Three charged in probe of Pentagon Iraq contracts

[laststeamtrain]

Source: Reuters

Three charged in probe of Pentagon Iraq contracts

By JoAnne Allen

WASHINGTON, July 25 (Reuters) - A U.S. Army major accused of accepting millions of dollars in bribes from contractors doing business with the Pentagon in Iraq and Kuwait, his wife and sister, have been charged in Texas, the U.S. Justice Department said.

Carolyn Blake, 44, was arrested on Tuesday night in Dallas, two days after federal agents arrested her brother, Maj. John Cockerham, 41, and his wife Melissa Cockerham, 40, in San Antonio, the Justice Department said on Wednesday.

Cockerham, was charged with bribery, money laundering and conspiracy stemming from his service as an Army contracting officer in Kuwait in 2004 and 2005.

Both his wife and his sister were charged with conspiracy to defraud the government and conspiracy to commit money laundering, the Justice Department said.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N25355411.htm

[babylonsister]

1. This is a US Army major; how many other people have been doing this?

I'll bet lots.

[marylanddem]

2. It all reeks - From Cheney/Halliburton on down the food chain

God, they really are freaking gangsters...

[TheMadMonk]

8. Well suply seargants have been disposing off "excess" inventory...

...probably since before Thermopylae.

[Ian David]

3. Duh huh huh huh COCKERham. Duh huh huh huh. n/t

[babylonsister]

4. Rec'd, and get ready for more of these stories. nt

[The Doctor.]

5. Let the squealing begin! nt

[formercia]

6. One little fish at a time.

Little fish talk and implicate bigger fish, right up the food chain...

[Turbineguy]

7. They should have known

Send money to Bush and the GOP!

[rainbow4321]

9. $15 million. "Largest bribery case" associated w/ Iraq contracting

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/072707dnmetcontracting.2c4c9c3.html

Court records show she pocketed a 10 percent fee of $313,512 from handling the money on behalf of her brother, Maj. John Cockerham, 41, assigned to Fort Sam Houston. Maj. Cockerham was stationed in Kuwait in 2004 and 2005, according to the military. His wife, Melissa, 40, also faces charges of conspiracy and money laundering.

The Cockerhams were arrested Sunday in San Antonio. Maj. Cockerham is charged with taking $9.6 million in kickbacks from companies, including at least eight handling contracts such as bottled water and laundry services, and anticipated receiving $5.4 million more. Federal agents searched the couple's home in December. A redacted probable cause affidavit hints at more conspirators, none of whom is identified. None of the contractors is identified.

The $15 million in alleged bribes far exceeds the $4 million previously identified as the largest bribery case associated with the rebuilding of Iraq, according to government officials.

<snip>

All three defendants face up to 20 years in prison on the money laundering charges, up to 15 years for bribery and five years for conspiracy. Fines for each could be up to $1 million.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

10. I'm glad to see this getting more exposure

Here's the link to the story on the first two. For those who wish to do some back reading.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2928022