2 convicted in water contract bribery scheme

[unhappycamper]

2 convicted in water contract bribery scheme
Staff report
Posted : Friday Feb 20, 2009 16:15:41 EST

A former civilian employee at Army Forces Command and a contractor were convicted Thursday in federal court on charges relating to a bribery scheme involving contracts to provide water to U.S. troops overseas, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.

Richard E. Long, 65, of St. Augustine, Fla., and Mack S. Smith, 57, of Bladenboro, N.C., were convicted on multiple felony charges after a three-week trial. A third defendant, Long’s wife, Debra L. Long, 45, was acquitted by the jury.

According to information presented in court, Long was the water and petroleum program manager from about November 1996 through about December 2004 at Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Ga.

Long’s duties included recommending which contractors should be awarded water-related military contracts.

Smith was the owner of WATEC, a Tennessee company that provided water purification equipment, training and servicing.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/army_contractor_scam_022009w/%2e