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Three Men Sentenced for Bribery of Government Contracting Officer
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – In a shocking case of corruption, three individuals have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to bribe a public official in Alabama.
Coogan Preston, 56, of Columbia, South Carolina, was sentenced to 64 months in prison for his involvement in the scheme. Francisco Guerra, 56, of Lexington, Alabama, received a sentence of 60 months in prison, while Jason Ingram, 48, of Rogersville, Alabama, was sentenced to 24 months in prison.
The scheme began in 2016 and continued until 2021. According to the plea agreements, Guerra agreed to provide money and other items of value to Preston, a government contracting official working at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. In exchange for these bribes, Preston identified subcontracting opportunities for companies owned and operated by Guerra and convinced the prime contractor to use one of Guerra’s companies as a subcontractor.
“The government officials and contractors working on Redstone Arsenal play a critical role in supporting the United States military,” said U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. “The individuals sentenced today chose personal gain over their professional duty. These sentences were the result of that choice and should serve as a warning to others.”
The case was investigated by the Department of the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division, with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the United States Department of Defense Office of Inspector General – Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lloyd Peeples prosecuted the cases.
The sentencing of these individuals serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the public trust and the consequences of engaging in corrupt activities.
The case is a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in preventing corruption and ensuring that those who engage in such activities are held accountable.
Defendant: Coogan Preston
Criminal Charge: Conspiracy to bribe a public official
City and State: Huntsville, Alabama
Date: December 2024
Sentence: 64 months in prison
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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