Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Training
    • Class Registration
    • On-demand Training
    • GTPAC COVID-19 Resource Page
    • Cybersecurity Video
    • Veterans Verification Video
    • GTPAC Community
    • Other Training Audio & Video
  • Useful Links
  • Team Directory
    • Albany Counselor
    • Athens Counselor
    • Atlanta Counselors
    • Augusta Counselor
    • Carrollton Counselor
    • Columbus Counselor
    • Gainesville Counselor
    • Savannah Counselor
    • Warner Robins Counselor
  • Directions
    • Athens
    • Atlanta – Training Facility
    • Atlanta – Office
    • Albany
    • Augusta
    • Carrollton
    • Columbus
    • Gainesville
    • Savannah
    • Warner Robins
  • COVID-19
  • New Client Application
  • Contact Us

Couple investigated in Army contracting fraud

April 14, 2010 By ei2admin

The boss of a former San Antonio Army major sent to prison for a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme is under investigation herself, along with her husband, over allegations of bribery and contract fraud.

Velma “Bebe” Salinas-Nix and Kenneth H. Nix are suspected of accepting $270,000 from a Chicago contractor to help him land $45 million in government contracts, according to federal court documents.

Investigators with the Army’s Criminal Investigations Command and the FBI allege the Nixes awarded contracts to Vistas Construction of Illinois Inc., owned by Samuel Zepeda Jr., and other firms owned by his relatives or associates.

Bank records probed

As part of their probe, agents have been examining bank records and looking at six years’ worth of contracts awarded to Vistas and related companies in a case authorities believe could result in wire fraud, bribery and contract fraud charges. The Nixes and Zepeda deny any wrongdoing.

Salinas-Nix, 55, is a high-ranking civilian manager with the Army Contracting Agency at Fort Sam Houston that handles contracts in Central and South America and the Caribbean. A deputy director, she oversaw contracting officers, including then-Army Maj.

John Cockerham, but was suspended with pay last fall following raids in October at Vistas headquarters in Chicago and the Nixes’ posh, 6,850-square-foot, $1.8-million home in north Bexar County.

‘Revolving door’

Nix, a retired Army captain, is alleged to have gone from key civilian contracting jobs within the Army to working in the private sector on the same contracts and back to jobs with the government that gave him influence on other contracts. His case highlights criticism from some public interest groups that this “revolving door” can lead to corruption.

Investigators learned Nix worked twice directly for Zepeda as his company vied for contracts that Nix might have helped handle while with the government or that his wife might have wielded influence over, according to a recently unsealed court affidavit.

Neither the Nixes nor Zepeda have been charged, although witnesses have been called to testify before a federal grand jury in San Antonio, the San Antonio Express-News found.

– By GUILLEMO CONTRERAS – SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS – 4/11/2010

Filed Under: Contracting News Tagged With: Army, fraud, government contracting

Recent Posts

  • DoD publishes long awaited interim rule on CMMC
  • GSA Region 4 OSDBU hosting small business webinar
  • GTPAC launches COVID-19 resource page
  • GDEcD seeks GA Manufacturers and Distributors that can help with critical health care supply needs related to COVID-19
  • Georgia DOAS to hold 4th Annual Georgia Procurement Conference April 21-23, 2020

Popular Topics

8(a) abuse Army bid protest budget budget cuts certification construction contract awards contracting opportunities cybersecurity DoD DOJ False Claims Act FAR federal contracting federal contracts fraud GAO Georgia Tech government contracting government contract training government trends GSA GSA Schedule GTPAC HUBZone innovation IT Justice Dept. marketing NDAA OMB SBA SDVOSB set-aside small business small business goals spending subcontracting technology VA veteran owned business VOSB wosb

Contracting News

DoD publishes long awaited interim rule on CMMC

Small business subcontracting for cloud computing gets easier

Long awaited changes to WOSB/EDWOSB regulations expected this summer

The CMMC has arrived: DoD publishes version 1.0 of its new cybersecurity framework

GSA keeping ‘on track’ with schedule consolidation

Read More

Contracting Tips

A guide to labor and employment obligations for federal contractors

Who pays for CMMC certification?

Other transaction agreements: Where does an unsuccessful bidder go?

Knowledge is power, if you know how to use it

EAJA provides relief to construction contractor for government’s bad actions

Read More

GTPAC News

GSA Region 4 OSDBU hosting small business webinar

GTPAC launches COVID-19 resource page

GDEcD seeks GA Manufacturers and Distributors that can help with critical health care supply needs related to COVID-19

Georgia DOAS to hold 4th Annual Georgia Procurement Conference April 21-23, 2020

MICC Fort Stewart hosting acquisition forecast open house on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020

Read More

Georgia Tech News

Dr. Abdallah testifies on U.S. competitiveness, research, STEM pipeline at Congressional hearing

Georgia Tech’s Technology Square Phase III to include George Tower

Student surprises his teacher with Georgia Tech acceptance news

Georgia Tech Applied Research will support DHS information safeguarding effort

$25 million project will advance DNA-based archival data storage

Read More

  • SAM.gov registration is free, and help with SAM is free, too
APTAC RSS Twitter GTPAC - 30th Year of Service

Copyright © 2021 · Georgia Tech - Enterprise Innovation Institute