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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF KANSAS
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FILED IN
OPEN COURT
8/13/2009_________________
TIMOTHY M. O'BRIEN, CLERK
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_________/s/_____________
DEPUTY
CLERK |
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
v.
PATRIOT SERVICES, INC.,
Defendant.
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Case Number: 2:09-cr-20100
Filed: August 13, 2009
Violation: 15 U.S.C. § 645(a)
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PLEA AGREEMENT
The United States of America and Patriot Services, Inc. ("Defendant"),
a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Georgia, hereby
enter into the following Plea Agreement pursuant to Rule 11(c)(1)(B)
of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure:
RIGHTS OF DEFENDANT
1. Defendant understands its rights:
- to be represented by an attorney;
- to be charged by Indictment;
- to plead not guilty to any criminal charge brought against it;
- to have a trial by jury, at which it would be presumed not guilty
of the charge and the United States would have to prove every essential
element of the charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt for it to
be found guilty;
- to confront and cross-examine witnesses against it and to subpoena
witnesses in its defense at trial;
- to appeal its conviction if it is found guilty; and
- to appeal the imposition of sentence against it.
AGREEMENT TO PLEAD GUILTY
AND WAIVE CERTAIN RIGHTS
2. Defendant knowingly and voluntarily waives the rights set out in
Paragraph 1(b)-(f) above. Defendant also knowingly and voluntarily waives
venue, as well as its right to file any appeal, any collateral attack,
or any other writ or motion, including but not limited to an appeal
under 18 U.S.C. § 3742, that challenges the sentence imposed by
the Court if that sentence is consistent with or below the sentence
recommended in Paragraph 11 of this Plea Agreement, regardless of how
the sentence is determined by the Court. This agreement does not affect
the rights or obligations of the United States as set forth in 18 U.S.C.
§ 3742(b). Nothing in this paragraph, however, shall act as a bar
to Defendant perfecting any legal remedies it may otherwise have on
appeal or collateral attack respecting claims of ineffective assistance
of counsel or prosecutorial misconduct. Defendant agrees that there
is currently no known evidence of ineffective assistance of counsel
or prosecutorial misconduct.
3. Pursuant to Rule 7(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure,
Defendant will waive indictment and plead guilty at arraignment to a
one-count Information charging Defendant with making a false statement
to the United States Small Business Administration ("SBA") in violation
of Title 15 of the United States Code Section 645(a) to be filed in
the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. By entering
into this Plea Agreement, Defendant admits to knowingly committing this
offense and to being guilty of this offense.
4. Defendant, pursuant to the terms of this Plea Agreement, will plead
guilty to the criminal charge described in Paragraph 3 above and will
make a factual admission of guilt to the Court in accordance with Rule
11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, as set forth in Paragraph
5 below.
FACTUAL BASIS FOR OFFENSE CHARGED
5. Defendant is pleading guilty because it is in fact guilty of the
charge contained in the Information. In pleading guilty, Defendant admits
the following facts and that those facts establish its guilt beyond
a reasonable doubt to the charge contained in the Information:
- For purposes of this Plea Agreement, the "relevant period" is that
period beginning in or about November 2003 and continuing until in
or about April 2007. During the relevant period, Defendant was a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of Georgia with its principal
place of business in Griffin, Georgia, and was engaged in the business
of providing temporary staffing services to various agencies and departments
of the United States Government at various locations throughout the
United States.
- Acts in furtherance of the charge contained in the Information were
carried out within the District of Kansas. Defendant, by and through
its representatives, employees, and officers, communicated in person,
as well as by telephone, electronic mail, and United States mail with
government officials at the United States Department of Veterans'
Affairs ("VA") in Leavenworth, Kansas in support and in furtherance
of the charge contained in the Information. In addition, Defendant
understood that its false statement, as charged in the Information,
could cause, and did in fact cause, the SBA to fax documents to the
VA in Leavenworth, Kansas authorizing the VA to negotiate multi-million
dollar 8(a) set-aside contracts with Defendant for the VA's Leavenworth
Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy ("CMOP").
- During the relevant period, STEPHANIE BLACKMON ("BLACKMON"), a service-disabled
African-American female, was the owner and nominal President of Defendant.
Beginning in or about January 2000 and continuing through approximately
April 2007, BLACKMON also was an employee of Company A.
- Company A was a corporation engaged in the business of providing
temporary staffing services at various locations throughout the United
States. During the relevant period BLACKMON understood
that Company A was too large to qualify as a small business under
the United States Small Business Administration's ("SBA") standards.
Similarly, BLACKMON understood that during the relevant period
Company A was not qualified as a socially and economically disadvantaged
company under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act ("8(a)"), nor
could it have qualified as an 8(a) company because it was not owned
and operated by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual.
- On or about June 4, 2005, Company A was acquired by another company.
All references to Company A in this Plea Agreement on or after June
4, 2005 shall mean Company A as a subsidiary of that parent company.
- Beginning at least as early as January 2000 and continuing until
approximately June 4, 2005, Individual A, a Caucasian male, was co-owner
and President of Company A . When Company A was acquired in or about
June 4, 2005, Individual A ceased to be a co-owner of Company A, but
remained as an executive with Company A until approximately June 2006.
Individual A was BLACKMON's employer at Company A from at least as
early as January 2000 until approximately June 2006, when Individual
A left Company A. From in or about June 2006 until approximately April
2007, Individual A represented himself as Vice President of Defendant.
- Beginning at least as early as January 2000 and continuing until
at least December 2005, Individual B, a Caucasian male, was co-owner
and Vice President of Company A and, as such, also was BLACKMON's
employer during that time. Beginning in or about November 2003 and
continuing until in or about December 2005, Individual B also was
involved in the operation of Defendant's business.
- During the relevant period and continuing until November 2006, Individual
C, a Caucasian female, served as Director of Human Resources for Company
A. Individual C also was Marketing Director for Company A. Beginning
at least as early as November 2005 and continuing until in or about
April 2007, Individual C also was involved in the operation of Defendant's
business.
- Beginning in or about March 2003 and continuing through in or about
April 2007, Individual D, a Caucasian male and the son of Individual
A, was an executive with Company A. During the relevant period, Individual
D also was involved in the operation of Defendant's business.
- Company B was a corporation engaged in the business of providing
funding and back office management. BLACKMON understood that Individual
D was the President of Company B, Individual C was the Vice President
of Company B, and Individual A was involved in the management and
operation of Company B.
- Individual E was a contracting officer with the VA until his retirement
in or about January 2007. Individual E had responsibility for, among
other things, negotiating contracts on behalf of the Leavenworth CMOP.
- In or about October 2003, Individual A informed BLACKMON that the
owner of Defendant at that time was looking to sell the business and
encouraged BLACKMON to purchase Defendant.
- On or about November 26, 2003, BLACKMON purchased Defendant's stock
for $1,000. Because BLACKMON lacked the necessary funds, Individual
B arranged for Company A to loan BLACKMON $1,000 to finance the purchase.
Individual B also arranged for a lawyer to assist BLACKMON in closing
the transaction.
- Individual A determined BLACKMON's salary from Defendant.
In 2004 and 2005, BLACKMON received no salary from Defendant.
For the full year 2006, BLACKMON received approximately $1,200
in salary from Defendant. From January 1, 2007 through the end of
April 2007, BLACKMON received approximately $7,600 in salary from
Defendant.
- At least as early as 2005, BLACKMON understood from conversations
she heard between Individuals A and C that Company A was no longer
considered a small business and could no longer bid on contracts set
aside for small businesses.
- Beginning at least as early as January 2005, BLACKMON knew that
Individuals A, B, and C, as well as various other employees of Company
A, were identifying contracting opportunities for Defendant, and beginning
at least as early as June 2005, BLACKMON knew that Individuals A,
B, and C, as well as various other employees of Company A, were preparing
and submitting bids for Defendant. BLACKMON was not involved in identifying
contracting opportunities for Defendant or deciding whether Defendant
would submit bids, nor was she involved in negotiating bids for Defendant.
Defendant was run in the same manner as Company A, with Individuals
A and C making the decisions for the company, including whether Defendant
would submit a bid on a particular contract. Individual B, along with
other employees of Company A, also identified and submitted various
bids on behalf of Defendant.
- BLACKMON's job responsibilities at Defendant were limited to managing
the various contracts that Individuals A, B, C, and others had secured
on behalf of the company. BLACKMON's job responsibilities at Defendant
were the same responsibilities she had at Company A.
- In the Fall of 2005, Defendant bid on and won contracts with the
United States Army Reserve's 81st Regional Readiness Command
("81st"), contracts which previously had been held by Company
A. Company A was no longer able to bid on those contracts because
it was not a small business and the 81st contracts had
been set aside for small businesses.
- In or about October 2005, Individual A suggested that BLACKMON apply
to the SBA on behalf of Defendant for 8(a) certification, something
he had mentioned to her on previous occasions. Individual A explained
that if Defendant were to be certified as an 8(a) business, it would
be eligible to bid on and receive federal government contracts set
aside for 8(a) certified businesses. Individual A also told BLACKMON
that 8(a) certification was "one more checked box" on government contracts
under which Defendant could qualify.
- In or about late November 2005, Individual C sought to work with
BLACKMON to draft and submit an 8(a) application for Defendant as
Individual A had suggested. Individual C told BLACKMON "[Individual
A] wants this done." When BLACKMON initially declined Individual C's
help, Individual C told BLACKMON that she was going to call Individual
A, who would be very upset with BLACKMON for not allowing Individual
C to assist with Defendant's 8(a) application.
- At the end of 2005, BLACKMON began to realize that Defendant was
not her company, that Individuals A and C were going to be running
Defendant, that she would be working for Individuals A and C even
though she was the President of Defendant, and that her responsibilities
would be limited to managing contracts for Defendant, just as she
had at Company A. BLACKMON also began to understand that her value
to Defendant was in the qualifications she provided the company by
virtue of her status as a socially and economically disadvantaged
woman and a service-disabled veteran.
- In or about late January 2006, BLACKMON met with Individual A at
a local area restaurant. During this meeting, Individual A told BLACKMON
that if she could get Defendant certified as 8(a) by the SBA she would
"check all the boxes" and Defendant could be very successful. BLACKMON
understood that to mean that Defendant would have access to an even
larger number of federal contracts if Defendant was certified 8(a)
and appeared to be run by BLACKMON, an African-American female, service-disabled
veteran, than if it were known to be run by a person such as Individual
A, a Caucasian male.
- During that meeting, Individual A told BLACKMON that: he would secure
contracts for Defendant; Individual C would prepare bid proposals
for Defendant; Individuals C and D would use Company B to provide
financing and payroll services for Defendant; and BLACKMON would administer
Defendant's contracts, just as she did at Company A.
- After BLACKMON's meeting with Individual A at the local area restaurant,
she knew that Individual A was running Defendant, that Individual
A would continue to be her boss at Defendant even though she was the
President of the company, and that Defendant was not really her company.
BLACKMON also understood that Individuals A and C were making, and
would continue to make, the business decisions for Defendant and that
she was simply working for them, just as she did at Company A. BLACKMON
understood that her primary purpose at Defendant was to provide a
basis on which Defendant could secure 8(a) certification as a business
owned and operated by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual
so that Defendant would have access to 8(a) set-aside federal contracts.
- On or about February 22, 2006, BLACKMON, at the direction of Individual
A, began an online 8(a) application on behalf of Defendant. In the
course of completing Defendant's 8(a) application, Individuals A and
C provided BLACKMON with responses or other information needed to
complete the application. On or about May 4, 2006, with the assistance
of Individual A, Individual C, and others, BLACKMON completed Defendant's
initial online 8(a) application and submitted it to the SBA. At the
direction of Individuals A and C, BLACKMON made the following representations
to the SBA in Defendant's 8(a) application, knowing each to be false
for the purpose of influencing the action of the SBA, including having
the SBA certify Defendant as an 8(a) business:
- BLACKMON represented that no owner, director, officer, or management
member of Defendant was a former employer or principal of a former
employer of BLACKMON, when in truth and in fact, as she then well
knew, Individual A, a former employer of BLACKMON, was an officer
and a management member of Defendant;
- BLACKMON represented that Defendant had no director, officer,
management member, partner, key employee, or owner other than
BLACKMON, when in truth and in fact, as she then well knew, Individual
A was an officer and management member of Defendant and Individual
C was a management member of Defendant;
- BLACKMON represented that Defendant did not have any existing
management or consulting agreements, when in truth and in fact,
as she then well knew, Defendant had an arrangement with Company
A pursuant to which Company A performed payroll, bookkeeping,
and "back office" functions for Defendant; and
- BLACKMON represented that no individual or entity other than
BLACKMON provided financial or bonding support, office space,
or equipment to Defendant, when in truth and in fact, and as she
then well knew:
- Defendant had received financial support from Individual
A;
- Individual A had verbally agreed to provide future financial
support to meet Defendant's payroll obligations under its
contract with the 81st;
- Defendant had received financial support from Company A;
and
- Defendant shared office space with Company A.
- BLACKMON provided false and misleading information to the SBA as
part of Defendant's 8(a) application in order to secure 8(a) certification
from the SBA for Defendant. BLACKMON understood that if she had provided
truthful responses to the SBA, Defendant's application for 8(a) certification
likely would have been rejected.
- In the summer of 2006, Individual A or Individual C told BLACKMON
that contracts with the Leavenworth CMOP were going to be up for bid,
Defendant was going to bid for them, and Individual A would help Defendant
get the contracts because he was on good terms with personnel at the
Leavenworth CMOP.
- In or about June 2006 Individual A left Company A and, notwithstanding
the fact that he had been working on behalf of Defendant for several
years, Individual A began representing himself as Vice President of
Defendant. Beginning in or about June 2006 BLACKMON was aware that
Individual A was representing himself as Vice President of Defendant;
Individual A subsequently told BLACKMON he had taken the title because
it made Defendant look more professional. BLACKMON understood Individual
A's comment to mean that it made Defendant look like a more legitimate
business if it had a Caucasian male representing it.
- On or about August 10, 2006, Defendant's 8(a) application was verified
as complete by the SBA and accepted for review.
- On or about November 16, 2006, the SBA awarded Defendant 8(a) certification.
On or about November 21, 2006, BLACKMON notified Individuals A and
C that Defendant had received 8(a) certification. On or about November
22, 2006, Individual E sent Individual A an email informing him that
he had nearly completed the Leavenworth CMOP solicitations but that
he needed a copy of Defendant's 8(a) letter of eligibility and Defendant's
contact person at the SBA; Individual A forwarded Individual E's request
to BLACKMON and Individual C and instructed BLACKMON to retrieve the
information Individual E had requested. BLACKMON understood the Leavenworth
CMOP solicitations were going to be offered to Defendant as 8(a) set-aside
contracts.
- Before Defendant could receive any 8(a) contracts, however, Defendant
had to have a business plan approved by the SBA. Individual C drafted
Defendant's business plan. In order to conceal Individual A's level
of involvement with Defendant, shortly before BLACKMON took Defendant's
business plan with her to meet with a representative of the SBA for
8(a) program orientation, Individual C removed references in Defendant's
business plan to Individual A as Vice President of Defendant; Individual
C also instructed BLACKMON to remove Individual A's resume from Defendant's
business plan before it was submitted to the SBA.
- Prior to her orientation meeting with the SBA, Individual A instructed
BLACKMON to "downplay" his involvement with Defendant's business when
she met with the SBA. BLACKMON understood that Individual A wanted
her to lie to the SBA about his involvement with Defendant because
he was not socially and economically disadvantaged and if the SBA
knew the level of his involvement with Defendant it could cause Defendant
to lose its 8(a) certification. In reality, Individual A was Defendant
and BLACKMON was simply a "cover" for the company so that it could
receive and maintain 8(a) status because Individual A was not socially
and economically disadvantaged and would not have been able to get
8(a) certification.
- On or about December 6, 2006, BLACKMON met with a representative
of the SBA for orientation and to discuss Defendant's participation
in the 8(a) program. During that meeting, the SBA representative told
BLACKMON that the Leavenworth CMOP contract was restricted to companies
that had received 8(a) certification from the SBA; BLACKMON understood
that Defendant needed to be 8(a) certified in order to be eligible
for that contract.
- On or about December 7, 2006, BLACKMON submitted a copy of Defendant's
business plan, which had been drafted by Individual C, to the SBA.
- On or about December 19, 2006, the VA awarded Defendant three 8(a)
set-aside contracts to provide temporary staffing services at the
Leavenworth CMOP. Those contracts, which collectively were worth approximately
$5.4 million, were, as BLACKMON knew, negotiated by Individual A on
behalf of Defendant, and Individual E on behalf of the VA.
- On or about April 11, 2007, BLACKMON met with Individual A at the
Atlanta airport on the way to their meeting in Leavenworth, Kansas
with the contracting officer who had replaced Individual E when he
retired, as well as other VA representatives to discuss Defendant's
pending contracts with the Leavenworth CMOP. En route to their meeting,
Individual A instructed BLACKMON as to what she should and should
not say during their meeting with VA representatives.
- On April 11, 2007, BLACKMON and Individual A met with the new contracting
officer and other representatives of the VA in Leavenworth, Kansas
to discuss Defendant's pending contracts with the Leavenworth CMOP.
- On their return flight to Atlanta, Individual A told BLACKMON that
if Defendant kept the Leavenworth CMOP contracts, the company would
make a lot of money. Individual A also told BLACKMON that if Defendant
kept the Leavenworth CMOP contracts, she could stay at home, do no
work other than periodically attending trade shows on behalf of Defendant,
and earn as much as $200,000 per year. Individual A further informed
BLACKMON that Company B would handle Defendant's payroll and that
he and Individuals C and D would handle all of Defendant's business.
Finally, Individual A told BLACKMON that he was going to get a Lexus
hybrid and told BLACKMON that he could arrange for BLACKMON to get
a 6 Series BMW, which she understood would be a Defendant company
car.
- At the end of 2006 and the beginning of 2007, Individuals A, C,
and D prepared a bid submission on behalf of Defendant for a contract
with the Army Corps of Engineers to canvass hurricane-damaged areas
in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Individual A, Individual
C, and employees of Company A unknown to BLACKMON prepared and submitted
a bid package for Defendant for the Army Corps of Engineers project.
- On or about January 10, 2007, Individual A, representing himself
as the Vice President/General Manager of Defendant, submitted Defendant's
bid for the Army Corps of Engineers contract. Defendant's bid package
indicated that the company had previous experience with canvassing
hurricane-damaged areas when, in truth and in fact, the experience
referenced in Defendant's proposal was that of Company A, not Defendant.
POSSIBLE MAXIMUM SENTENCE
6. Defendant understands that the statutory maximum penalty which
may be imposed against it upon conviction for a violation of 15 U.S.C.
§ 645(a) is a fine of $5,000.
7. In addition, Defendant understands that:
- pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3561(c)(1), the Court may
impose a term of probation of at least one year, but not more than
five years;
- pursuant to § 8B1.1 of the United States Sentencing Guidelines
("U.S.S.G.," "Sentencing Guidelines," or "Guidelines") or
18 U.S.C. § 3563(b)(2) the Court may order Defendant
to pay restitution to the victims of the offense; and
- pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3013(a)(2)(B), the Court is required
to order Defendant to pay a $400.00 special assessment upon conviction
for the charged crime.
SENTENCING GUIDELINES
8. Defendant understands that the Sentencing Guidelines are advisory,
not mandatory, but that the Court must consider the Guidelines in effect
on the day of sentencing, along with the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(a), in determining and imposing sentence. Defendant understands
that the Guidelines determinations will be made by the Court by a preponderance
of the evidence standard and that in making its determination the Court
may consider any reliable evidence, including hearsay. Defendant understands
that although the Court is not ultimately bound to impose a sentence
within the applicable Guidelines range, its sentence must be reasonable
based upon consideration of all relevant sentencing factors set forth
in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Pursuant to U.S.S.G. §1B1.8, the United
States agrees that self-incriminating information that Defendant provides
to the United States pursuant to this Plea Agreement will not
be used in determining Defendant's applicable Guidelines range,
except to the extent provided in U.S.S.G. §1B1.8(b).
SENTENCING AGREEMENT
9. Defendant and the United States agree that: the "intended loss"
from Defendant's fraudulent conduct, as that term is defined in Application
Note 3.(A)(ii) to U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1, is more than $2.5 Million,
but less than $7.0 Million; and the 8(a) set-aside contracts Defendant
entered into with the VA to provide services at the Leavenworth CMOP
were "government benefits" as that term is defined in Application Note
3.(F)(ii) to U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1.
10. Defendant and the United States agree that the Guidelines offense
level applicable to Defendant's conduct is Offense Level 24. The United
States and Defendant further agree that Defendant's offense level is
calculated as follows:
| Base Offense Level [U.S.S.G. §§ 8C2.3(a) and 2B1.1(a)(2)] |
6 |
| Loss Amount [U.S.S.G. §§ 8C2.3(a) and 2B1.1(b)(1)(J)] |
18 |
| Offense Level |
24 |
11. Pursuant to Rule 11(c)(1)(B) of the Federal Rules of Criminal
Procedure, Defendant agrees to recommend, and the United States agrees
not to oppose, that the Court impose a sentence requiring Defendant
to pay to the United States a criminal fine of $5,000 payable in full
before the fifteenth (15th) day after the date of judgment. Defendant
understands that the Court will order it to pay a $400.00 special assessment
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3013(a)(2)(B) in addition to any fine imposed.
Defendant and the United States agree that the sentence recommended
in this paragraph is reasonable.
12. Defendant and the United States agree that there exists no aggravating
or mitigating circumstance of a kind, or to a degree, not adequately
taken into consideration by the United States Sentencing Commission
in formulating the Sentencing Guidelines justifying a departure pursuant
to U.S.S.G. §5K2.0.
13. Defendant understands that the Court has absolute discretion,
pursuant to Rule 11(c)(1)(B) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure,
to accept or reject the sentence recommended in Paragraph 11 of this
Plea Agreement and that the Court may impose a sentence that is not
consistent with the recommendations contained in this Plea Agreement.
Defendant further understands that, as provided in Rule 11(c)(3)(B)
of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, if the Court does not impose
the sentence recommended in Paragraph 11 of this Plea Agreement, it
nevertheless has no right to withdraw its plea of guilty. The United
States cannot and does not make any promises or representations as to
what sentence Defendant will receive.
14. Subject to the ongoing, full, and truthful cooperation of Defendant
described in this Plea Agreement, the United States will inform the
Probation Office and the Court of: (a) this Plea Agreement; (b) the
nature and extent of Defendant's activities with respect to this case
and all other activities of Defendant which the United States deems
relevant to sentencing; and (c) the timeliness, nature, and extent of
Defendant's cooperation with the United States. In so doing, the United
States may use any information it deems relevant, including information
provided by Defendant both prior and subsequent to the signing of this
Plea Agreement. The United States reserves the right to make any statement
to the Court or the Probation Office concerning the nature of the criminal
violation charged in the Information, the participation of Defendant
therein, and any other facts or circumstances that it deems relevant.
Defendant understands that disclosures made by the United States to
the Court or the Probation Office are not limited to the count to which
Defendant has pled guilty. The United States also reserves the right
to comment on or to correct any representation made by or on behalf
of Defendant and to supply any other information that the Court may
require. To enable the Court to have the benefit of all relevant sentencing
information, the United States will request, and Defendant will not
oppose, that sentencing be postponed until the United States deems Defendant's
cooperation complete.
DEFENDANT'S COOPERATION
15. Defendant will cooperate fully and truthfully with the United
States in the prosecution of this case, the conduct of the current federal
investigation of violations of federal criminal laws involving contracting
fraud related to the VA and the SBA, any other federal investigation
resulting therefrom, and any litigation or other proceedings related
to, or arising or resulting from, any such investigation to which the
United States is a party (collectively referred to herein as "Federal
Proceeding"). The ongoing, full, and truthful cooperation of Defendant
shall include, but not be limited to:
- producing to the United States all non-privileged documents, information,
and other materials, wherever located, in the possession, custody,
or control of Defendant, requested by the United States in connection
with any Federal Proceeding; and
- using its best efforts to secure the ongoing, full, and truthful
cooperation, as defined in Paragraph 16 of this Plea Agreement, of
the current and former directors, officers, and employees of Defendant
as may be requested by the United States, but excluding Roger D. Staggs,
Julie L. Thompson,
Barry E. E. Barry (JAE)(SB) Durham,
and Rusty D. Staggs, including making such persons available at Defendant's
expense, for interviews and the provision of testimony in grand jury,
trial, and other judicial proceedings in connection with any Federal
Proceeding.
16. The ongoing, full, and truthful cooperation of each person described
in Paragraph 15(b) will be subject to the procedures and protections
of this paragraph, and shall include, but not be limited to:
- producing to the United States all non-privileged documents, information,
and other materials, wherever located, including claimed personal
documents and other materials, wherever located, requested by attorneys
and agents of the United States;
- making himself or herself available for interviews, not at the expense
of the United States, at the Chicago office of the Antitrust Division
of the United States Department of Justice ("Antitrust Division")
or at another mutually agreed-upon location, upon the request of attorneys
and agents of the United States;
- responding fully and truthfully to all inquiries of the United States
in connection with any Federal Proceeding, without falsely implicating
any person or intentionally withholding any information, subject to
the penalties of making false statements (18 U.S.C. § 1001) and
obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503, et seq.);
- otherwise voluntarily providing the United States any non-privileged
material or information not requested in (a) - (c) of this paragraph
that he or she may have in his or her possession, custody, or control
that is related to any Federal Proceeding;
- when called upon to do so by the United States in connection with
any Federal Proceeding, testifying in grand jury, trial, and other
judicial proceedings fully, truthfully, and under oath, subject to
the penalties of perjury (18 U.S.C. § 1621), making false
statements or declarations in grand jury or court proceedings (18
U.S.C. § 1623), contempt (18 U.S.C. §§ 401-402), and
obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503, et seq.);
and
- agreeing that, if the agreement not to prosecute him or her in this
Plea Agreement is rendered void under Paragraph 19(c), the statute
of limitations period for any Relevant Offense as defined in Paragraph
18 shall be tolled as to him or her for the period between the date
of the signing of this Plea Agreement and six (6) months after the
date that the United States gave notice of its intent to void its
obligations to that person under the Plea Agreement.
17. Defendant agrees to deliver to the United States of America, prior
to sentencing, a completed financial statement identifying all of its
assets.
GOVERNMENT'S AGREEMENT
18. Upon acceptance of the guilty plea called for by this Plea Agreement
and the imposition of the sentence recommended in Paragraph 11, and
subject to the cooperation requirements of this Plea Agreement, the
Antitrust Division agrees that it will not bring further criminal charges
against Defendant for the making of any false statement to the SBA in
violation of 15 U.S.C. § 645(a), nor any violation of Federal criminal
law involving fraud related to federal contracting, the VA, and the
SBA committed before the date of this Plea Agreement ("Relevant Offense").
The scope of the protection afforded by this paragraph is limited to
the activities stated above that Defendant has disclosed to the United
States as of the date of this Plea Agreement. The
United States will bring the cooperation of Defendant to the attention
of any United States Attorney's Office, the Department of Justice, or
any state criminal prosecuting authority contemplating charging Defendant
with any Relevant Offense if the Defendant so requests in writing.
The nonprosecution terms of this paragraph do not apply to
civil matters of any kind, to any violation of the federal tax or securities
laws, or to any crime of violence.
19. The United States agrees to the following:
- Upon the Court's acceptance of the guilty plea called for by this
Plea Agreement, the imposition of the sentence recommended in Paragraph
11, and subject to the exceptions noted in Paragraph 19( c),
the United States will not bring criminal charges against any current
or former director, officer, or employee of Defendant for any Relevant
Offense committed while that person was acting as a director, officer,
or employee of Defendant, except that the protections granted in this
paragraph shall not apply to Stephanie D. Blackmon, Roger D. Staggs,
Julie L. Thompson,
Barry E. E. Barry (JAE) (SB) Durham,
and Rusty D. Staggs;
- Should the United States determine that any current or former director,
officer, or employee of Defendant may have information relevant to
any Federal Proceeding, the United States may request that person's
cooperation under the terms of this Plea Agreement by written request
delivered to counsel for the individual (with a copy to the undersigned
counsel for Defendant) or, if the individual is not known by the United
States to be represented, to the undersigned counsel for Defendant;
- If any person requested to provide cooperation under Paragraph 19(b)
fails to comply with his or her obligations under Paragraph 16, then
the terms of this Plea Agreement as they pertain to that person, and
the agreement not to prosecute that person granted in this Plea Agreement,
shall be rendered void;
- Except as provided in Paragraph 19(e), information provided by a
person described in Paragraph 19(b) to the United States under the
terms of this Plea Agreement pertaining to any Relevant Offense, or
any information directly derived from that information, may not be
used against that person in a criminal case, except in a prosecution
for perjury (18 U.S.C. § 1621), making a false statement
or declaration (18 U.S.C. §§ 1001, 1623), or obstruction
of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503, et seq.);
- If any person who provides information to the United States under
this Plea Agreement fails to comply fully with his or her obligations
under Paragraph 16 of this Plea Agreement, the agreement in Paragraph
19(d) not to use that information or any information directly derived
from it against that person in a criminal case shall be rendered void;
- The nonprosecution terms of this paragraph do not apply to civil
matters of any kind, to any violation of the federal tax or securities
laws, or to any crime of violence; and
- Documents provided under Paragraphs 15(a) and 16(a) shall be deemed
responsive to outstanding grand jury subpoenas issued to Defendant.
20. Defendant understands that it may be subject to administrative
action by federal or state agencies other than the Antitrust Division
based upon the conviction resulting from this Plea Agreement, and that
this Plea Agreement in no way controls whatever action, if any, other
agencies may take. Preliminary to, or in connection with, any judicial
proceeding, as that term is used in Rule 6(e) of the Federal Rules of
Criminal Procedure, Defendant will interpose no objection to the entry
of an order under Rule 6(e) authorizing disclosure of those documents,
testimony, and related investigative materials which may arguably constitute
grand jury material. Defendant will not object to the United States
soliciting consent from third parties, who provided information to the
grand jury pursuant to grand jury subpoena, to turn those materials
over to the VA, SBA, United States General Services Administration,
the Internal Revenue Service, or other appropriate federal or state
administrative agencies for use in civil or administrative proceedings
or investigations, rather than returning the documents to such third
party for later summons or subpoena in connection with any civil or
administrative proceeding against Defendant.
REPRESENTATION BY COUNSEL
21. Defendant has been represented by counsel, has reviewed all legal
and factual aspects of this case with its attorney, and is fully satisfied
that its attorney has provided competent legal representation. Defendant
has thoroughly reviewed this Plea Agreement with its attorney and has
received satisfactory explanations from its attorney concerning each
paragraph of this Plea Agreement and alternatives available to Defendant
other than entering into this Plea Agreement. Defendant acknowledges
that counsel has advised it of the nature of the charge, any possible
defenses to the charge, and the nature and range of possible sentences.
After conferring with its attorney and considering all available alternatives,
Defendant has made a knowing and voluntary decision to enter into this
Plea Agreement and to waive venue with respect to the filing and disposition
of the Information.
VOLUNTARY PLEA
22. Defendant's decision to enter into this Plea Agreement and to
tender a plea of guilty is freely and voluntarily made and is not the
result of force, threats, assurances, promises, or representations other
than the representations contained in this Plea Agreement. The United
States has made no promises or representations to Defendant as to whether
the Court will accept or reject the recommendations contained within
this Plea Agreement.
VIOLATION OF PLEA AGREEMENT
23. Defendant agrees that, should the United States determine in good
faith, during the period that any Federal Proceeding is pending, that
Defendant has failed to provide full and truthful cooperation, as described
in this Plea Agreement, or has otherwise violated any provision of this
Plea Agreement, the United States will notify Defendant or its counsel
in writing, by telephone, or by facsimile transmission of its intention
to void any of its obligations under this Plea Agreement (except its
obligations under this paragraph), and Defendant shall be subject to
prosecution for any federal crime of which the United States has knowledge
including, but not limited to, the substantive offenses relating to
the investigation that resulted in this Plea Agreement. Defendant agrees
that, in the event that the United States is released from its obligations
under this Plea Agreement and brings criminal charges against Defendant
for any conduct arising from the United States' investigation of violations
of federal criminal laws involving a Relevant Offense, the statute of
limitations period for such offense shall be tolled as to Defendant
for the period between the date of the signing of this Plea Agreement
and six (6) months after the date the United States gave notice of its
intent to void its obligations under this Plea Agreement.
24. Defendant understands and agrees that in any further prosecution
of it resulting from the release of the United States from its obligations
under this Plea Agreement because of Defendant's violation of this Plea
Agreement, any documents, statements, information, testimony, or other
evidence provided by it or any of its current or former directors, officers,
or employees to attorneys or agents of the United States, federal grand
juries, or courts, whether before or after the execution of this Plea
Agreement, as well as any leads derived therefrom, may be used against
it in any such further prosecution. Defendant unconditionally waives
its right to challenge the use of such evidence in any such further
prosecution and hereby agrees that it will not assert a claim under
the U.S. Constitution, any statute, Rule 11(f) of the Federal Rules
of Criminal Procedure, Rule 410 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, or
any other federal rule, that such evidence, or any leads therefrom,
should be suppressed or otherwise be inadmissible.
ENTIRETY OF AGREEMENT
25. This Plea Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the
United States and Defendant concerning the disposition of the criminal
charge contained in the Information. This Plea Agreement may not be
modified except in writing, signed by the United States and Defendant.
26. The undersigned is authorized to enter this Plea Agreement on
behalf of Defendant as evidenced by the Resolutions of the Board of
Directors of Defendant attached hereto and incorporated by reference
in this Plea Agreement. See Attachment A.
27. The undersigned attorneys for the United States have been authorized
by the Attorney General of the United States to enter this Plea Agreement
on behalf of the United States.
28. A facsimile signature shall be deemed an original signature for
the purpose of executing this Plea Agreement. Multiple signature pages
are authorized for the purpose of executing this Plea Agreement.
AGREED THIS DATE: August 13, 2009
BY: _______________/s/________________
STEPHANIE D. BLACKMON
President,
PATRIOT SERVICES, INC.
BY: _______________/s/________________
JAMES M. DEICHERT
Counsel for PATRIOT SERVICES,
INC.
jdeichert@fellab.com
Fellows LaBriola LLP
Peachtree Center
Suite 2300 South Tower
225 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30303-1731
Telephone: (404) 586-9200
Facsimile: (404) 586-9201 |
BY: _______________/s/________________
Jonathan A. Epstein
Jonathan.Epstein@usdoj.gov
Illinois Bar Number - 6237031
|
_______________/s/________________
Eric C. Hoffmann
Eric.Hoffmann@usdoj.gov
Illinois Bar Number - 6243122
|
BY: _______________/s/________________
Michael N. Loterstein
Michael.Loterstein@usdoj.gov
Illinois Bar Number - 6297060
Attorneys,
Antitrust Division
U.S. Department of Justice
209 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 600
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Telephone: (312) 353-7530
Facsimile: (312) 353-1046 |
Attachment A
Resolutions of the Board of Directors of Patriot Services. Inc.
The undersigned certifies that the Board of Directors of Patriot\Services,
Inc. ("PATRIOT') unanimously adopted the following resolutions on July
14, 2009:
RESOLVED, the execution, delivery, and performance ofthe Plea Agreement
between PATRIOT and the United States Department ofJustice, in substantially
the form presented to this meeting ("Plea Agreement"), is hereby approved;
RESOLVED, that Stephanie D. Blackmon ("BLACKMON"), is hereby authorized
and directed to execute and deliver the Plea Agreement in the name
and on behalfof PATRIOT;
RESOLVED, that BLACKMON is hereby authorized to represent PATRIOT
at any hearing in order to waive certain rights ofPATRIOT and to enter
a plea, all in accordance with the provision ofthe Plea Agreement;
and
RESOLVED, that BLACKMON is hereby authorized and empowered to take
any and all actions required or appropriate in order to carry out
the intent and purpose of the preceding resolutions.
Date: ___July 14, 2009__
|
Stephanie O. Blackmon_______
President |
|