Jerry T. Vertefeuille and Christopher A. Carter, both Florida residents, have pled guilty to conspiracy to commit theft of honest services and wire fraud as well as bribery of a public official.
Vertefeuille also pleaded guilty to obtaining and disclosing procurement information.
The guilty pleas were announced on July 13, 2018 by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Vertefeuille was a federal government contracting officer representative (COR) for the 96 Test Wing Maintenance Group (96 MXG) at Eglin Air Force Base. His duties included overseeing maintenance work and initially approving purchases and invoices.
In 2007, Vertefeuille helped Carter, as the owner of TCC Services, Unlimited, LLC, win a paint booth maintenance contract, as well as multiple contract renewals, until 2014. Vertefeuille received kickbacks in exchange for approving Carter’s fraudulent invoices and recommending the renewal of TCC’s contract. An investigation later revealed that TCC and another contractor submitted invoices for payment to the U.S. Air Force for the same work.
For the conspiracy charge, the defendants face a maximum of 20 years in prison. For bribery of a public official, they face a maximum of 15 years in prison. For obtaining and disclosing procurement information, Vertefeuille also faces a maximum of 5 years in prison. The sentencing hearings are scheduled for September 26 at the U.S. Courthouse in Pensacola.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Air Force Audit Agency, and Defense Criminal Investigative Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.
Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/business-owner-and-former-government-contracting-officer-representative-plead-guilty
