Chicago crooks have apparently gone international by way of the Illinois National Guard.
A Major Christopher P. West with hometown listed as Chicago has been arrested Monday in Chicago for bribery and conspiracy.
He and co-defendant Air Force Tech. Sgt. Patrick W. Boyd are charged with taking $90,000 to award contracts at Bagram Airfield.
While he was head of base operations, he is charged with “arranging the award of…three DOD contracts worth more than $1 million…(in exchange for)
- $30,000…for the award of a contract to supply BAF with bunkers and barriers, cement structures used for force protection and perimeter walls…and
- $30,000 in return for a second asphalt paving contract and
- $30,000 in return for the award of a contract to provide asphalt paving services.”
“We will aggressively prosecute individuals and companies who line their own pockets by corrupting the bidding process for base procurement in Afghanistan,” said Thomas O. Barnett, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department’s Antitrust Division. “These contracts were meant to protect U.S. soldiers serving their country, and we will not tolerate corruption that deprives the troops of the benefits of competitively-sourced goods and services.”
Illinois Major Brad Leighton, newly arrived from New Hampshire, confirmed that West was in the National Guard, based in Crestwood with the 108th Brigade Troops Battalion. It is a logistics unit, he said.
“We are aware he was detained but at this point I can’t confirm or disclose any other details,” Leighton said.
To read the whole press release, click here.