Ex-US Army Corps official admits war zone bribes
Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 01:41AM London Times
A former civilian official with the US Army Corps of Engineers pleaded guilty yesterday to taking bribes to help steer millions of dollars in contracts to three companies in the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Gloria Martinez, 61, entered the pleas in US District Court in New Orleans. The charges were one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and two counts of bribery.
In court documents, prosecutors said Ms Martinez helped three unidentified companies win contracts — or in at least one case a lucrative settlement following a contract termination — in exchange for bribes estimated at more than $400,000, including cash and jewellery.
The contracts or settlements outlined in the plea agreement total more than $75 million.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 18. Ms Martinez could get up to 35 years in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and restitution according to court documents — though a plea agreement released yesterday made clear that prosecutors are not going to press for the maximum.
More prosecutions appear likely. Ms Martinez agreed to co-operate with investigators looking into criminal activity in Afghanistan and Iraq, and testify before a grand jury if need be.
Reader Comments