A retired U.S. Army major in Texas has pleaded guilty to a money laundering charge related to contracts supporting the Iraq War. Charles Joseph Bowie Jr., 45, of Georgetown, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.
According to court documents, Bowie served in Kuwait from April 2004 to April 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While serving in Kuwait, Bowie became friends with former U.S. Army Major John Cockerham, who directed a government contractor to pay Bowie money in exchange for the award of a bottled water contract.
Bowie admitted that he received four wire transfers of approximately $100,000 each from the contractor between July 2005 and February 2006. Bowie also admitted that he entered into a sham consulting agreement with the contractor to conceal the payments.
Cockerham pleaded guilty in February 2008 to participating in a complex bribery and money laundering scheme while working as an Army contracting officer in Kuwait. According to court documents, he was responsible for awarding contracts for services to be delivered to troops in Iraq, including bottled water.
In return for awarding these contracts, Cockerham admitted receiving more than $9 million in bribe proceeds. Cockerham admitted that once he agreed to take money in exchange for awarding contracts, he directed contractors to pay Bowie and others in order to conceal the receipt of bribe payments.
Bowie faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the amount of the criminally derived property he received. In addition, Bowie has agreed to pay $400,000 in restitution to the United States. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled by the court.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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