A senior Defense Department contracting officer pleaded guilty Thursday to accepting bribes from a foreign defense contractor who is at the center of a bribery and fraud scandal, according to the Justice Department.
Paul Simpkins, as a DoD supervisory contracting officer, was responsible for the awarding and administering of U.S. Navy contracts.
He worked with the foreign defense contractor, Leonard Glenn Francis, known in Navy circles as “Fat Leonard.” Francis owned the Singaporean company Glenn Defense Marine Asia, which serviced U.S. Navy ships.
Simpkins testified that, between May 2006 and September 2012, Francis awarded him cash, paid for his travel expenses, and provided him with prostitute services.
In return, Francis asked that Simpkins steer contracts to Glenn Defense Marine Asia and intervene on behalf of the company when disputes with the Navy occurred.
Specifically, Simpkins extended the GDMA contract even after a subordinate suggested not to extend the contract due to high costs.
He also told officials to stop using meters that measured the waste that GDMA removed from Navy ships. In total, GDMA overbilled the U.S. Navy by more than $34 million.
Simpkins awaits his sentence. Fifteen people have been charged in this case, and 11 have pleaded guilty. Francis has pleaded guilty and also awaits sentencing.
