4 people have pleaded responsible to collaborating in a bribery scheme involving the U.S. Company for Worldwide Improvement (USAID), which resulted in 14 contracts price greater than $550 million being improperly awarded to corporations concerned within the fraud, the Division of Justice (DOJ) stated in a June 12 assertion.
Roderick Watson, 57, of Maryland, a USAID contracting officer, pleaded responsible to bribery of a public official. Walter Barnes, 46, of Maryland, the proprietor of Vistant, pleaded responsible to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official and securities fraud.