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(A.K.A. Non-Original Rants)

–Co-opting good stuff from all over the ‘Net and maybe some original thoughts—ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE

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One guy cost taxpayers $550 million

One contracting officer for USAID (good riddance), has been convicted of accepting bribes to push contracts worth $550 million to specific businesses.

The scheme spanned a decade and was tied to at least 14 USAID contracts that cost U.S. taxpayers over $550 million, according to the statement. 57-year-old Roderick Watson of Woodstock, Maryland, admitted to bribery of a government official while working as a contracting officer. Starting in 2013, he received bribes from Darryl Britt, 64, of Myakka City, Florida, to use his influence to award contracts to Britt’s small business, which was enrolled in a federal business development program designed to grow disadvantaged businesses, court documents said.

This was one guy. One contracting officer. Who got about a million out of the deal. Small potatoes in the scheme of things. How many of these folks did USAID have? This was an agency that needed to die with a flaming stake through its heart. Can you imagine what hasn’t been caught?

At the very least Watson is looking at up to 15 years in the slam. Still not enough.

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Midwest Chick

10 responses to “One guy cost taxpayers $550 million”

  1. B Avatar
    B

    I’ll take “Where were the folks supervising him and why was there no oversight of the spending” for $400, Alex.

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  2. Don Curton Avatar
    Don Curton

    I’m so glad that I’m taxed roughly 50% or more on my salary after it’s all said and done. Income tax, SS, Medicare, property tax, sales tax, licenses and fees, etc. I’m sure the govt will do a much better job spending that money than I would have.

    If congress won’t act to enforce against all the waste and fraud that DOGE found, then they all need to be voted out. Or we end up going from the ballot box to the next step.

    We all knew, deep down, that waste and fraud were there. Now that it’s been exposed, something needs to happen.

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  3. Matthew W Avatar
    Matthew W

    Literally, “USAID” is all money laundering…….

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  4. Unferth Avatar
    Unferth

    For every Roderick Watson of Woodstock, Maryland caught, I wonder how many will never be found.

    It can be very career limiting to question certain contracts (ask me how I know) or question certain “technical” decisions. By the time anyone is in a position to have the power to question such things, they’ve turned a blind-eye long enough that it’s an instinctive reflex.

    The Finnish phone giant Nokia made the mistake of hiring a Microsoft VP as CEO without making him sell his Microsoft shares first. The CEO then killed any Nokia project that competed with Microsoft, and standardized Nokia on Microsoft phone versus Android (or the in-house OS).

    This happens in the government all the time. The government hires the “expert” who has most of their personal investments in “Microsoft” — and hey, look, the “expert” is always recommending “Microsoft”.

    Think FDA / CDC / Big Pharma revolving door culture, but with whatever the industry is. Whenever you have $6,800,000,000,000 being spent, you’re going to have lots of opportunities for waste, fraud, and abuse — and the vast majority will be nearly impossible to identify.

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  5. Nemo Avatar
    Nemo

    There was a story this AM, in I think it was the NY POST, about some guy in USAID who was steering money meant for some project in Africa to one of his friends who was kicking back half to this guy’s off shore account and absolutely no work being done in Africa.

    I’m hoping the judges in both cases make the perps forfeit their homes, cars and bank accounts while sentencing them to life W/O parole and leaving their families begging in the streets for food, shelter and clothing. Oh, the wife didn’t know that they actually couldn’t afford the lifestyle they were living on a government salary? boolchit.

    Actually, I’d rather see them subject to treason with the appropriate punishment as prescribed by law.

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  6. T Roy Avatar
    T Roy

    Taxation IS theft. The lack of stewardship and integrity in the handling of citizen’s money in our country has been a treasonous rot for decades. It is truly a sickening, pathetic orgy of vice and greed. Hang em high.

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  7. WDS Avatar
    WDS

    If we’re lucky, Watson may name names. If he’s smart and wants to live, he won’t because too many were involved in the grift.

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  8. Gerry Avatar
    Gerry

    I wonder how many US Army birthday parades you could have for $550 million?

    Liked by 2 people

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  9. TMF Bert Avatar
    TMF Bert

    A good start, now where’s the rest???

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  10. Midwest Chick Avatar
    Midwest Chick

    B–Yep, they’d be culpable as well.

    Don–Agreed.

    Matthew–All money laundering all the time.

    Unferth–Some excellent observations. Thanks!

    Nemo–I could see an argument for treason.

    TRoy–Agreed.

    WDS–The names of the recipients were named, but not his supervisors.

    Gerry–Unknown.

    TMF–Good question.

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