SAVANNAH, GA
A federal grand jury indicted a 55-year-old Army colonel stationed at Fort Gordon and his wife on bribery and kickback charges, according to officials.
Col. Anthony Tyrone Roper and his wife Audra Roper, 49, and Dwayne Oswald Fulton, 58, a former employee of a defense contracting firm, were indicted this week for their alleged roles in a bribery and kickback scheme.
Each of the Defendants reside in Augusta, Georgia, according to prosecutors.
According to the allegations, from 2008 and lasting almost a decade, Roper conspired with his wife, Fulton and others to solicit and accept cash bribes in exchange for rigging the award of over $20 million in U. S. Army contracts to select individuals and companies.
The indictment further alleges that in an attempt to hide their bribery and fraud schemes, the defendants attempted to obstruct an official investigation into their criminal conduct.
Colonel Roper was charged with one count of conspiracy, three counts of bribery, four counts of false statements and one count of obstruction. He is facing up to 85 years in prison and a $1.75 million fine, according to officials.
Audra Roper was charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of false statements and one count of obstruction. He is facing up to 25 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.
Fulton was charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of obstruction, with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
*The case has been investigated by Special Agent Preston T. Johnson of the U. S. Army, Criminal Investigations Division; Special Agent Randall J. Temples of the U. S. Department of Defense, Criminal Investigative Service; and, Special Agent Bryan M. Cofer of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General. The investigation of this case remains ongoing.