RALEIGH, N.C. – Three men formerly employed at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina were arrested today on charges of bribery of a government official. Calvin Alfonza Jordan, 64, Edward Wade Crisco, 59, and Stephen Paul Sabato, 50, were charged via indictment with Jordan also charged with money laundering.
According to court documents, from 2011 to 2019, Jordan was a procurement agent assigned to the Operations and Maintenance Division, Directorate of Public Works (DPW), at Fort Bragg, NC, and entrusted to contract for services for DPW. DPW is responsible for design, construction, maintenance, and operation of utility systems on Ft. Bragg. The indictment alleges that Jordan, Crisco, a flooring technician assigned to DPW, and Sabato, a roofing technician assigned to DPW, each accepted payments from companies and individuals in return for increasing the amount of federal contracts with those companies and individuals. In particular, Jordan is alleged to have received thousands of such payments of at least $200 each. Over the 8-year period, payments received for such work orders amounted to a total estimated income to Jordan of $1,080,400. It is alleged that Jordan laundered some of that money by making cash deposits and then, in turn, withdrawing money to make large purchases including a BMW. It is alleged that during that time, Sabato profited at least $200,000, and Crisco profited at least $50,000.
Sabato and Crisco are charged with two counts of receiving bribes and gratuities for steering contracts to vendors and for recommending particular contractors for jobs and by passing their work on inspection without regard to completion workmanship. Jordan is charged with multiple counts of bribery and also faces charges of money laundering. If convicted, Jordan would face up to a maximum term of 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine as to each of the counts, and a term of up to three years supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Crisco and Sabato face up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine as to each count, as well as supervised release following any imprisonment. The indictment also gives notice that the defendants may be subject to substantial forfeiture of the proceeds of these crimes.
“Any allegations of bribery by a government employee are disheartening. In this case, it is alleged these men, tasked with maintaining and contracting to maintain the very spaces in which the members of our military live and work, put their own monetary gain above that task,” said Acting United States Attorney, Norman Acker.
“The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) is committed to protecting the integrity of the Department of Defense (DoD) procurement system,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard, DCIS, Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “This indictment demonstrates our resolve, alongside our law enforcement partners, to bring to justice those who subvert the DoD contracting process for their own gain, jeopardizing the combat readiness of our military.”
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division, Major Procurement Fraud Unit, are investigating the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.5:21-CR-313-M.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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