Ex-Army depot worker pleads guilty in scheme

Ex-Army depot worker pleads guilty in scheme
The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Apr 17, 2008 6:28:09 EDT

SCRANTON, Pa. — A former Tobyhanna Army Depot civilian employee has pleaded guilty to accepting more than $83,000 in illegal payments from a British defense contractor.

Richard Feola, 61, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Scranton to accepting illegal gratuities and money laundering. He faces a maximum of more than 20 years in jail.

Feola worked as an information-technology specialist at the army depot in northeastern Pennsylvania until his retirement last year.

Prosecutors say he prepared bid documents seeking the purchase of computer equipment from a company based in Bristol, England.

Between 2000 and 2005, the Army awarded eight contracts to Thruput Ltd. totaling more than $300,000. Prosecutors say Thruput owner Michael Clery then wired Feola more than $83,000.

Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/04/ap_kickback_scheme_041608/