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 ...
dam right.......and falsification of govt documents....
DEI thieves and fraudsters
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.
they need to sing to get the bigger fish
I needs a piece of the action, just enough to wet my beak....
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.
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