WILMINGTON, N.C. - A Sanford man pleaded guilty today for receiving bribes in his role as a flooring technician while employed at Ft. Bragg.
According to court documents, Edward Wade Crisco was a flooring technician assigned to the Operations and Maintenance Division, Directorate of Public Works (DPW) at Fort Bragg, NC. To obtain services, a Ft. Bragg facilities user submits a request for a repair or service of a facility, such as a roof leak, damaged floor, or plumbing issue to the DPW. The request creates a Demand Maintenance Order (DMO) that is forwarded to the appropriate commodity section. The DMO is assigned to a DPW technician that specializes in a certain trade, such as roofing, flooring, plumbing, or carpentry. The DPW technician assesses the issue to determine if they can complete the repair or service themselves within the time allotted, or certifies that because of manpower, needed expertise, or particular equipment needs a contractor should undertake the work. If a contractor is to be used for the work, the technician submits a request for a Contract to the work leader. If the work is estimated to cost under $2,500, the approved Contract is forwarded to a DPW purchasing agent who hires a contractor to complete the work. The technician who requested the Contract would inspect and certify the work upon completion. Once the technician inspected and certified the contractor’s work, the purchasing agent would pay the contractor using a government purchase card.
From 2011 into 2019, Crisco received bribes ranging from $20 to $100 per DMO from various vendors contracting with DPW, Ft. Bragg, to request contracts be assigned to those specific vendors and to approve and sign off favorably on their work once completed.
“Any ‘pay-to-play’ culture encouraged by government employees at Ft. Bragg stops now," Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, said. “The public is well-served by solid investigative work by law enforcement, combined with our prosecutorial resources, in bringing this to an end."
"The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) is committed to protecting the integrity of the Department of Defense (DoD) procurement system," said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard, DCIS, Mid-Atlantic Field Office. "Today’s guilty plea demonstrates our determination, alongside our law enforcement partners, to bring swift action against those who subvert the DoD contracting process for their own gain, violating the trust of the American taxpayer."
"The defendant made a bad choice to engage in a bribery scheme," said Frank Robey, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division's Major Procurement Fraud Unit. "MPFU, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to use every available tool to combat and prevent people from exploiting the government contracting system for their personal benefit."
Crisco pleaded guilty to receiving bribes, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 201. Tentatively set for sentencing in March 2021, Crisco faces a maximum penalty of 180 months in prison. He agreed to forfeit $150,000 proceeds from his crime.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after Chief United States Judge Richard E. Myers II, accepted the plea. Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division, Major Procurement Fraud Unit, are investigating the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-CR-328-FL.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
