Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

Retired colonel sentenced in Fort Gordon bid-rigging scheme

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A retired Army colonel involved in a $20 million bribery and bid-rigging scheme in government contracts at Fort Gordon was sentenced to five years in prison Friday.

Anthony Williams, 59, pleaded guilty to conspiracy in March for his role in the scheme that was in effect from 2008 to 2014 as the building and modernization of communications networks at Fort Gordon took place.  Williams took $1.2 million in bribes while on active duty in Washington and in charge of the billion-dollar battle command budget.

Williams conspired with retired Col. Calvin Lawyer, who left his position overseeing the fort’s building and modernization of networks to start his own business to obtain government contracts.  Col. Anthony Roper took Lawyer’s former position and steered government contracts valued at $20 million to Lawyer’s company and a second company, a subcontractor owned by Williams’ good friend, identified only as “J.D.Y.” in court documents.

It was at J.D.Y.‘s company that a no-show job was set up for Williams’ wife, who was paid $963,000.  The subcontractor was paid $13 million, a sum not included in the formal conspiracy, Senior Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr. noted Friday.

Continue reading at:  The Augusta Chronicle

Cyber Command head wants name changed

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U.S. Army Cyber Command is on its way to Augusta, but it might look a little different.

During a keynote address at AFCEA’s TechNet Augusta 2019, Lt. Gen. Stephen Fogarty, the commander of Army Cyber Command since May 2018, said he plans on proposing a name change over the next two months.  Because of the wide variety of responsibilities soldiers will have to perform in the cyber branch of the military, Fogarty said “Army Information Warfare Command” would be a more accurate descriptor.

Over the course of this year, Fogarty said the military plans to bring Army Cyber Command headquarters to Fort Gordon from Fort Belvoir, Va.  He said there are already a significant amount of soldiers and some civilians in the area, and he expects the headquarters building to be finished and operating by June 20, 2020.

Fogarty also emphasized the need for speed in cyberwarfare.  He said progress in cyberspace has been impeded by bureaucracy, and that the U.S. needs to create an information dominance.  He called on industry partners and academics for advice on the best way to train and equip soldiers for missions in cyberspace.

Continue reading at:  Augusta Chronicle

Update: Fort Gordon open house and forecast forum scheduled for June 12th is now CANCELED

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Unfortunately, we were recently notified that the Fort Gordon open house and forecast forum scheduled for June 12th has now been canceled by the U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command (“MICC”).  We received the following message from Rufus Gates, a Small Business Specialist with MICC:

“The Open House Forecast Forum has been cancelled due to other official duties.  I am having to go on temporary duty to support other installations during the month of June.  This event will be rescheduled for a date after 1 Oct 2019.  Thank you all so much for agreeing to participate in our event and we look forward to your future participation.”

You can find additional details at our original posting about the event here.

Update: Fort Gordon open house and forecast forum scheduled for June 12th CANCELED

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Unfortunately, this event has now been CANCELED.

We received the following message from Mr. Rufus Gates, a Small Business Specialist with MICC:  “The Open House Forecast Forum has been cancelled due to other official duties.  I am having to go on temporary duty to support other installations during the month of June.  This event will be rescheduled for a date after 1 Oct 2019.  Thank you all so much for agreeing to participate in our event and we look forward to your future participation.”

U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command (“MICC”) – Fort Gordon invites you to an open house and “forecast forum” to provide anticipated forecast opportunities for FY 2020 and FY 2021.  Additional presentations will be provided by:

  • Georgia District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”)
  • Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (“GTPAC”)
  • U.S. General Services Administration (“GSA”)

The open house and forecast forum will be held on: June 12, 2019 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET.

Sign-in will be from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. 

Location: Signal Theater Building (Building 21610), 21610 Barnes Avenue, Fort Gordon, GA 30905 (next to the indoor swimming pool).

**IMPORTANT**: If you have Military/DoD Civilian ID or CAC Card, you can gain access to Fort Gordon through any gate.  If you do not, you can only gain access through the Main Gate by way of Dyess Parkway and Gordon Highway.  You will need to show Auto Registration, Auto Insurance, Driver’s License and another form of ID.  Please allow extra time for background check and vehicle inspection.  Do not speed or use cellular phones without a hands-free device while driving on Fort Gordon.  All vehicles must stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.

Here is the official flyer:  ACQ Forecast Open House Flyer

For further information contact: ophelia.m.brown.civ@mail.mil

Former Army colonel pleads guilty to role in Fort Gordon fraud, kickback scheme

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A former active-duty U.S. Army colonel has pled guilty to accepting bribes in return for helping steer military contracts to a business fraudulently claiming status as a small business.

Anthony R. Williams of Vienna, VA, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bribery and felony conflict of interest in U.S. District Court, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Williams faces a sentence of up to five years in prison, and has agreed to forfeit more than $1.2 million in proceeds derived from the scheme.

According to court documents and evidence entered during court proceedings, Williams, while serving as a colonel in the U.S. Army, accepted bribes to steer federal procurement contracts to the CREC Group, a company owned by Calvin Devear Lawyer, a retired U.S. Army colonel. The CREC Group had received Small Business Administration (SBA) status as a small, disadvantaged business based on false representations from Lawyer and from Dwayne Oswald Fulton, then an employee of a defense contractor.

Lawyer previously pled guilty in the case and is serving a 60-month prison sentence, while co-conspirator, Anthony Roper, a former active duty U.S. Army colonel at Fort Gordon, also pled guilty and is serving a 60-month sentence.

The cases were investigated by the United States Army Criminal Investigations Division (CID), the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General, and the United States Attorney’s Office.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdga/pr/former-army-colonel-pleads-guilty-role-fort-gordon-fraud-kickback-scheme

Former Army colonel, wife sentenced to prison for roles in Fort Gordon fraud, kickback scheme

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A former active-duty U.S. Army colonel and his wife were sentenced to federal prison and fined more than $200,000 Feb. 5th for their roles in steering government contracts to co-conspirators in return for cash.

Anthony Roper of Augusta, Georgia pled guilty to Procurement Integrity Fraud and was sentenced to 60 months in prison and fined $200,000. He also will be subject to three years of supervised release after his sentence is completed.  There is no parole in the federal prison system. Roper’s wife, Audra Roper, pled guilty to Accessory After the Fact and was sentenced to 28 days in prison, fined $10,000, and placed on five years of probation.

According to evidence presented during guilty pleas and sentencing hearings, Anthony Roper, then in active-duty status at Fort Gordon, accepted bribes from Calvin Devear Lawyer, a retired U.S. Army colonel, to steer Army contracts worth more than $20 million to Lawyer’s company, the CREC group. Based on false representations from Lawyer and Dwayne Oswald Fulton, then an employee of a defense contractor, CREC group had been awarded Small Business Administration (SBA) status as a small, disadvantaged business, and the company used that status to gain competitive advantage in contracting.

The conspiracy also included the creation of fraudulent documents in an attempt to cover up bribes to Anthony Roper after law enforcement agencies discovered the scheme. Lawyer previously pled guilty in the case and was sentenced to 60 months in prison. As part of his sentence, Lawyer also paid a $3 million personal money judgment and a $2 million civil penalty.

The cases were investigated by the United States Army Criminal Investigations Division (CID), the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General, and the United States Attorney’s Office.

“Taxpayers deserve above-board behavior from those who do business with the federal government, especially with the military,’” said Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “It is particularly disappointing when members of the armed forces violate their oaths of office to steal from the public, and our office will prosecute those crimes vigorously.”

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdga/pr/former-army-colonel-wife-sentenced-prison-roles-fort-gordon-fraud-kickback-scheme

Fort Gordon to hold ‘forecast forum’ Dec. 13th

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If you are interested in learning about upcoming contract opportunities at Fort Gordon, you should consider attending the base’s year-end Forecast Forum on December 13, 2018.

Fort Gordon’s Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) is inviting all businesses to hear their presentation on their anticipated forecasted opportunities for FY 2019 and FY 2020.

Additional presentations will be made by representatives of the Georgia District Office of the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC), and the General Services Administration (GSA).

On-site registration for the event begins at 8:00 am.  The event is scheduled to begin at 8:30 am and end at noon.

Location: Signal Theater – Building 21610 (next to the indoor swimming pool), Fort Gordon, GA 30905.

Important access information: If you have Military/DoD Civilian ID or CAC Card, you can gain access to Fort Gordon through any gate.  If you do not, you can gain access only through the Main Gate (Gate 1) by way of Dyess Parkway and Gordon Highway.  You will need to show auto registration, auto insurance, driver’s license and a second form of ID.  Please allow extra time for background check and vehicle inspection.  Do not speed or use cellular phones without a hands-free device while driving on Fort Gordon.  All vehicles must stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.

Registration: There is not a formal registration process, but those who wish to attend are asked to contact Ophelia Brown in advance via email to:  ophelia.m.brown.civ@mail.mil

See promotional flyer here: MICC Fort Gordon Forecast Forum FY19 – 12.13.2018

 

 

Judge imposes maximum sentences in Fort Gordon bid-rigging conspiracy

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Two men who took part in a bid-rigging and bribery scheme involving $54 million in contracts at Fort Gordon received the maximum prison terms of five years last Wednesday despite the recommendation from the U.S. Attorney’s office for a reduction in their sentence.

Calvin Lawyer, 60, and Dwayne O. Fulton, 59, admitted in November to their roles in the conspiracy that ran from 2008, when Lawyer retired as a full colonel and started his own business called Communications Research Engineering and Consultant Group with the goal of obtaining government contracts. But Lawyer didn’t need to compete with other contractors because he paid bribes to ensure he got no-bid contracts from his former subordinate Col. Anthony Roper.

After learning they were under investigation in 2016, Lawyer, Roper and his wife, Audra Roper, and Fulton, who worked for the large defense contractor Kratos Defense & Security Solutions inc., fabricated documents to try to cover their tracks.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.augustachronicle.com/news/20180523/judge-imposes-maximum-sentences-in-fort-gordon-bid-rigging-conspiracy

Read earlier posts about this case here:

Fort Gordon schedules acquisition open house June 5th

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U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) Fort Gordon is inviting businesses to attend a “Forecast Forum” to learn about anticipated contracting opportunities for FY18 and FY19.

The event will be held Tuesday, June 5, 2018, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Sign-in for the event will begin at 8:00 am.  It will be conducted in Alexander Hall, Building 29805, Fort Gordon, GA 30905 (next to Signal Towers).

Additional presentations will be provided by representatives of the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center, the General Services Administration, and FedBid.

Attending is free; however, interested persons should contact Ms. Ophelia Brown to let her know they plan to attend.  Ms. Brown’s email address is:  ophelia.m.brown.civ@mail.mil

IMPORTANT RULES:  If you have Military/DoD Civilian ID or CAC Card, you can gain access to Fort Gordon through any gate.  If you do not, you can only gain access through the Main Gate by way of Dyess Parkway and Gordon Highway.  You will need to show Auto Registration, Auto Insurance, Driver’s License and another form of ID.  Please allow extra time for background check and vehicle inspection.  Do not speed or use cellular phones without a hands-free device while driving on Fort Gordon.  All vehicles must stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.

 

 

 

U.S. Attorney for Southern District of GA announces results of recent procurement fraud prosecutions

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As part of a new emphasis on procurement fraud enforcement within the Southern District of Georgia, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia has announced the results of a series of recent procurement fraud prosecutions.

Over the past several months, the strike force’s efforts resulted in five guilty pleas and twelve civil settlements, including the following publically available actions:

  1. United States of America v. Dwayne Fulton (1:17-CR-35)
  2. United States of America v. Calvin Lawyer (1:17-CR-35)
  3. United States of America v. Anthony Roper (1:17-CR-35)
  4. United States of America v. Audra Roper (1:17-CR-35)
  5. United States ex rel. Major Contracting Services, Inc. v. Military Training Solutions, LLC and ADCO Holdings, Inc., et al. (4:16-cv-115)
  6. United States of America v. Robert Obradovich (4:18-CR-47)

These prosecutions and civil settlements with the named individuals and entities, as well as others, stemmed from a wide variety of fraudulent conduct, including bribery of public officials, illegal kickbacks, illegal arrangements between large contracting companies and certified small or 8(a) businesses acting as “front” companies, and billing for services not rendered.  Each of the individuals who has pled guilty awaits sentencing.  The total financial recovery for the United States thus far has exceeded $7.4 million.  Several of these investigations remain ongoing.

“The Southern District of Georgia is the proud home of several major military installations that serve a vital role both in our national defense and the district’s local economy,” said United States Attorney Bobby L. Christine.  “Those who do business with these installations should be on notice – ripping off the United States will not be tolerated! This office will bring to bear the full weight of our resources to hold fraudsters accountable.”

The joint strike force that led to these convictions and settlements involved agents, investigators, and auditors from the Department of Justice, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Army Criminal Investigation Command (Major Procurement Fraud Unit), Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General.  Significant and critical assistance was also provided by civilian and military personnel from the Army, Navy, and Air Force stationed at affected military installations.

“The American public expects the Department of Defense (DoD) to spend limited taxpayer funds efficiently and economically.  Bribery and other corrupt behavior by public officials and defense contractors diverts and wastes precious dollars intended to provide critical products and services for our Warfighters.  These results demonstrate the effectiveness of investigative efforts by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service to protect the integrity of all DoD programs,” said Special Agent in Charge John F. Khin, Southeast Field Office.

“These settlements stand as proof of the tenacity of our special agents,” said Frank Robey, director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit. “It is important for those who conspired to profit from illegal payments take responsibility for their actions. The settlements hold the defendants accountable and send a message to others that these violations will be taken seriously.”

“Our partnership with the joint procurement fraud strike force ensures fair and open competition for U.S. Government contracts which support the training and readiness of Marine Corps personnel,” said H. Andrew Goodridge, Special Agent in Charge, NCIS Carolinas Field Office.

“SBA OIG will aggressively investigate allegations of fraud involving SBA’s preferential contracting programs, to include false statements made to gain access to contracting opportunities set aside for small businesses,” said SBA OIG Eastern Region Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kupperbusch.  “SBA’s preferential contracting programs are intended to promote the economy and grow and develop small businesses across the nation.  I want to thank the U.S Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and hard work throughout these investigations.”

SBA’s General Counsel, Christopher Pilkerton said, “These successful prosecutions demonstrate the tremendous results achieved through the combined efforts of federal agencies to uncover and forcefully respond to procurement fraud.  SBA is strongly committed to identifying and aggressively pursuing instances of fraud perpetrated by those participating in SBA’s procurement programs.”

The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Brian T. Rafferty, Shannon H. Statkus, J. Thomas Clarkson, Matthew A. Josephson, and Jonathan A. Porter.  Any claims resolved by the civil settlement agreements are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

Each of the civil settlements resolved potential liability under the False Claims Act.  Under the False Claims Act, whistleblowers can be entitled to a portion of the amount recovered by the United States.  The United States Attorney’s Office also reminds contractors that businesses and individuals that self-disclose potential violations can be eligible for significantly reduced penalties.

If you have any information regarding potential procurement fraud, please contact Assistant United States Attorney J. Thomas Clarkson at (912) 201-2601.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdga/pr/southern-district-georgia-announces-results-recent-criminal-and-civil-procurement-fraud

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