Dc public schools employee and contractor indicted in bribery scheme — Photo 14271174 © Jennifer Pitiquen | Dreamstime.com

WASHINGTON — A former District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) employee and a government contractor were indicted Thursday for their roles in a long-running bribery and fraud scheme involving school supply orders, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

Dana Garnett, 60, of Hyattsville, Maryland, a former DCPS employee, and Yelake Meseretu, 40, owner of U.S. Office Solutions, were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and wire fraud. Garnett is accused of steering contracts to Meseretu’s company in exchange for bribes and accepting under-delivered goods while DCPS paid the full order amounts.

The indictment alleges that the scheme spanned at least five years, during which Garnett and co-conspirator Patricia Bailey, another former DCPS employee, coordinated with multiple vendors to falsify orders. DCPS paid the full price for these orders, though fewer goods were delivered. Garnett and Bailey allegedly received bribe payments from vendors at various locations in the D.C. and Maryland area.

Three other individuals have pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme, including Bailey, who pleaded guilty in October 2023. Two vendors, Donald McWhirter and Duane King, also admitted to making cash payments to Garnett and Bailey in exchange for business. King further pleaded guilty to a separate scheme involving bribes to District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Services Department employees for fraudulent payments.

Sentencing for the three individuals who have pleaded guilty is pending.

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