Guilty plea in kickback scheme (U.S. Army Reserve officer in Iraq)

[Barrett808]

WASHINGTON - A former U.S. Army Reserve officer admitted Friday that he steered millions of dollars in Iraq-reconstruction contracts in exchange for jewelry, computers, cigars and sexual favors.

Bruce D. Hopfengardner, 46, of Frederick, Va., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud.

Hopfengardner served as a special adviser to the U.S.-led occupation forces, recommending funding for projects on law enforcement facilities in Iraq.

He admitted conspiring with Philip H. Bloom, a U.S. citizen with businesses in Romania, Robert J. Stein, a former Defense Department contract official, and others to create a corrupt bidding process that included the theft of $2 million in reconstruction money.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060825/ap_on_go_ot/iraq_contract_bribes

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

1. Shrubco Repubs make the "Goodfellas" look like pikers.

[AndyA]

2. What was that about restoring integrity, again?

Harder leadership would be difficult to find. All of them should be held accountable for their illegal actions! And that means going all the way to the top, if need be!!

[zreosumgame]

3. and a Medal of Freedom next week?

[rodeodance]

4. U.S. Army reserve officer pleads guilty in Iraq case

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060825/ts_nm/iraq_usa_conspiracy_dc

U.S. Army reserve officer pleads guilty in Iraq case

By Jim Wolf Fri Aug 25, 7:03 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Army Reserve officer pleaded guilty on Friday to improperly steering millions of dollars in
Iraq reconstruction contracts as part of a conspiracy involving kickbacks, smuggling and sexual favors.

Lt. Col. Bruce Hopfengardner, 46, of Frederick, Virginia, was the first military office to admit taking part in the scheme to defraud the U.S.-led occupation authority.

He pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the Justice Department said in a statement.

Hopfengardner, who had been a police chief in California, served as an adviser to the Coalition Provisional Authority.

[Monkeyman]

5. Yep go to Iraq and make money

[ConcernedCanuk]

6. "Hopfengardner faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000."

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From the posted article:

"Hopfengardner faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000."

YaysusKristus

For stealing MONEY!

The friggen army dudes get just a slap on the wrist for murdering civilian Iraqis . . .

That's stealing LIVES!!

sick country ya got there

[Kagemusha]

7. One thing I was wondering...

How can they sentence him even with a guilty plea for defrauding the CPA if the CPA isn't a US entity anymore!? (re: defense contracting fraud civil suit verdict being tossed)

Edit: Upon closer observation, I see they got him for conspiracy to commit wire fraud & money laundering. If those parts of the crime were through US jurisdiction then I guess that's how.

He should've laundered through other countries then.

[spag68]

8. If the officer is guilty,

where are the other civilian parts of the crime?