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4d ago

Four Plead Guilty in $550 Million USAID Bribery Scheme

Sentencing is scheduled for later this year following guilty pleas in the decade-long scheme that manipulated USAID procurement with concealed payments

The U.S. Department of Justice logo is seen on a podium before a press conference with Attorney General Pam Bondi, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at the Justice Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
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Overview

  • Roderick Watson, former USAID contracting officer, and contractors Darryl Britt, Walter Barnes and Paul Young admitted to bribery and conspiracy charges
  • Prosecutors said the group steered at least 14 sole-source and set-aside contracts worth over $550 million to Apprio and Vistant by leaking procurement data and recommending noncompetitive awards
  • Bribes provided from 2013 through 2022 included cash, laptops, NBA suite tickets, a country club wedding, down payments on two homes and jobs for relatives
  • Investigators found illicit payments disguised as payroll deposits, shell company transactions and false invoices to conceal the scheme
  • Apprio and Vistant agreed to resolve False Claims Act investigations, and the four defendants face sentencing between July and October