Three individuals have entered guilty pleas in a case involving bribery of a government contracting officer, as announced by United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Keith Kelly, Special Agent in Charge for the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Fraud Field Office.
Francisco Guerra, aged 55 from Lexington, Alabama; Coogan Preston, aged 55 from Columbia, South Carolina; and Jason Ingram, aged 47 from Rogersville, Alabama, admitted their involvement in a conspiracy to bribe a public official before U.S. District Judge Liles Burke. Additionally, Preston pleaded guilty to receiving a gratuity as a public official. Sentencing hearings are set for March 18, 2025.
The plea agreements detail that the conspiracy began in 2016 and lasted until 2021. During this period, Guerra provided money and other valuables to Preston, who was employed as a government contracting official at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. In return for these bribes, Preston facilitated subcontracting opportunities for Guerra's companies by persuading the prime contractor to employ one of them as a subcontractor.
U.S. Attorney Escalona emphasized the commitment to prosecuting those who misuse their positions for personal gain: “This office is committed to prosecuting individuals who illegally prioritize their personal gain over the fiduciary responsibilities of a federal government official,” she stated. “Persons who seek to enrich themselves through bribes and illegal payments undermine the public’s trust and the basic concept of fairness.”
Special Agent in Charge Kelly expressed satisfaction with the outcome: “We are very pleased with today’s announcement,” he said. “This is a true testament to our continued commitment to work closely and seamlessly with our outstanding fellow law enforcement agencies to help bring those to justice who attempt to defraud the U.S. Government and U.S. Army.”
The investigation was conducted by the Department of the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division with support from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and the United States Department of Defense Office of Inspector General-- Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lloyd Peeples is leading the prosecution.