USAID Official, Three Contractors Plead Guilty To Half-Billion Dollar Bribery Scheme

[1srelluc]

USAID Official and Three Corporate Executives Plead Guilty to Decade-Long Bribery Scheme Involving More Than $550 Million in Contracts; Two Companies Admit Criminal Liability for Bribery Scheme and Securities Fraud

Greenbelt, Maryland – Four men, including a government contracting officer for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and three owners and presidents of companies, have pleaded guilty for their roles in a decade-long bribery scheme involving at least 14 prime contracts...

www.justice.gov

USAID Official, Three Contractors Plead Guilty To Half-Billion Dollar Bribery Scheme

Three government contractors and a USAID official have pleaded guilty to a scheme involving paying bribes in order to steer more than half a billion dollars in foreign aid contracts, the Department of Justice said Friday.Roderick Watson, a USAID contracting officer, admitted to steering money to...

www.dailywire.com

Three government contractors and a USAID official have pleaded guilty to a scheme involving paying bribes in order to steer more than half a billion dollars in foreign aid contracts, the Department of Justice said Friday.

Roderick Watson, a USAID contracting officer, admitted to steering money to multiple companies in exchange for more than $1 million in bribes.

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

The scheme was possible because of the federal government’s racial “set-aside” laws known as 8(a) contracting, which allow contracting officers to give contracts to companies owned by minorities, women, or veterans without the usual competitive process.

Walter Barnes III, the founder of a Baltimore-area company predicated on taking advantage of those laws, admitted to paying bribes, including a country-club wedding, cash, and a trip to Martha’s Vineyard.

Barnes’s company is called Vistant, previously known as PM Consulting Group. It was awarded contracts on the pretense that it was “disadvantaged” because Barnes is black, even as it took in tens of millions of dollars. Barnes used a public defender in his court case, drawing a rebuke from the judge that he presumably had ample resources to pay for his own lawyer.

Also pleading guilty was Darryl Britt, the founder of 8(a) contracting firm Apprio Inc., which is received $271 million in federal contracts since 2004. Both companies also admitted criminal liability.

This is what I voted for but there needs to be a lot more of it.

They were given the contracts specifically to kick the money back. This is graft BY the politicians to capture money from tax payer debt they regulate.

Why do you think it’s no bid?

 

[pknopp]

Tell us why things are no bid in your estimation?

The White House Pushed FEMA To Give its Biggest Coronavirus Contract to a Company That Never Had to Bid

The Trump administration has rushed through more than $760 million in contracts outside the usual bidding process during its haphazard coronavirus response. It’s highly unusual for the White House to step into FEMA’s supply bidding process.

www.propublica.org

Corruption?


How about anyone that awards a no bid contract goes to jail?

 

[Delldude]

Runs in my mind the good 'ol boys at DOGE said USAID was rife with fraud. Looks like they were right.

Three government contractors and a USAID official have pleaded guilty to a scheme involving paying bribes in order to steer more than half a billion dollars in foreign aid contracts, the Department of Justice said Friday.

Roderick Watson, a USAID contracting officer, admitted to steering money to multiple companies in exchange for more than $1 million in bribes.

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

USAID Official, Three Contractors Plead Guilty To Half-Billion Dollar Bribery Scheme

Three government contractors and a USAID official have pleaded guilty to a scheme involving paying bribes in order to steer more than half a billion dollars in foreign aid contracts, the Department of Justice said Friday.Roderick Watson, a USAID contracting officer, admitted to steering money to...

www.dailywire.com

 

[1srelluc]

Dupe.

Thread 'USAID Official, Three Contractors Plead Guilty To Half-Billion Dollar Bribery Scheme'

Jun 14, 2025

USAID Official and Three Corporate Executives Plead Guilty to Decade-Long Bribery Scheme Involving More Than $550 Million in Contracts; Two Companies Admit Criminal Liability for Bribery Scheme and Securities Fraud

Greenbelt, Maryland – Four men, including a government contracting officer for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and three owners and presidents of companies, have pleaded guilty for their roles in a decade-long bribery scheme involving at least 14 prime contracts...

www.justice.gov

USAID Official, Three Contractors Plead Guilty To Half-Billion Dollar Bribery Scheme

Three government contractors and a USAID official have pleaded guilty to a scheme involving paying bribes in order to steer more than half a billion dollars in foreign aid contracts, the Department of Justice said Friday.Roderick Watson, a USAID contracting officer, admitted to steering money to...

www.dailywire.com

Three government contractors and a USAID official have pleaded guilty to a scheme involving paying bribes in order to steer more than half a billion dollars in foreign aid contracts, the Department of Justice said Friday.

Roderick Watson, a USAID contracting officer, admitted to steering money to multiple companies in exchange for more than...

• 1srelluc
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Law and Justice System

• 
• 
• 

 

[leftwinger]

If not stolen, wasted. $164 million Given to overseas terrorist organizatios. Fun to throw around other peoples money.

 

[Blaster]

Just more corruption from Democrats.

 

[pknopp]

Just more corruption from Democrats.

Decade long. That means it was going on under Trumps first term also.

 

[Oddball]

USAID Official and Three Corporate Executives Plead Guilty to Decade-Long Bribery Scheme Involving More Than $550 Million in Contracts; Two Companies Admit Criminal Liability for Bribery Scheme and Securities Fraud

Greenbelt, Maryland – Four men, including a government contracting officer for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and three owners and presidents of companies, have pleaded guilty for their roles in a decade-long bribery scheme involving at least 14 prime contracts...

www.justice.gov

USAID Official, Three Contractors Plead Guilty To Half-Billion Dollar Bribery Scheme

Three government contractors and a USAID official have pleaded guilty to a scheme involving paying bribes in order to steer more than half a billion dollars in foreign aid contracts, the Department of Justice said Friday.Roderick Watson, a USAID contracting officer, admitted to steering money to...

www.dailywire.com

Three government contractors and a USAID official have pleaded guilty to a scheme involving paying bribes in order to steer more than half a billion dollars in foreign aid contracts, the Department of Justice said Friday.

Roderick Watson, a USAID contracting officer, admitted to steering money to multiple companies in exchange for more than $1 million in bribes.

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

The scheme was possible because of the federal government’s racial “set-aside” laws known as 8(a) contracting, which allow contracting officers to give contracts to companies owned by minorities, women, or veterans without the usual competitive process.

Walter Barnes III, the founder of a Baltimore-area company predicated on taking advantage of those laws, admitted to paying bribes, including a country-club wedding, cash, and a trip to Martha’s Vineyard.

Barnes’s company is called Vistant, previously known as PM Consulting Group. It was awarded contracts on the pretense that it was “disadvantaged” because Barnes is black, even as it took in tens of millions of dollars. Barnes used a public defender in his court case, drawing a rebuke from the judge that he presumably had ample resources to pay for his own lawyer.

Also pleading guilty was Darryl Britt, the founder of 8(a) contracting firm Apprio Inc., which is received $271 million in federal contracts since 2004. Both companies also admitted criminal liability.

This is what I voted for but there needs to be a lot more of it.

They were given the contracts specifically to kick the money back. This is graft BY the politicians to capture money from tax payer debt they regulate.

Why do you think it’s no bid?

Another roster of dudes who need to be sweated to tell all they know about other corrupt actors in USAID...It's not like they pulled this shit in a vacuum.

 

[1srelluc]

 

[Delldude]

Another roster of dudes who need to be sweated to tell all they know about other corrupt actors in USAID...It's not like they pulled this shit in a vacuum.

Probably one of many. Patel was dropping hints a couple weeks ago.

 

[justoffal]

Decade long. That means it was going on under Trumps first term also.

Yep

 

[Delldude]

Decade long. That means it was going on under Trumps first term also.

And before...... that get by you?

 

[BackAgain]

USAID Official and Three Corporate Executives Plead Guilty to Decade-Long Bribery Scheme Involving Over $550 Million in Contracts; Two Companies Admit Criminal Liability for Bribery Scheme and Securities Fraud

Four men, including a government contracting officer for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and three owners and presidents of companies, have pleaded guilty for their roles in a decade-long bribery scheme involving at least 14 prime contracts worth over $550 million...

www.justice.gov

I trust the source is highly valued by liberals.

 

[Captain Caveman]

But but but, Lefties claimed there's no government waste and fraud

 

[Rigby5]

Runs in my mind the good 'ol boys at DOGE said USAID was rife with fraud. Looks like they were right.

Three government contractors and a USAID official have pleaded guilty to a scheme involving paying bribes in order to steer more than half a billion dollars in foreign aid contracts, the Department of Justice said Friday.

Roderick Watson, a USAID contracting officer, admitted to steering money to multiple companies in exchange for more than $1 million in bribes.

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

USAID Official, Three Contractors Plead Guilty To Half-Billion Dollar Bribery Scheme

Three government contractors and a USAID official have pleaded guilty to a scheme involving paying bribes in order to steer more than half a billion dollars in foreign aid contracts, the Department of Justice said Friday.Roderick Watson, a USAID contracting officer, admitted to steering money to...

www.dailywire.com

I disagree.

If you actually read the details, it says 1 million in bribes in order to ensure who the government contracted with.
It does not say the contracts were bad or work done badly.
And in fact, the bribe was private money, so there was ensured harm to anyone.

This was a bypass of the bidding process, but that is often done.
Bidding makes the lowest bid get the contract, but you don't always want that.
Sometimes you want higher quality, uniformity, experience, etc.

There is not enough detail to tell if there was actually any crime or not?

 

[Rigby5]

But but but, Lefties claimed there's no government waste and fraud

This does not actually detail any waste or fraud.
It depends on the quality of the work done on the contract.

 

[Delldude]

If you actually read the details, it says 1 million in bribes in order to ensure who the government contracted with.
It does not say the contracts were bad or work done badly.

Frame it however you want so you can feel good......laws were broken.

 

[San Souci]

Runs in my mind the good 'ol boys at DOGE said USAID was rife with fraud. Looks like they were right.

Three government contractors and a USAID official have pleaded guilty to a scheme involving paying bribes in order to steer more than half a billion dollars in foreign aid contracts, the Department of Justice said Friday.

Roderick Watson, a USAID contracting officer, admitted to steering money to multiple companies in exchange for more than $1 million in bribes.

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

USAID Official, Three Contractors Plead Guilty To Half-Billion Dollar Bribery Scheme

Three government contractors and a USAID official have pleaded guilty to a scheme involving paying bribes in order to steer more than half a billion dollars in foreign aid contracts, the Department of Justice said Friday.Roderick Watson, a USAID contracting officer, admitted to steering money to...

www.dailywire.com

Yep-- Besides ,ALL Social Programs are corrupt.