A former Department of Energy executive and his wife have been indicted for allegedly defrauding the federal government of more than $1 million by secretly causing the department to award contracts that benefitted them personally.

Michael Strayer, 69, and his wife, 48-year-old Karen Earle, were indicted in federal court in Greenbelt on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, wire fraud, money laundering and other offenses.