Those facing criminal charges likely have a great deal of questions about their options and how their cases will proceed. While some people may choose to fight certain allegations in court, others may opt to accept a plea deal. For example, a former contractor at a Navy base in California has recently pleaded guilty following allegations that he was involved in a bribery scheme.
The crimes for which the man is accused are said to have begun in 2008. The man, a civilian, was in charge of service contracts and approving payment to vendors, among other responsibilities. However, law enforcement officials claim that he conspired with a businessman who owned three companies that received contracts from the Navy.
Reports indicate that the men agreed that the business owner would submit invoices for work that had not been completed that the contractor would then approve. The businessman would then give the contractor half of the money received during the process. The contractor recently pleaded guilty to accepting bribes and submitting false claims for payment; he had previously pleaded guilty to subscribing to a false federal income tax return and conspiracy. He was sentenced to 70 months in prison and must pay over $1 million in restitution.
When faced with allegations of bribery and other crimes, defendants want to ensure that they have all the necessary information to allow them to make informed decisions about their case. As such, most in California choose to consult a criminal defense attorney with experience with such cases. Some will decide that, based on the evidence against them, it is in their best interests to accept a plea deal.