts in the city's water department.

The maximum penalty for each count of mail fraud is 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 plus restitution.

The FBI and the Sonoma Police Department conducted the 18-month investigation of the case.