DOE Bribery

⏱ 2 min read

Edward Doherty, a 35-year-old former Security Specialist with the U.S. Department of Energy, pleaded guilty in Boston federal court to trying to bribe another DOE employee to secure government contracts for his private company, MAE Systems, LLC. The bribery scheme took place between February and June 2025, with Doherty offering at least $10,000 in exchange for the contracts. Doherty made two down payments on the bribe, totaling $2,500, before the scheme was reported to law enforcement.

Doherty’s company, MAE Systems, LLC, was started in November 2024, just before he began working with the DOE. The indictment, which was handed down in July 2025, charged Doherty with honest services fraud, payment of illegal gratuities, and bribery of a public official.

The guilty plea could result in significant prison time for Doherty, with each charge carrying a sentence of up to 20 years, 2 years, and 15 years, respectively. The charges also carry fines of up to $250,000 and supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for July 8, 2026.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston. The investigation and prosecution demonstrate the government’s commitment to rooting out corruption and ensuring the integrity of public contracting processes.