WEST VIRGINIA – A 44-year-old Charleston man pleaded guilty today to paying bribes to public officials and is facing up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced in June, according to federal prosecutors.
Court documents indicate that in February 2009, Dwayne Allen Hardman left his former business and formed another government contracting company in Chesapeake with another businessman.
This corporation in Chesapeake provided support to Military Sealift Command on various telecommunications projects, authorities said.
Federal officials said two Military Sealift Command officials agreed to steer contract work to Hardman’s new company in exchange for receiving bribes from Hardman and his business partner.
From March 2005 and until 2007, Hardman, his business partner and others paid these two officials about $3,000 each month in cash bribes.
During this time, officials said Hardman and his business partner withdrew about $144,000 in cash, which was then given to the two officials in exchange for their assistance in securing Military Sealift contracts and subcontracting business for Hardman’s company.
In May 2009, authorities said Hardman and his new business partner paid each of the two Military Sealift officials $25,000 in cash bribes.
On Feb. 12, 2014, one of the Military Sealift officials, Kenny Toy, pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in conjunction with this scheme.