Akbar Ahmed Sherzai, Bribery, New York 2014
A shocking case of corruption has come to light in Afghanistan, where a military contractor has been sentenced to four years in prison for offering bribes to a US Army official. Akbar Ahmed Sherzai, a 50-year-old independent contractor for a trucking company in Afghanistan, was responsible for delivering fuel to US Army installations in the war-torn country.
According to the investigation, Sherzai offered a US Army serviceman $54,000 in bribes to falsify documents confirming the receipt of fuel shipments that were never actually delivered. This was done to avoid fines for ‘no-show’ missions, where the company failed to deliver the fuel.
The scam resulted in Sherzai’s company and others avoiding or recovering $675,000 in fines. However, the serviceman, who was working with law enforcement, unbeknownst to Sherzai, reported the bribe-taking to the authorities.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell, Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly T. Currie, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John F. Sopko, Assistant Director in Charge Diego Rodriguez of the FBI’s New York Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Raymond R. Parmer Jr. of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations’ (ICE-HSI) New York Field Office and Director Frank Robey of the U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigation Command (CID) made the announcement.
Akbar Ahmed Sherzai pleaded guilty on February 14, 2014, to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Margo K. Brodie ordered Sherzai to forfeit $54,000.
The investigation was conducted by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, FBI, ICE-HSI, and CID. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Daniel Butler of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amir H. Toossi of the Eastern District of New York.
The Afghan bribery scandal highlights the deep-seated corruption that plagues the war-torn country. The case serves as a reminder that corruption has severe consequences and will not be tolerated.
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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