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Three men formerly employed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina were arrested August 13, 2021 on charges of bribery of a government official, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of North Carolina. Calvin Alfonza Jordan, 64, Edward Wade Crisco, 59, and Stephen Paul Sabato, 50, were charged via indictment. Jordan was also charged with money laundering.

According to court documents, from 2011 to 2019, Jordan was a procurement agent assigned to the Operations and Maintenance Division, Directorate of Public Works (DPW) at Fort Bragg and entrusted to contract for services for DPW. DPW is responsible for design, construction, maintenance and operation of utility systems on Fort Bragg.

The indictment alleges that Jordan, Crisco, a flooring technician assigned to DPW, and Sabato, a roofing technician assigned to DPW, each accepted payments from companies and individuals in return for increasing the amount of federal contracts with those companies and individuals. “In particular, Jordan is alleged to have received thousands of such payments of at least $200 each,” stated the release. “Over the 8-year period, payments received for such work orders amounted to a total estimated income to Jordan of $1,080,400. It is alleged that Jordan laundered some of that money by making cash deposits and then, in turn, withdrawing money to make large purchases including a BMW. It is alleged that during that time, Sabato profited at least $200,000, and Crisco profited at least $50,000.”

Sabato and Crisco are charged with two counts of receiving bribes and gratuities for steering contracts to vendors and for recommending particular contractors for jobs and by passing their work on inspection without regard to completion workmanship.

Jordan is charged with multiple counts of bribery and also faces charges of money laundering. If convicted, Jordan would face up to a maximum term of 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine as to each of the counts and a term of up to three years supervised release following any term of imprisonment, according to the release.

Crisco and Sabato face up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine as to each count, as well as supervised release following any imprisonment, according to the release.

“The indictment also gives notice that the defendants may be subject to substantial forfeiture of the proceeds of these crimes,” stated the release.

“Any allegations of bribery by a government employee are disheartening. In this case, it is alleged these men, tasked with maintaining and contracting to maintain the very spaces in which the members of our military live and work, put their own monetary gain above that task,” said Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina G. Norman Acker III.

“The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) is committed to protecting the integrity of the Department of Defense (DoD) procurement system,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard, DCIS, Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “This indictment demonstrates our resolve, alongside our law enforcement partners, to bring to justice those who subvert the DoD contracting process for their own gain, jeopardizing the combat readiness of our military.”

Acker made the announcement. The Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division, Major Procurement Fraud Unit, are investigating the case.

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