In a shocking case of federal corruption, former co-owner of Sourcing Specialist LLC, Jill Ann Charpia, 33, has pleaded guilty to defrauding the US government in Iraq reconstruction contracts.
Charpia, a San Antonio native now living in Colorado, admitted to falsifying documents and submitting false invoices to the Department of Defense (DOD) Joint Contracting Command Iraq/Afghanistan. The scheme resulted in a $1,270,075.40 payment to her bank account in September 2008.
According to court documents, Charpia contracted with the US government to provide services in Iraq, including the construction of a turn-key housing facility. However, she fabricated two invoices, one for $700,000 for the rental of two villas in Baghdad and another for $570,075.50 for the purchase of three armored vehicles from an Iraqi company.
Charpia admitted to forging signatures on the documents and not purchasing the armored vehicles. She also admitted to paying only half the submitted cost for the villas. The DOD was left with a significant financial loss, and Charpia’s actions have sparked outrage in the federal community.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Trial Attorney Mark Grider of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, on detail from the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR), and by Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith A. Patton of the Western District of Texas. The investigation was led by SIGIR, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the Major Procurement Fraud Unit of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.
At sentencing, scheduled for November 15, 2012, Charpia faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the pecuniary gain or loss, and up to three years of supervised release. As part of her plea agreement, Charpia agreed to pay $920,000 plus interest in restitution to the United States.
This case highlights the need for increased oversight and accountability in federal contracting. The Justice Department has vowed to crack down on corruption and ensure that those who engage in such activities are held accountable for their actions.
The full extent of Charpia’s involvement in the scheme is still unclear, and an investigation is ongoing. However, one thing is certain: the US government has been defrauded, and justice will be served.
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