113:"Prosecutors also laid out a second, separate conspiracy in which Wade was alleged to have paid bribes to a Defense Department official and other employees in return for their help in awarding contracts to his company. Wade pleaded guilty to this scheme as well. The Pentagon employees were not named in court filings."
109:
The money and favors provided to
Cunningham were in exchange for helping win Pentagon work. "Government procurement records show that MZM, which Wade started in 1993, did not report any revenue from prime contract awards until 2003", but starting in May 2002 they were awarded contracts in the tens of
272:
The paper also noted: "The member identifiable as Harris received $ 32,000 in illegal donations from Wade and his employees in 2004. Documents filed with Wade's plea say that he took Harris to dinner early last year, where they discussed the possibility of another fundraiser and the possibility of
268:
reported: "The congressman identifiable as Goode received $ 46,000 in such disguised contributions in 2003 and 2005, the court papers said. That was part of about $ 90,000 Wade and his workers contributed to Goode. Wade then asked the member to request appropriations for an MZM facility in his
199:
However, "he military never asked for the ADCS projects. In fact, in 2000 the
Pentagon's inspector general blasted the company's biggest project, a $ 9.7 million contract to convert documents in Panama. The report said the program was created under pressure from two congressmen, whom Pentagon
989:
159:
until his name surfaced last year as one of two defense contractors alleged to have given
Cunningham $ 2.4 million in cash and other benefits in return for Cunningham's steering government business their way. One of Wilkes's companies received more than $ 80 million in
984:
979:
966:
974:
999:
722:
771:
1268:
1082:
713:
273:
getting funding for a Navy counterintelligence program in the member's district. One source familiar with the inquiry said Harris made such a request for funding, but it was not granted."
21:
79:
for $ 1,675,000. A month later, Wade placed it back on the market where it remained unsold for 8 months until the price was reduced to $ 975,000. Cunningham was a member of the
220:
In violation of campaign-finance laws, Wade was found to have reimbursed employees at his company, MZM Inc., who made campaign contributions to two other members of
Congress.
756:
106:
transaction. Cunningham's home, MZM's
Corporate Offices and Wade's home were all simultaneously raided by a number of federal agencies with warrants on July 1, 2005.
205:
80:
706:
612:
472:
651:
259:
MZM operates several facilities in Goode's south-central
Virginia district, including one that conducts background checks on foreign-owned defense contractors.
1209:
318:
256:
A spokesman for Goode was not immediately available for comment. According to the charges he received at least $ 46,000 in illegal contributions from MZM.
1090:
289:
343:
182:
and at the Westin Grand Hotel for
Cunningham and other legislators and their guests. Wilkes hired Shirlington Limousine & Transportation Service of
699:
536:
511:
1278:
242:
494:
685:
44:
1155:
663:
84:
37:
1135:
1095:
1012:
146:
started ADCS Inc. ("Automated
Document Conversion Systems"). With Cunningham's help, he began winning contracts from the Pentagon.
766:
231:
269:
district, the Wade papers said, and a Goode staff member confirmed to Wade that the bill would include $ 9 million in funding."
1273:
816:
187:
99:
618:
Pentagon Ends New Work On D.C. Firm's
Contract: MZM to Name New CEO as Relationship With Congressman Is Under Investigation
761:
33:
450:"Prosecutors May Widen Congressional-Bribe Case Cunningham Is Suspected Of Asking for Prostitutes; Were Others Involved?"
40:, in return for political favors in the form of federal contracts. Most notable amongst the recipients of the bribes was
1047:
641:
617:
592:
553:
376:
1202:
1195:
122:, reported prosecutors were investigating whether other members of Congress or their staff received the services of
1105:
930:
914:
669:
363:
314:
1283:
1130:
1072:
898:
691:
1171:
954:
938:
854:
802:
629:
395:
293:
339:
1176:
1067:
1017:
946:
906:
794:
656:
192:
118:
533:
1052:
922:
508:
1110:
1027:
740:
168:
164:
contracts over the past decade that stemmed from earmarks that
Cunningham slipped into spending bills."
1115:
491:
190:
granted Shirlington a $ 21 million contract. According to reports in the Wall Street Journal and the
1145:
1062:
736:
622:
264:
151:
134:
had indicated that he would fight any charges. Wade implicated Wilkes in the prostitution scheme.
83:; soon after the purchase, Wade began to receive tens of millions of dollars' worth of defense and
76:
50:
who pleaded guilty to receiving over $ 2.3 million in bribes. The primary defense contractors were
1057:
1037:
679:
561:
421:
413:
175:. Subsequently, the company began collecting more than $ 20 million a year in defense business."
25:
449:
55:
1042:
1032:
1022:
167:"He snared a $ 1 million Pentagon contract in 1997, which Cunningham proclaimed "an asset" to
1140:
238:. The charges indicate Wade did not inform either one that the contributions were unlawful.
235:
201:
95:
1247:
1232:
1150:
574:
540:
515:
498:
434:
179:
143:
131:
59:
47:
246:
241:
A spokeswoman for Harris, who as Florida's secretary of state played a key role in the
98:
was owned by Wade, and that Cunningham was paying only for maintenance, not rent. The
1262:
1242:
554:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/24/AR2006022401071.html
127:
51:
224:
161:
223:
Campaign-finance records show that those lawmakers were Virginia Republican Rep.
1125:
103:
364:
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/02/24/news/top_stories/20_48_242_23_06.txt
290:"SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Politics -- Lawmaker's home sale questioned"
1237:
751:
253:, said she had given the $ 52,000 she received from MZM employees to charity.
123:
41:
171:. In 1999, ADCS was awarded a $ 9.7 million contract to convert documents in
1120:
746:
634:
468:
466:
186:, starting in 1990, for entertainment at the Watergate Hotel. In 2005, the
183:
156:
75:
In June 2005 it was revealed that Wade had bought Cunningham's house in
250:
228:
29:
1187:
1007:
172:
91:
110:
millions of dollars which then grew to well over $ 150 million.
1191:
695:
664:
Defense contractor pleads guilty in congressman bribery scheme
414:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/24/congressman.bribery.ap/
723:
Federal prosecution of public corruption in the United States
543:, Dean Calbreath, San Diego Union-Tribune, February 5, 2006.
196:, prostitutes regularly accompanied guests at the suites.
155:
put it, "Wilkes was an obscure California contractor and
200:
procurement officials have identified as Cunningham and
666:, by Mark Sherman, AP, Mercury News, February 24, 2006.
652:
Contractor pleads guilty in Cunningham bribery scandal
642:"Contractors Linked to Bribery Case Worked Together,"
586:
584:
1225:
1164:
1081:
998:
965:
780:
729:
670:
Cunningham cohort Mitchell Wade enters guilty pleas
509:
Co-conspirator's possible links to prostitutes eyed
178:In return, Wilkes rented hospitality suites at the
1269:Political corruption scandals in the United States
880:United States v. Sun-Diamond Growers of California
757:Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
375:Merle, Renae; Smith, R. Jeffrey (June 28, 2005).
680:Defense contractor: I paid $ 1 million in bribes
394:Kelley, Matt; Drinkard, Jim (November 9, 2005).
377:"Pentagon Ends New Work On D.C. Firm's Contract"
90:Later in June, it was further reported that the
116:On April 27, 2006, Scot J. Patrow, writing for
630:Secret military spending gets little oversight
1203:
707:
8:
686:Mitchell Wade's campaign contribution report
208:," to whom Wilkes had also donated heavily.
1210:
1196:
1188:
714:
700:
692:
492:Contractor 'knew how to grease the wheels'
672:by Mark Walker and William Finn Bennett,
591:Babcock, Charles R. (February 25, 2006).
94:that Cunningham lived on while he was in
593:"Contractor Pleads Guilty to Corruption"
102:launched an investigation regarding the
620:, by Renae Merle and R. Jeffrey Smith,
281:
570:
559:
430:
419:
1091:Congressional insider trading scandal
473:Earmarks Became Contractor's Business
452:. The Wall Street Journal. p. A6
7:
126:provided at Cunningham's request by
632:, by Matt Kelley and Jim Drinkard,
243:2000 disputed presidential election
81:Defense Appropriations Subcommittee
990:Unincorporated territory officials
212:Other members of Congress involved
14:
1013:Alaska political corruption probe
501:Dean Calbreath and Jerry Kammer,
767:Foreign Extortion Prevention Act
1279:United States military scandals
346:from the original on 2009-02-27
321:from the original on 2009-02-27
188:Department of Homeland Security
100:Federal Bureau of Investigation
613:Mitchell Wade's Plea Agreement
448:Patrow, Scot J. (2006-04-27).
396:"$ 27B budget lacks oversight"
1:
762:Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
682:, cnn.com, February 24, 2006.
1048:Operation Mississippi Hustle
488:Wilkes's Hospitality Suites
130:. Patrow also reported that
204:(R-Calif), chairman of the
1300:
931:Ciminelli v. United States
915:McDonnell v. United States
862:McCormick v. United States
836:United States v. Helstoski
497:February 14, 2012, at the
1096:Congressional Post Office
1073:Operation Tennessee Waltz
955:Kousisis v. United States
899:Skilling v. United States
830:United States v. Brewster
824:United States v. Nardello
788:United States v. Germaine
539:October 17, 2006, at the
1172:Public Integrity Section
939:Percoco v. United States
886:Fischer v. United States
874:Salinas v. United States
855:McNally v. United States
842:United States v. Gillock
817:United States v. Johnson
803:Glasser v. United States
206:Armed Services Committee
1177:Speech or Debate Clause
1068:Operation Silver Shovel
947:Snyder v. United States
907:Ocasio v. United States
848:Dixson v. United States
795:Burton v. United States
657:San Diego Union-Tribune
534:The power of persuasion
520:San Diego Union-Tribune
503:San Diego Union-Tribune
193:San Diego Union-Tribune
119:The Wall Street Journal
66:Bribery scandal details
38:U.S. Defense Department
1274:Congressional scandals
1053:Operation Plunder Dome
923:Kelly v. United States
892:Sabri v. United States
868:Evans v. United States
514:March 3, 2009, at the
261:
62:(owner of ADCS Inc.).
22:U.S. political scandal
1028:Operation Board Games
810:United States v. Hood
741:honest services fraud
218:
36:and officials in the
1156:William J. Jefferson
676:, February 24, 2006.
660:, February 24, 2006.
648:, November 30, 2005.
644:by Charles Babcock,
479:, February 20, 2006.
475:Charles R. Babcock,
1116:James A. Kelly, Jr.
1063:Operation Rocky Top
737:Mail and wire fraud
654:, by Finlay Lewis,
646:The Washington Post
638:, November 9, 2005.
623:The Washington Post
597:The Washington Post
505:, December 4, 2005.
477:The Washington Post
381:The Washington Post
265:The Washington Post
152:The Washington Post
26:defense contractors
1219:Cunningham scandal
1106:Jack Abramoff CNMI
1058:Operation Pretense
1038:Operation Greylord
674:North County Times
216:Reuters reported:
18:Cunningham scandal
1256:
1255:
1185:
1184:
1131:Oregon land fraud
1043:Operation G-Sting
1033:Operation Boptrot
1023:Operation Bid Rig
975:Federal officials
569:Missing or empty
522:, April 28, 2006.
429:Missing or empty
1291:
1284:Bribery scandals
1212:
1205:
1198:
1189:
1141:Salvatore DiMasi
716:
709:
702:
693:
626:, June 28, 2005.
601:
600:
588:
579:
578:
572:
567:
565:
557:
550:
544:
531:
525:
518:Dean Calbreath,
486:
480:
470:
461:
460:
458:
457:
445:
439:
438:
432:
427:
425:
417:
410:
404:
403:
391:
385:
384:
372:
366:
361:
355:
354:
352:
351:
336:
330:
329:
327:
326:
311:
305:
304:
302:
301:
292:. Archived from
286:
236:Katherine Harris
1299:
1298:
1294:
1293:
1292:
1290:
1289:
1288:
1259:
1258:
1257:
1252:
1248:Brent R. Wilkes
1233:Duke Cunningham
1221:
1216:
1186:
1181:
1160:
1136:Rod Blagojevich
1077:
994:
985:Local officials
980:State officials
961:
776:
772:Program bribery
725:
720:
609:
604:
590:
589:
582:
568:
558:
552:
551:
547:
541:Wayback Machine
532:
528:
516:Wayback Machine
499:Wayback Machine
487:
483:
471:
464:
455:
453:
447:
446:
442:
428:
418:
412:
411:
407:
393:
392:
388:
374:
373:
369:
362:
358:
349:
347:
338:
337:
333:
324:
322:
313:
312:
308:
299:
297:
288:
287:
283:
279:
214:
180:Watergate Hotel
144:Brent R. Wilkes
140:
132:Brent R. Wilkes
73:
68:
60:Brent R. Wilkes
48:Duke Cunningham
12:
11:
5:
1297:
1295:
1287:
1286:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1261:
1260:
1254:
1253:
1251:
1250:
1245:
1240:
1235:
1229:
1227:
1223:
1222:
1217:
1215:
1214:
1207:
1200:
1192:
1183:
1182:
1180:
1179:
1174:
1168:
1166:
1162:
1161:
1159:
1158:
1153:
1148:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1123:
1118:
1113:
1108:
1103:
1098:
1093:
1087:
1085:
1079:
1078:
1076:
1075:
1070:
1065:
1060:
1055:
1050:
1045:
1040:
1035:
1030:
1025:
1020:
1015:
1010:
1004:
1002:
1000:Investigations
996:
995:
993:
992:
987:
982:
977:
971:
969:
963:
962:
960:
959:
951:
943:
935:
927:
919:
911:
903:
895:
889:
883:
877:
871:
865:
859:
851:
845:
839:
833:
827:
821:
813:
807:
799:
791:
784:
782:
778:
777:
775:
774:
769:
764:
759:
754:
749:
744:
733:
731:
727:
726:
721:
719:
718:
711:
704:
696:
690:
689:
683:
677:
667:
661:
649:
639:
627:
615:
608:
607:External links
605:
603:
602:
580:
545:
526:
524:
523:
506:
481:
462:
440:
405:
386:
367:
356:
340:"North County"
331:
315:"North County"
306:
280:
278:
275:
247:George W. Bush
213:
210:
139:
136:
72:
69:
67:
64:
32:to members of
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1296:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1272:
1270:
1267:
1266:
1264:
1249:
1246:
1244:
1243:Mitchell Wade
1241:
1239:
1236:
1234:
1231:
1230:
1228:
1224:
1220:
1213:
1208:
1206:
1201:
1199:
1194:
1193:
1190:
1178:
1175:
1173:
1170:
1169:
1167:
1163:
1157:
1154:
1152:
1149:
1147:
1144:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1127:
1124:
1122:
1119:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1111:House banking
1109:
1107:
1104:
1102:
1099:
1097:
1094:
1092:
1089:
1088:
1086:
1084:
1080:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1064:
1061:
1059:
1056:
1054:
1051:
1049:
1046:
1044:
1041:
1039:
1036:
1034:
1031:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1021:
1019:
1016:
1014:
1011:
1009:
1006:
1005:
1003:
1001:
997:
991:
988:
986:
983:
981:
978:
976:
973:
972:
970:
968:
964:
957:
956:
952:
949:
948:
944:
941:
940:
936:
933:
932:
928:
925:
924:
920:
917:
916:
912:
909:
908:
904:
901:
900:
896:
893:
890:
887:
884:
881:
878:
875:
872:
869:
866:
863:
860:
857:
856:
852:
849:
846:
843:
840:
837:
834:
831:
828:
825:
822:
819:
818:
814:
811:
808:
805:
804:
800:
797:
796:
792:
789:
786:
785:
783:
779:
773:
770:
768:
765:
763:
760:
758:
755:
753:
750:
748:
745:
742:
738:
735:
734:
732:
728:
724:
717:
712:
710:
705:
703:
698:
697:
694:
687:
684:
681:
678:
675:
671:
668:
665:
662:
659:
658:
653:
650:
647:
643:
640:
637:
636:
631:
628:
625:
624:
619:
616:
614:
611:
610:
606:
598:
594:
587:
585:
581:
576:
563:
555:
549:
546:
542:
538:
535:
530:
527:
521:
517:
513:
510:
507:
504:
500:
496:
493:
490:
489:
485:
482:
478:
474:
469:
467:
463:
451:
444:
441:
436:
423:
415:
409:
406:
401:
397:
390:
387:
382:
378:
371:
368:
365:
360:
357:
345:
341:
335:
332:
320:
316:
310:
307:
296:on 2009-04-18
295:
291:
285:
282:
276:
274:
270:
267:
266:
260:
257:
254:
252:
248:
244:
239:
237:
233:
230:
226:
221:
217:
211:
209:
207:
203:
202:Duncan Hunter
197:
195:
194:
189:
185:
181:
176:
174:
170:
165:
163:
158:
154:
153:
147:
145:
137:
135:
133:
129:
128:Mitchell Wade
125:
121:
120:
114:
111:
107:
105:
101:
97:
93:
88:
86:
82:
78:
71:Mitchell Wade
70:
65:
63:
61:
57:
53:
52:Mitchell Wade
49:
46:
43:
39:
35:
31:
27:
23:
19:
1218:
1100:
953:
945:
937:
929:
921:
913:
905:
897:
891:
885:
879:
873:
867:
861:
853:
847:
841:
835:
829:
823:
815:
809:
801:
798:(1905, 1906)
793:
787:
673:
655:
645:
633:
621:
596:
571:|title=
548:
529:
519:
502:
484:
476:
454:. Retrieved
443:
431:|title=
408:
399:
389:
380:
370:
359:
348:. Retrieved
334:
323:. Retrieved
309:
298:. Retrieved
294:the original
284:
271:
263:
262:
258:
255:
240:
225:Virgil Goode
222:
219:
215:
198:
191:
177:
166:
150:
148:
141:
138:Brent Wilkes
117:
115:
112:
108:
89:
85:intelligence
74:
17:
15:
1146:Teapot Dome
967:Convictions
124:prostitutes
104:real estate
87:contracts.
45:Congressman
1263:Categories
1238:Kyle Foggo
1101:Cunningham
781:Precedents
752:Travel Act
688:, NewsMeat
456:2006-05-01
350:2006-04-02
325:2006-04-02
300:2006-04-02
277:References
232:Republican
96:Washington
54:(owner of
42:California
1121:Koreagate
747:Hobbs Act
635:USA Today
562:cite news
422:cite news
400:USA Today
169:San Diego
24:in which
1083:Scandals
730:Statutes
537:Archived
512:Archived
495:Archived
344:Archived
319:Archived
245:between
184:Virginia
162:Pentagon
157:lobbyist
142:In 1995
34:Congress
1151:Wedtech
1018:BRISPEC
251:Al Gore
229:Florida
77:Del Mar
1226:People
1165:Topics
1008:Abscam
958:(2025)
950:(2024)
942:(2023)
934:(2023)
926:(2020)
918:(2016)
910:(2016)
902:(2010)
894:(2004)
888:(2000)
882:(1999)
876:(1997)
870:(1992)
864:(1991)
858:(1987)
850:(1984)
844:(1980)
838:(1979)
832:(1972)
826:(1969)
820:(1966)
812:(1952)
806:(1942)
790:(1879)
173:Panama
58:) and
30:bribes
20:was a
234:Rep.
92:yacht
28:paid
575:help
435:help
249:and
227:and
16:The
1126:MBM
149:As
56:MZM
1265::
595:.
583:^
566::
564:}}
560:{{
465:^
426::
424:}}
420:{{
398:.
379:.
342:.
317:.
1211:e
1204:t
1197:v
743:)
739:(
715:e
708:t
701:v
599:.
577:)
573:(
556:.
459:.
437:)
433:(
416:.
402:.
383:.
353:.
328:.
303:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.