Matthew Barrow Pleads Guilty to Bribery Scheme at Aberdeen Proving Ground

Baltimore, Maryland – A former Army contractor has pleaded guilty to a massive bribery scheme at the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

Matthew Barrow, 43, of Toledo, Ohio, admitted to paying officials John and Danielle Kays over $800,000 in exchange for favorable actions on his behalf and his company, MJ-6, LLC. Barrow’s scheme involved steering subcontracts worth approximately $21 million to his firm.

The Kays, former civilian employees of the U.S. Army, used their official positions to add MJ-6 as a subcontractor to the Army, approve employees for government contracts, and approve pay rates and travel reimbursements for Barrow’s employees. They concealed their corrupt relationship by making false statements on government ethics forms.

Barrow faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2018, before U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III. His former colleagues John and Danielle Kays have been indicted and await trial.

The National Procurement Fraud Task Force was formed to combat such schemes and protect government contracts from corruption. Barrow’s case highlights the ongoing efforts to maintain integrity in federal contracting.