Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice Employee Pleads Guilty to Bribery

RICHMOND, Va. – Connie E. Richardson, 64, of Richmond, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to a criminal information charging her with bribery concerning a program receiving federal funds.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Adam S. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the Richmond Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Roderick Young.

Richardson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when she is sentenced on July 30, 2015. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

According to a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Richardson was employed by the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice (VDJJ) as its Runaway Coordinator.  In that role, she was responsible for administering services related to the transport of juveniles from one state to another.  From October 2010 through February 2015, Richardson accepted over $30,000 from the owner of a security company that provided transportation and escort services for VDJJ.  In return, Richardson steered the vast majority of VDJJ’s transportation and escort requests to the company and she knowingly approved inflated and falsified invoices submitted by the company.  From October 2010 through February 2015, VDJJ paid this security company over $469,000 for transportation and escort services.

This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virginia State Police Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Lee Martin is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:15cr78.

###