Corruption

Scheme Involved U.S. Military Contracts Awarded in Kuwait

November 5, 2009 -- A civil lawsuit was filed today against a former U.S. Army officer and three contracting firms related to an alleged bribery scheme in connection with the awarding of contracts for services in Kuwait. Former Army officer John Cockerham Jr., who is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, previously pleaded guilty to criminal charges along with another former officer, James Momon Jr.    » read more »

October 28, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- Bill J. Allen and Richard L. Smith were each sentenced in separate hearings today for their participation in a corruption scheme in which they provided approximately $395,000 in corrupt payments to public officials from the state of Alaska, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division. Allen and Smith were sentenced in U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska by U.S. District Court Judge John W. Sedwick.    » read more »

Also requires education for employees and contractors

10/1/2009 -- Raleigh -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue today signed Executive Order 24 to extend North Carolina General Statute 133-32, the state’s gift ban, to cover all executive branch state employees. Currently, the ban applies only to a limited number of employees who are directly involved with contracts, or the inspection or supervision of construction.

“This executive order makes it clear — those of us who serve the people of North Carolina must be held to the highest ethical standards and act accordingly,” said Perdue. “Citizens expect and deserve nothing less.”

Within the next 30 days, all executive branch agencies are required to:    » read more »

September 30, 2009 -- Washington, DC – From the floor of the U.S. Senate Tuesday, Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) called for greater transparency in the oil, gas and mineral industries in an effort to fight corruption and promote stability in nations rich in such resources. Senator Cardin and Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN) (D-RI), have introduced S. 1700, the Energy Security Through Transparency Act of 2009, which would provide for public disclosure of payments to oil, gas and mineral extraction companies through mandatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, along with co-sponsors Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Russ Feingold (D-WI), and Sheldon Whitehouse    » read more »

July 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – A retired U.S. military official pleaded guilty to bribery and conspiracy charges relating to Department of Defense (DOD) contracts in Afghanistan, the Department of Justice announced today.    » read more »

Competitive and transparent license office award process implemented by Nixon was embraced by overwhelming majorities in the General Assembly

July 1, 2009 -- SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Immediately after taking office in January, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon ended a longstanding tradition of political patronage by putting up for competitive bid the state's system of 183 license offices. Today, Gov. Nixon signed into law House Bill 381 and House Bill 683, which codify his reforms in statute and ensure that the open and transparent bidding system he implemented will remain in place in future years.    » read more »

Two Military Officials Plead Guilty to Bribery, Fraud and Conspiracy Related to Defense Contracts in Afghanistan; Third Military Official Pleads Guilty to Receiving Stolen Property

June 19, 2009 -- Four Contractors and Four Contracting Companies Also Charged with Related Crimes

Two U.S. military officials pleaded guilty to various bribery, fraud and conspiracy charges relating to Department of Defense (DOD) contracts in Afghanistan. A third military official pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property, which was obtained through the bribery conspiracy. In addition, four DOD contractors and four affiliated contracting companies were indicted for their roles in paying bribes to the military officials and otherwise defrauding the United States.    » read more »

Former State Representatives Be Released

June 4, 2009 -- The Department of Justice today asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to remand the cases of former Alaska State Representatives Victor Kohring and Peter Kott, who were convicted on corruption charges in 2007, to the District Court. The Department also asked the Court of Appeals to release the two on personal recognizance, after the Department uncovered material that appears to be information that should have been, but was not, disclosed to the defense prior to trial.

Attorney General Eric Holder also instructed the Department’s Criminal Division to review the Department’s public corruption investigation in Alaska to ensure that all other discovery obligations have been met.    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- NEW YORK -- Lev L. Dassin, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Norman Hsu was found guilty today on all four counts in the superseding indictment charging him with violating the Federal Election Campaign Act by making contributions to various political campaigns in the names of others. Hsu was found guilty following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero in Manhattan federal court.    » read more »

Geneva, 7 May 2009 – Chief executives from some of the world’s leading companies have called on governments to more effectively and robustly implement the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

In a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the CEOs threw their support behind the world’s only universal anti-corruption instrument, stating that it “holds the promise of curbing corruption and creates a level playing field for all participants in the global economy”. They praised the Convention, describing it as “an essential instrument in the fight against corruption”, but they underlined the need for the establishment of an implementation review mechanism at the next Conference of States Parties to be held in Doha in November 2009.    » read more »

Government Seeks Forfeiture of Commercial Real Estate, Residences and Expensive Automobiles

May 6, 2009 -- A 23-count indictment unsealed today alleges that a civilian contractor paid more than $2.8 million in bribes to a U.S. Army contracting official stationed at Camp Arifjan, an Army base in Kuwait, and the official’s wife, and that the three individuals committed honest services fraud and money laundering offenses in connection with the same conduct.    » read more »

April 28, 2009 -- Alabama Governor Riley’s Anti-Corruption Bill is up for debate in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, April 29. In a video message, Governor Riley discussed efforts to pass this sweeping reform and urged Alabamians to call or email members of the committee and tell them to support House Bill 594.

The principles of House Bill 594 are:

* Public officials are public servants. All references to public officials and public employees in our ethics law will be replaced with the term “public servants.” This is to remind all that public service comes with a duty not to serve our own interests but the public’s.    » read more »

Launches Whistleblower.Illinois.gov to crack down on corruption

CHICAGO – April 15, 2009 -- Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is urging government employees and taxpayers to demand integrity and honesty in state government by blowing the whistle on corruption. To advance this effort, Governor Quinn is launching Whistleblower.Illinois.gov, an interactive website that allows watchdogs to easily report suspected government corruption.    » read more »

Lebanese Contracting Company Also Charged in Conspiracy

April 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—Two Department of Defense (DOD) contractors were charged with conspiracy and bribery relating to their roles involving DOD contracts in Afghanistan, the Department of Justice today announced. A Lebanese contracting company is also charged with participating in the same conspiracy.    » read more »

Appointments.Illinois.gov makes appointment process more accessible

CHICAGO – April 9, 2009. At a meeting of the Illinois Reform Commission, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed an executive order to make appointments to Illinois boards and commissions more transparent and accessible. Under the executive order, the Governor launched Appointments.Illinois.gov, a website that allows Illinois citizens to access information about members and vacancies in the state’s 300 boards and commissions.    » read more »