BOISE – In a shocking turn of events, Ike Tomlinson, 60, of Terreton, Idaho, pleaded guilty to conspiring to monopolize, rigging bids, and allocating territories in the market for wildfire-fighting fuel truck services for the U.S. Forest Service.
According to a plea agreement and superseding information filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, Tomlinson conspired with co-defendant Kris Bird, 61, of Salmon, and others in at least two conspiracies. First, from at least as early as March 2015 until about March 2023, Tomlinson conspired to rig bids — and allocate territories — in the market for wildfire-fighting fuel truck services for certain dispatch centers of the U.S. Forest Service’s Great Basin wildfire dispatch region.
Then, from at least as early as February 2020 until about March 2023, Ike Tomlinson and Kris Bird also conspired to monopolize that same market. As summarized in his plea agreement, Tomlinson and his co-conspirators sought to exclude competing vendors from the market and to maintain his power to price higher than he would have otherwise.
In March 2023, for example, Tomlinson coordinated his bids with Bird to “squeeze,” “drown,” “punch,” “low ball” and de-prioritize two competing vendors on the Forest Service’s dispatch priority lists. This blatant monopolistic conduct resulted in overcharging the U.S. Forest Service’s wildfire fighters.
Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division stated, “Congress criminalized conspiracies to monopolize in 1890 to protect the American promise of free enterprise. Today’s guilty plea shows that the Justice Department and its Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) partners will deploy every appropriate law enforcement tool — including court-authorized wiretaps — to prosecute blatant monopolistic conduct that harms the public.”
U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit added, “Agencies like the U.S. Forest Service rely on a fair bidding process to secure the best deal at the best price for taxpayers. When contractors collude rather than compete, they wrong the public and honest competitors who submitted bids fair and square.”
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors. A violation of the Sherman Act carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine for individuals and a maximum penalty of a $100 million fine for corporations.
The Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho, and FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, Boise Resident Agency investigated the case. Trial Attorney Matthew Chou and Assistant Chief Christopher J. Carlberg of the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean M. Mazorol for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case.
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Key Facts
- State: Idaho
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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