A Maryland man, Christopher “Mac” Cassity, 51, has pleaded guilty to charges related to a bribery scheme involving a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official. The plea was entered as part of a written agreement where Cassity admitted to engaging in honest services wire fraud.

Court documents reveal that between July 29, 2019, and December 29, 2022, Cassity collaborated with an information system security officer residing in Pharr, Texas—referred to as Public Official A—in a plan designed to influence the awarding of federal contracts. In exchange for kickbacks from Cassity's company, IVV Solutions, Public Official A reportedly exerted pressure on CBP contracting officials to favor certain contractors who would subsequently subcontract with IVV Solutions.

The bribery scheme led to Cassity's business receiving approximately $814,570 from CBP contracts. During this period, he made about 58 kickback payments totaling around $443,125 to Public Official A. These payments were wired from IVV Solutions' bank accounts to accounts controlled by conduits associated with Public Official A.

Cassity is scheduled for sentencing on February 10, 2025. He could face up to 20 years in prison depending on the decision of a federal district court judge who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines along with other statutory factors.

The announcement was made by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas; and Assistant Commissioner Matthew Klein of CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).

The investigation is being conducted by CBP OPR while Trial Attorney Demetrius D. Sumner of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Schammel are handling prosecution efforts.