FLORIDA
A former Navy noncommissioned officer plead guilty today to accepting approximately $25,000 in cash bribes from vendors while he served in Afghanistan, officials announced today
Donald P. Bunch, 46, of Pace, Florida, admitted to a one-count of accepting bribes, and some of the money was used for the construction of a new house, officials said.
Senior U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson of Florida scheduled sentencing on Dec. 8.
The evidence against Bunch indicated the following facts, according to officials:
- From February to August 2009, Bunch worked as an U.S. Navy E8 senior chief at the Humanitarian Assistance Yard at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. The Assistance Yard purchased supplies from local Afghan vendors for use as part of the Commander’s Emergency Response Program, which enabled U.S. military commanders to respond to urgent humanitarian relief requirements in Afghanistan.
- Bunch was responsible for replenishing food and supplies such as rice, beans and clothing at the Assistance Yard, and for selecting vendors from a pre-determined list to provide the necessary items.
- Bunch admitted that he had been instructed by his predecessor to rotate among the vendors.
- In his plea agreement, Bunch stated that certain Afghan vendors offered, and he accepted, money for the purpose of influencing his selection of vendors.
- Bunch admitted that he received a total of approximately $25,000 from the vendors and that, as a result, he secured on their behalf more frequent and lucrative contracts.
- He also admitted that he sent greeting cards stuffed with proceeds of the bribes to his wife at their residence in Florida, and that they used the money to pay for the construction of a new home.