Posted on 11/29/2020 1:01:04 PM PST by ransomnote
WASHINGTON – Eric Schneider, a 60-year-old Virginia resident and former Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Communications Resource, Inc. (CRI), pled guilty on November 6, 2020 in federal court in the District of Columbia to one count of conspiracy to violate the Procurement Integrity Act and one count of obstruction of justice.
According to court papers, Schneider admitted to giving gifts to multiple officials at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to influence the award of contracts worth over $19.2 million to CRI and another company he controlled. Schneider admitted to giving USDA officials Corvette wheels, concert tickets, PGA tour tickets, meals, alcohol, strip clubs, parking, concierge medical services, prescription drugs, and other cash tips. Schneider further admitted that, as part of the conspiracy, he drafted or instructed employees to draft procurement documents in such a way as to favor the award of a multi-million dollar contract to CRI. Schneider then provided the documents to a USDA official to whom he provided gifts, for use in the procurement process as if they had been prepared by the USDA. Schneider also admitted to directing two CRI employees to destroy documents responsive to a federal grand jury subpoena.
Schneider pled guilty in United States District Court for the District of Columbia. United States District Judge Carl J. Nichols is presiding over the case. A sentencing date has not yet been set. The maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in prison and a fine of not more than $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain or loss of the offense. The maximum penalty for obstruction of justice is ten years of imprisonment.
The Washington Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Beltsville Field Office of the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General (OIG) investigated the case, along with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services OIG, the Department of State OIG and the Small Business Administration OIG. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Aloi of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section is prosecuting the case.
And the recipients?
I’m sorry, but we are going to have to start hanging thieves.
There are too many of them and they aren’t afraid of having to go to prison.
What people often don’t consider in bribery and/or conspiracies is that takes at least two people in-the-know, and there are usually many more. No different than adultery, for that matter
...and all it takes for the house of cards to come down is one honest person - then the others are quickly advised to own-up or spend hard-time in the slammer (or Club Fed).
It’s generally better to simply embezzle or otherwise steal when you have the opportunity.
Three may keep a secret...
“Three may keep a secret...”
True, but only one of them can be full trusted.
EXACTLY! That was my first response. It takes two to tango, don'tcha know?
Well I guess those yearly online government ethics and EEO courses are pretty much useless.
Craig list: looking for “... Corvette wheels, concert tickets, PGA tour tickets, meals, alcohol, strip clubs, parking, concierge medical services, prescription drugs, and other cash tips...” enthusiasts.
I’d say two of them: the two that are dead.
The French had it right on July 14th.
A 2020 CRI press release states, “CRI, a certified woman-owned small business (WOSB), headquartered in McLean, Virginia, has supported the federal government for over 25 years.” The release lists several specialties focused on technology and physical security.
CRI President Victoria Johnson told The Virginia Star in an email, “Mr. Schneider has not been employed by our company for some time.”
She added, “We have already distanced ourselves from Mr. Schneider,
And the recipients?
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