Kevin Leondi, Bribery and Kickbacks, New Jersey 2023

Ex-US Army Employee Sentenced to 5 Years for Bribery and Kickbacks

A former US Army employee has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for using his position to solicit and accept bribes, and for conspiring to steer kickbacks in construction projects at Picatinny Arsenal and Joint Base McGuire-Dix Lakehurst.

Kevin Leondi, 58, of Stroudsberg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to Counts One and Two of a superseding indictment charging him with conspiring to defraud the United States by soliciting and accepting bribes, and conspiring to steer kickbacks from one conspirator to another.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, Leondi solicited and accepted more than $150,000 in bribes from George Grassie and others in return for task orders and other favorable assistance at the bases, and for not denying them future work.

Leondi also admitted that he conspired to steer at least $48,000 in corporate kickbacks from Grassie to James Conway to improperly obtain and reward Conway for his giving subcontracts and other favorable assistance to Grassie relating to Conway’s employer’s contracts with the federal government at PICA and Ft. Dix.

Grassie pleaded guilty in February 2017 to one count of conspiracy and one count of providing unlawful kickbacks for his role in the bribery and kickback conspiracies. Conway pleaded guilty to accepting unlawful kickbacks and a wire fraud charge involving other fraudulent conduct in August 2016.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Leondi to three years of supervised release and fined him $25,000.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Army, Major Procurement Fraud Unit, Criminal Investigation Command, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.

Defendant/Respondent: Kevin Leondi

Criminal Charges: Conspiring to defraud the United States by soliciting and accepting bribes, and conspiring to steer kickbacks from one conspirator to another

City and State: Newark, New Jersey

Exact Date: None provided

Sentence or Outcome: 60 months in prison, 3 years of supervised release, $25,000 fine

Dollar Amounts: $150,000 in bribes, $48,000 in corporate kickbacks

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/former-us-army-employee-picatinny-arsenal-sentenced-five-years-prison-receiving-bribes