A Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) employee pleaded guilty today to accepting an illegal
gratuity for the performance of his official duties, Acting Assistant
Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced
today.
Curtis Jones, 47, a resident of Annapolis, Md., pleaded guilty today
before Chief Judge Benson Everett Legg in U.S. District Court in Baltimore
to a single count indictment that charged him with acceptance of an illegal
gratuity. Sentencing has been scheduled for Sept. 18, 2008. Jones was a
physical security specialist with the FBI at the Bureau's headquarters in
Washington, D.C., at the time of his arrest.
According to the indictment, as an equipment program manager for the
FBI, Jones was responsible for negotiating, reviewing and making
recommendations regarding a blanket purchase agreement valued at nearly $2
million for the purchase of upgraded shredders to meet new national
security standards for the destruction of classified information. While in
that capacity, Jones reviewed and approved the bid of an undisclosed
company (Company A) and subsequently served as the liaison for all FBI
field offices to submit their purchase requests to Company A for new
shredders.
Shortly after visiting the company and approving their machines for
purchase, Jones accepted an offer from Company A for him and his family to
join Company A's top executives and sales people on a cruise in the
Caribbean over the 2003 -- 2004 New Year's holiday. The total value of the
gratuity, including lodging and airfare, was approximately $7,500.
At sentencing, Jones faces up to two years in prison, a fine of
$250,000, and supervised release following his incarceration.
This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Daniel Schwager and
Peter Koski of the Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section, which is
headed by Chief William M.Welch II. The case is being investigated by the
Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Justice.
SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice
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