Posted on 08/26/2006 3:49:05 AM PDT by leadpenny
WASHINGTON--A former U.S. Army Reserve officer from Spotsylvania County admitted yesterday that he steered millions of dollars in Iraq-reconstruction contracts in trade for jewelry, computers, cigars and sexual favors.
Bruce D. Hopfengardner, 46, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud.
Hopfengardner served as a special adviser to the U.S.-led occupation, recommending funding for projects on law-enforcement facilities in Iraq.
He admitted conspiring with Philip H. Bloom, a U.S. citizen with businesses in Romania, Robert J. Stein Jr., a former Defense Department contract official, and others to create a corrupt bidding process that included the theft of $2 million in reconstruction money.
Hopfengardner is the first military officer to plead guilty in the conspiracy. Bloom and Stein already have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the scheme.
Hopfengardner's role was to recommend that the Coalition Provisional Authority fund projects to demolish the Ba'ath Party headquarters, rebuild a police academy and construct various other facilities.
Bloom, who controlled companies in Iraq and Romania, bid on projects using dummy corporations. Stein ensured that one of the firms was awarded the contract, according to court documents.
The businessman allegedly showered Hopfengardner and Stein with cash, cars, premium airline seats, jewelry, alcohol and even sexual favors from women at his Baghdad villa.
"A lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army today admits to a disturbing abuse of his position, in scheming with others to defraud the government for their own personal and financial gain," Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher said in a statement.
Court papers said Hopfengardner demanded that Bloom pay for a white 2004 GMC Yukon Denali with a sandstone interior. At Hopfengardner's request, Bloom also allegedly paid the air fare for Hopfengardner and his wife to travel from San Francisco to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., while he was on leave in January 2004.
E-mails that prosecutors made public in April show that Bloom told his employees to spare no expense in satisfying the officials who controlled contracts in the CPA's regional office in Hillah, about 50 miles south of Baghdad.
As part of the plea agreement, Hopfengardner surrendered a car, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, camera equipment, a Breitling watch valued at $5,700 and a computer. He also agreed to forfeit $144,500, prosecutors said.
Lock his arse up.
That's part of the problem. No where does it indicate any jail time. He should get a cell next to Duke Cunningham.
Just damn. What about forfeiting his Reserve pension? This criminal should not get another dime of taxpayer money.
wait, we was buying those from haji at the gate for around 40 bucks , I guess he wanted a real one. I thought they were ugly.
I'm just hoping they've left the good parts out of the article. Maybe he hasn't been sentenced yet and we'll eventually see a headline that reads:
"Former Army LTC Breaking Rocks at Leavenworth"
"Former Army LTC Breaking Rocks at Leavenworth"
We can only hope.
Adapting to the local culture?
The problem with many "officers" is that it took an act of congress to make them "gentlemen"
after a bust to spec zero and make him a turret gunner on a mule (no ammo, and lead sealing the barrel) outside of Ramadi with his crook buddies
after a bust to spec zero and make him a turret gunner on a mule (no ammo, and lead sealing the barrel) outside of Ramadi with his crook buddies
Since we can't use the Babylonian punishment for corruption, he ought to be stood against a wall and shot, "to encourage the others".
In Babylon it is said that judges handed down decisions from a bench upholstered in the hides of predeccessors who took bribes. The hide in question having been removed while its former owner was still using it.
Do you think he is the same guy? And, what does it all mean?
If that one is taken, he should get the one next to Dan Rostenkowski (Rat-Ill). Oops, that's right. The Bent One pardoned him. How about Marc Rich? Oh, never mind.
Check out his list of pardonees. They're mostly cokeheads, tax evaders and bank embezzlers. Not a savory bunch but not surprisingly the usual crowd of rat supporters. Talk about a culture of corruption.
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pardonchartlst.htm
Everyone's wondering why this guy got off so lightly. The prosecutor must be expecting to fry bigger fish with the cooperation of these guys.
He's probably expecting to follow this trail right up to Cheney and Bush.
...
(gotta get DUh right on this story)...
LOL
The current president has pardoned his share of bank and S&L crooks. Of course, when the pardon is granted, the restitution orders go away, and they can keep whatever they have hidden away.
I dunno and I dunno.....
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