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USAID official, 3 execs plead guilty in bribery scheme with over $550 million in contracts
thepostmillenial.com ^ | June 13, 2025 | Thomas Stevenson

Posted on 06/13/2025 4:17:29 PM PDT by lowbridge

A United States Agency of International Development (USAID) official as well as three corporate executives have pleaded guilty in a decades-long bribery scheme connected to over $550 million in contracts.

According to a press release from the Department of Justice, four men pleaded guilty to the charges of being part of the bribery scheme. The USAID official in the case was Roderick Watson, 57, of Maryland, who was a contracting officer and pleaded guilty to bribery of a public official. 

Walter Barnes, 46, of Maryland; Darryl Britt, 64, of Florida; and Paul Young, 62, of Maryland all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official while Barens also pleaded guilty to securities fraud.

Barnes and Britt were the owners of PM Consulting Group LLC (doing business as Vistant) as well as Apprio, Inc. respectively while Young was a subcontractor for both Vistant and Apprio. Both firms were certified businesses with the Small Business Administration 8(a) contracting program.

“Watson exploited his position at USAID to line his pockets with bribes in exchange for more than $550 million in contracts. While he helped three company owners and presidents bypass the fair bidding process, he was showered with cash and lavish gifts,” said Chief Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation.

According to court documents cited by the DOJ, while Watson was working as a contracting officer for USAID in 2013, he agreed with Britt to receive bribes so that contracts would be awarded to Britt's company Apprio. "Apprio could access lucrative federal contracting opportunities through set-asides and sole-source contracts exclusively available to eligible contractors without a competitive bid process," the DOJ said.

(Excerpt) Read more at thepostmillennial.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2013; apprio; apprioinc; corruption; crime; darrylbritt; dindunuffin; dindunuffins; dindus; doge; espionage; fraud; graft; grandtheft; guyficcio; paulyoung; pmconsulting; pmconsultinggroup; pmconsultinggroupllc; rico; roderickwatson; usaid; vistant; walterbarnes; watson
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To: gunnut

dam right.......and falsification of govt documents....


21 posted on 06/13/2025 10:51:33 PM PDT by Liz (This then is how we should pray...."Our Father, who art in heaven......" )
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To: crusty old prospector

DEI thieves and fraudsters


22 posted on 06/13/2025 10:52:53 PM PDT by Liz (This then is how we should pray...."Our Father, who art in heaven......" )
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To: lowbridge

Ever notice that bureaucrats of color just have to wear a pair of glasses, even if they don’t need eyeglasses? It somehow makes them more authentic? The women in particular just have to sport a pair of goofy goggles with huge frames. The men go for that Malcom X look. Props.


23 posted on 06/13/2025 11:55:53 PM PDT by blackdog ((Z28.310) Dogs are with us briefly. Politicians last on forever. Listen to your dog. )
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To: dragnet2

they need to sing to get the bigger fish


24 posted on 06/14/2025 3:25:32 AM PDT by ronnie raygun
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To: lowbridge

I needs a piece of the action, just enough to wet my beak....


25 posted on 06/14/2025 4:43:40 AM PDT by Steven Tyler
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To: Texas Eagle

Bonehead the billionaire always asking and demanding the USA lay out a ton of money for other countries. I wonder how much of his money he’s given, not once have I ever read about him doing that.


26 posted on 06/14/2025 12:54:19 PM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (As long as Hillary Clinton remains free, the USA will never have equal justice under the law)
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