CHICAGO — A Chicago-area contractor has been charged with allegedly running a kickback scheme that defrauded several suburban municipalities of more than $400,000 for public works projects.

A statement from the Illinois attorney general's offices says Alan Harris was charged Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court with theft of government property and mail fraud.

The 46-year-old Niles man is accused of illegally obtaining construction contracts in 2010 and 2011. And the attorney general's office alleges he forced employees to kickback money form their monthly paychecks.