Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A federal grand jury in Boston has indicted Edward Doherty, a Security Specialist with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), on charges related to an alleged attempt to bribe another DOE employee to secure government contracts for his private company.
Doherty, 34, who has ties to Washington, D.C. and Weymouth, Massachusetts, faces charges of honest services fraud, payment of illegal gratuities, and bribery of a public official. He was arrested on July 1, 2025, following previous charges filed by criminal complaint. Doherty is scheduled for an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the indictment, Doherty worked as a Security Specialist at the DOE until February 2025 when he agreed to participate in the agency’s deferred resignation program. The indictment alleges that just before starting his employment with the DOE in November 2024, Doherty established MAE Systems, LLC (MAE) in Massachusetts. In February 2025, Doherty allegedly offered money to another DOE employee in exchange for help securing DOE contracts for MAE. The incident was reported by the employee to law enforcement authorities.
Between February and June 2025, investigators recorded conversations in which Doherty allegedly agreed to pay at least $10,000 if the contract was awarded to MAE. In June 2025, he reportedly made two payments totaling $2,500 as part of this arrangement.
“Federal contracts are not for sale. Attempting to buy influence in our government is a serious crime, and we will treat it as such,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Bribery corrodes trust in our public institutions and we will not tolerate efforts to manipulate government contracts for personal enrichment.”
“Here’s another public servant, accused of fully embracing the practice of pay to play in an attempt to benefit from an illicit quid pro quo,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Edward Doherty was indicted today for trying to generate business for his firm – not by working harder or smarter, but allegedly through what we believe to be blatant bribery. Now, he’s facing justice and will answer for his alleged actions.”
“The Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General will continue to ensure that there is no place in federal service for bribery and corrupt schemes,” said Department of Energy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Lewe Sessions. “Anyone who suspects such conduct is encouraged to report it immediately. We appreciate the diligent work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners on this joint investigation.”
If convicted on all counts—honest services wire fraud; payment of illegal gratuities; and bribery—Doherty could face sentences ranging from up to two years on some charges up to a maximum possible sentence of twenty years on others along with fines reaching $250,000 per count and supervised release periods ranging from one year up to three years after imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina E. Barclay from the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit.
It should be noted that all details outlined come from charging documents; under U.S law defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
