A contracting officer took hundreds of thousands of dollars, prosecutors say.
By Rachel Weiner Rachel Weiner Local reporter covering federal court in Alexandria, Va. and local court in Arlington and Alexandria. Email Bio Follow April 5 at 4:25 PM A State Department staff member took hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from a Turkish construction firm whose contracts he oversaw, prosecutors in Alexandria federal court said Friday.
An indictment unsealed Thursday accuses Zaldy N. Sabino of conspiracy, bribery, honest services wire fraud and making false statements. According to the indictment, Sabino helped steer millions of dollars in contracts to the Turkish company, which is unnamed in the indictment, between 2012 and 2016. During the same period, he paid down his debts with more than half a million dollars in cash and withdrew $239,300 directly from the owner of the Turkish company’s bank account, prosecutors said.
The company owner met with Sabino repeatedly, according to prosecutors, and forwarded him email chains about projects involving his firm. Sabino also lied about his relationship with the Turkish company and money he received in background investigations to maintain his top-secret security clearance, according to the indictment.The Turkish company was working with two Maryland-based contractors who are not named. Two contracts match those in the indictment: Trison Construction declined to comment, and Desbuild Inc. did not immediately return a request for comment.
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