A former U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) contracting officer and three corporate executives have pleaded guilty to orchestrating a decade-long bribery scheme involving over $550 million in federal contracts, according to the Department of Justice.
Roderick Watson, 57, admitted to accepting more than $1 million in bribes from 2013 to 2022. In return, he leveraged his position to steer 14 prime contracts to two consulting firms: Apprio, Inc., and Vistant (formerly PM Consulting Group). The bribes included cash, luxury items, down payments on two residential mortgages, tickets to NBA games, and jobs for relatives. To conceal the illicit payments, the conspirators utilized shell companies and falsified documents.
The executives involved — Walter Barnes (Vistant), Darryl Britt (Apprio), and Paul Young (a subcontractor for both firms) — also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery. Barnes further admitted to securities fraud related to defrauding a small business investment company.
Watson faces up to 15 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for Oct. 6. Barnes, Britt, and Young each face a maximum of five years, with sentencing dates set between July and October.
Apprio and Vistant have entered into three-year deferred prosecution agreements, admitting criminal liability. They are required to implement compliance measures and report to the Justice Department. Apprio is expected to pay a $500,000 civil settlement, while Vistant will pay $100,000.
Matthew Galeotti, the head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, made a statement in a news release the four men “sought to enrich themselves at the expense of the American taxpayers.”
“Their scheme violated the public trust by undermining the integrity of the federal government’s procurement process,” Galeotti added.
U.S. Attorney Kelly Hayes emphasized that her office, along with law enforcement partners, remains committed to prosecuting “corruption at every level.”
“Watson was entrusted to serve the interests of the American people — not his own — and his criminal actions for personal gain undermine the integrity of our public institutions,” Hayes said.
“Public trust is a hallmark of our nation’s values, so corruption within a federal government agency is intolerable.”
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Corrupt democrat party is no longer effective in todays political environment, there old values no longer acceptable, by the American tax payers. Their tactics of lie, disruption, underhanded approval of indirect providers of violence to make their points are done. They contribute nothing for positive change in America nothing to hold towards our values, that made and keep our Country great. Need for a two party system that supports crime, broken laws, waste of tax dollars is done, vote them out, keep them out, continued corruption of the democrats are no longer a way of life that will be supported by tax payers .We don’t need or want the corrupt democrat tax thieves in office any longer vote them out keep them out.
Do we have a failure to communicate to the Demoratic leadershp that the ways of the past will not be the new ways? Its seems like everytime we find politically based problems it’s tied directly to Democrats no matter if it may be. As an example they have been slowly setting up “sancturary cities” across the nation, which is in direct violation of the Constitution of the USA and now that Trump can in and is inforcing it they are all going bonkers, encouraging people to have riots, burn cars, assault law enforcement, and teel they are untouchable. Got a clue bird the black female from NJ representative that assaulted a police officer may fine she not only committed a crime, but a federal crime as well. I do hope so much that she gets some prison time for that as someone needs to be held accountable. I find it ironic that Nancy Pelosi kept saying for 4 years that she did not want the national guard on J6 becasue it was a bad image, and now she is making a 180 degree change saying she was begging for the NG to come in .
Nest we have Govenor Newsome and the Mayor from LA who are encouraging the demonstrations which result in millions of dollars in damage, the rampet and uncontrolled actions of illegal aliens mixed with obviously paid protesters waving Mexican flags and burning American flags. That is a slap in the face and insult to ever veteran who has serve and to those who gave their lives for this nation. Between the Governor and Mayour they have failed twice in less than a year as they played their fiddles, first with the devistating fires in fire season by not being prepared before the season started and now by actually encouraging the riots and demonstations. In past times, leaders were physically thrown out of office, but today they must use the ballot box. I vote of no confidence on both should be demanded and remove them before they can do any more damage.
A TRIPLE “AMEN” !!!!!!!
Where did the $550 million go? How do they intend to recover it and make the taxpayer whole?
That’s the point! get the head of each snake, leaving every other snake to surface, but hope we won’t ask that question!
MAYBE Trump will do it in a COMPLETE way, including COMPENSATION to We The People.
I want to keep following the thread and see which of our elected officials is tied to them, then audit them as well.
One scumbag down, 50,000 to go!
I think their sentencing was too light. The fines/punishment do not fit the crime. More fine should have been leveled and longer prison time. Apprio and Vistant should not be allowed to defer.