A carrier owner is one of three men who have been found guilty in a plot that defrauded the U.S. military of millions of dollars. Christopher Whitman, owner of United Industrial, allegedly bribed his two co-conspirators as part of the scheme which grossed his company over $37 million and found him convicted on 54 counts including bribery and defrauding the United States government through interstate wire fraud.
The Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, GA is a supply hub that supports Marines stationed around the world. Every day, around 200 trucks go in and out of the base, a fact that Whitman allegedly leveraged to his own advantage.
According to the verdict, Whitman bribed Bradford Newell, a civilian contractor for the base, and Shawn McCarty, a military transportation official, to award contracts to Whitman’s company and to approve unnecessary mark-ups such as expedited service, expensive trailers, and exclusive use shipping. The prosecution alleged that Whitman paid out more than $800,000 in bribes, but grossed over $37 million worth of contracts from the deal.
Whitman not only secured contracts with the help of his accomplices, but was actually able to steal more than $1 million worth of surplus equipment from the base. Items such as bulldozers, back loaders, and other construction vehicles found their way off the base and into Whitman’s hands.
McCarty was convicted of 15 counts of wire fraud, one count of bribery, and one count of obstructing justice. Newell was convicted of 13 counts of wire fraud, one count of bribery, and one count of theft of government property. Whitman was convicted of 43 counts of wire fraud, five counts of bribery, five counts of obstructing justice, and one count of theft of government property. The men join four others who previously pled guilty to the charges brought against them for their roles in the scheme.
After the verdict was handed down, Whitman’s attorney said “We are deeply disappointed in the verdict. And we’ll continue to represent Chris in the balance of these proceedings,” but he declined to say whether or not they would appeal the decision.
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Source: walb, law360, wtoc, albanyherald
Image Source: johnschapman
Dave Stout says
The root of all evil is money and Gordon Gekko was wrong, greed is NOT good.
Rockin' Robin says
If you want an good example of greed….have a look at the government. Everyone should be held accountable for their wrong doings…it’s just that the government is above the law, otherwise all those crooks would be rotting in jail along side of Joe Crook.
Robert says
What did Haliburtan going into trucking?
Bilbo Baggins says
Lawyerspeak for “we’ll continue to represent Chris” as long as he keeps paying us.