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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings & Torture |
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June 26th,
2008 - Fort Sam Major Admits to Bribery |
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Fort Sam Major Admits to Bribery From San Antonio Express-News June 26, 2008 A Fort Sam Houston-based
Army major involved in the largest bribery case to come out of the Iraq war
pleaded guilty to corruption charges and has been cooperating with the
government for at least five months, according to court documents made public
Tuesday. During a secret hearing in
January, Maj. John L. Cockerham, 43, pleaded guilty to bribery, money
laundering and conspiracy to commit bribery. The former contracting
officer admitted that, while he was stationed in Kuwait from 2004 to 2005, he
steered lucrative contracts for bottled water and other supplies to companies
that agreed to kick back $9.6 million to him. Prosecutors contended Cockerham
expected more than $5 million more. At least eight companies were involved. At the same hearing, his
wife, Melissa Cockerham, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering. She admitted she accepted at
least $1.4 million in bribes on Cockerham's behalf and stored the money in
safety deposit boxes at banks in Kuwait and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. “Maj. Cockerham's job was to
provide supplies to our troops serving in Iraq,” Assistant Attorney General
Thomas O. Barnett said in a statement released late Tuesday by the Justice
Department. “Instead of acting in the best interest of his fellow soldiers, he
steered contracts to those willing to pay him bribes. Our men and women in
uniform deserve better, and those who violate the public's trust in exchange
for personal enrichment can expect to be prosecuted.” As part of the deals, the
Cockerhams agreed to help the government recover the money. In its statement,
the Justice Department said it's seeking the help of the Kuwaiti and Emirati
governments to return it to the United States. Since the plea, John
Cockerham has been secretly meeting with investigators, turning over the
names of others involved in the Middle East corruption and details that have
helped uncover other cases of contracting fraud and graft. His lawyer, Jimmy Parks Jr.,
wouldn't comment on those meetings, but said: “John has been very forthcoming
and very honest with the federal government.” Parks wants to make certain
that the government goes after those with higher authority who might be
involved in the corruption. “I didn't want Cockerham and
his wife to be the scapegoats,” he said. “Part of the reason for keeping it
secret was to push it far along enough to ensure that (the special inspector
general for Iraq reconstruction) would go after these individuals and see
that Iraq was truly cleaned up.” “I don't want the coffin
nailed down on them and having anyone saying that the corruption has been
solved. This is actually the beginning chapter. This isn't the end of the
book.” Parks had previously refused
to comment when asked whether he had worked out a deal for his client and
only relented after learning that the Justice Department had asked a judge to
unseal the plea agreements Tuesday. Melissa Cockerham's lawyer,
Brent De La Paz, said she was doing what she was told. “The government's charge is
for following her husband,” De La Paz said. “She followed her husband's lead.
She did what he asked her to do.” Even before the Cockerhams'
pleas and cooperation, much of the corruption was traced to the post where
John Cockerham served, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. That military base served
thousands of U.S. troops, helping provide necessities like food, bottled
water, other supplies and the warehouses to store the items. Two Army officers once
stationed at Camp Arifjan took their own lives, Army records state, as probes
alleging they were involved in bribery emerged. One was Lt. Col. Marshall
Gutierrez, whom the military claims committed suicide after being confronted
over $3,500 in an alleged bribe he got from an executive of Public
Warehousing Co., which court records show now is its own criminal
investigation over contracting disparities. Gutierrez's family disavows the
allegation and the finding of suicide. The other is Maj. Gloria D.
Davis, who took her own life in December 2006 after telling investigators
about Cockerham and others suspected of taking bribes. Davis also admitted
accepting $225,000 in bribes for steering lucrative contracts to a company
called Lee Dynamics of Huntsville, Ala. That company is under criminal
investigation, but no one has been charged, court records show. Because of the massive
corruption, the Army since has moved the contracting functions from Camp
Arifjan to a military installation at Rock Island, Ill. John Cockerham's sister,
Carolyn Blake, of suburban Dallas, remains the only defendant in the case
awaiting a trial this October. Blake is accused of helping her brother
collect about $3.1 million of the bribes. John Cockerham faces up to
15 years in prison for bribery and up to five years for conspiracy. The
Cockerhams each face up to 20 years for money laundering. External link: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/MYSA062508_1A_cockerhamplea_2c2cb33_html15431.html |