BALTIMORE, MD – Jason Edmonds, a 45-year-old from North East, Maryland, has pleaded guilty to engaging in a bribery scheme at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, announced U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron alongside officials from the FBI, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, and Army Criminal Investigation Division.
Employed as a Research Biologist at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (CB Center), Edmonds was involved in the center’s efforts in chemical and biological weapons defense technology. From 2012 to 2019, he accepted bribes from John Conigliaro, CEO of EISCO, Inc., including cash and financial benefits, in exchange for favorable actions on CB Center contracts.
In one instance in July 2013, Edmonds directed a $300,000 project to EISCO, followed by a $40,000 cash payment from Conigliaro for real estate purchases. This financial relationship extended to property renovations paid for by Conigliaro. A promissory note modified by Edmonds detailed further illicit exchanges totaling $25,000 for future contract manipulations.
Additional corrupt activities included directing government projects to EISCO in return for home renovations and luxury upgrades at Edmonds’s residence between December 2016 and August 2017. After federal investigations began, Edmonds and Conigliaro met to fabricate repayment stories involving gold and baseball cards to mislead investigators. This plea marks a significant development in the ongoing crackdown on corruption within government contracting and defense research.