APG Employee Bribed with Tickets, Golf for $50M Contract

BALTIMORE, MD – Rainier Ramos, 50, of Bel Air, Maryland, copped a plea today to bribery charges stemming from his role at the U.S. Army Public Health Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG). Ramos traded official favors for a steady stream of perks from an IT company angling for a lucrative government contract.

The guilty plea, announced by U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein and a coalition of federal agencies including the FBI and Army CID, reveals a calculated scheme dating back to 2009. Ramos, an information technology professional, systematically solicited and accepted bribes from the owner and CEO of an information technology company based in McLean, Virginia. These weren’t small favors – we’re talking meals, drinks, golf outings, and a constant supply of tickets to major sporting events.

The perks were lavish. Ramos enjoyed courtside seats to Washington Wizards games, access to a luxury suite for Washington Redskins games at FedEx Field, and even tickets to see the New Orleans Saints and Hornets play down in the Big Easy. But it wasn’t about the fun; it was about a $50 million-plus contract – the MEDCOM contract. Ramos actively manipulated the process to benefit the Virginia-based company, and his actions weren’t subtle. He pushed for contracting opportunities to build the company’s resume, recommended they qualify for a Small Business Administration 8(a) program, and even leaked confidential pricing data from a previous contractor.

An email from Ramos to the company owner on May 20, 2010, speaks volumes: “If there’s any way you can pull off a miracle and switch the 10 Eagles/Skins tickets you have already acquired for 10 Skins/Cowboys tickets, I’ll owe you some serious 8A business. . . . Thanks again for EVERYTHING.” The quid pro quo was blatant. In 2011, Ramos chaired the Source Selection Board for the MEDCOM contract, and in 2012, recommended awarding it to the company. He then approved their invoices as the money rolled in – nearly $37 million as of July 2016.

Ramos now faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for bribery. But the legal reckoning doesn’t end there. As part of his plea agreement, Ramos is also on the hook to pay a money judgment of at least $33,000 and full restitution for the victim’s losses. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled his sentencing for July 12, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. This case is a stark reminder that even within the supposedly secure walls of Aberdeen Proving Ground, greed and corruption can thrive.

The investigation was spearheaded by the National Procurement Fraud Task Force, formed in 2006 to combat fraud in government contracting. This case highlights the ongoing efforts to root out corruption and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it moves toward sentencing.