.Reservist Pleads Guilty in Iraq Bribery Scheme
A lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve yesterday became the first military officer to plead guilty in a wide-ranging bribery scheme involving funds intended for Iraq's reconstruction, the Justice Department said.
Bruce D. Hopfengardner -- who admitted to steering contracts to an American businessman in exchange for money and property such as a Harley-Davidson motorcycle -- pleaded guilty to two conspiracy charges related to wire fraud and money laundering in a hearing in U.S. District Court in the District. Hopfengardner also admitted to smuggling $120,000 worth of stolen reconstruction funds back into the United States. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
Hopfengardner's plea was preceded by those of two others involved in the scheme. Philip H. Bloom, a businessman, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, bribery and money laundering in April. Robert J. Stein Jr., an official with the American-led authority that controlled Iraq during the first year after the U.S. invasion, pleaded guilty to five related charges in February. All three await sentencing. Two other Army Reserve officers have been arrested.
Prosecutors have said that Bloom stood at the center of a conspiracy in which he paid more than $2 million in bribes to officials who managed Iraq reconstruction in exchange for contracts for his companies. Hopfengardner, 46, of Fredericksburg, was responsible for managing various reconstruction projects in south-central Iraq starting in November 2003.
In return for contracts related to the building of a police academy and training center, Bloom sent Hopfengardner about $175,000 in laundered money and bought him a GMC Yukon Denali sport-utility vehicle, prosecutors say. Hopfengardner also received the motorcycle, a $5,700 watch and a computer as part of the deal.
The plot was first uncovered by investigators with the office of the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction.
WaPo
Bruce D. Hopfengardner -- who admitted to steering contracts to an American businessman in exchange for money and property such as a Harley-Davidson motorcycle -- pleaded guilty to two conspiracy charges related to wire fraud and money laundering in a hearing in U.S. District Court in the District. Hopfengardner also admitted to smuggling $120,000 worth of stolen reconstruction funds back into the United States. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
Hopfengardner's plea was preceded by those of two others involved in the scheme. Philip H. Bloom, a businessman, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, bribery and money laundering in April. Robert J. Stein Jr., an official with the American-led authority that controlled Iraq during the first year after the U.S. invasion, pleaded guilty to five related charges in February. All three await sentencing. Two other Army Reserve officers have been arrested.
Prosecutors have said that Bloom stood at the center of a conspiracy in which he paid more than $2 million in bribes to officials who managed Iraq reconstruction in exchange for contracts for his companies. Hopfengardner, 46, of Fredericksburg, was responsible for managing various reconstruction projects in south-central Iraq starting in November 2003.
In return for contracts related to the building of a police academy and training center, Bloom sent Hopfengardner about $175,000 in laundered money and bought him a GMC Yukon Denali sport-utility vehicle, prosecutors say. Hopfengardner also received the motorcycle, a $5,700 watch and a computer as part of the deal.
The plot was first uncovered by investigators with the office of the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction.
WaPo
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