Atlanta Man Admits To Bribing U.S. Marine Corps Official In Exchange For $2,000,000 in Transportation Contracts

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that DARREL FITZPATRICK, aged 30, pleaded guilty on January 21, 2021 to Conspiracy to Commit Bribery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 201(b)(1).  The Honorable Carl J. Barbier set sentencing for April 29, 2021. FITZPATRICK faces up to five years imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a mandatory special assessment of $100.

According to the Factual Basis, in 2019 FITZPATRICK was a senior account manager at Company A, a bus brokerage company that provided transportation to the United States Marine Corps Reserves.  That same year, FITZPATRICK started a competing transportation brokerage company called National Charter Express.

In 2019, FITZPATRICK agreed to pay kickbacks to Erik Martin, a civilian employee of the United States Marine Corps Reserves, in exchange for Martin directing business to Company A, and then later, National Charter Express. The conspiracy resulted in at least $2,000,000 in transportation contracts being corruptly awarded to companies associated with Fitzpatrick.  In exchange, Fitzpatrick wired and attempted to wire Martin over $250,000 in bribes.

U. S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and the United States Secret Service for their investigation in this case. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Myles Ranier.

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