Former Government Contracting Officer Representative Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Conspiracy and Bribery

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jerry T. Vertefeuille, 54, of Niceville, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison.  Co-defendant Christopher A. Carter, 37, of Fort Walton Beach, is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday, February 15, at 11:00 a.m. CST.  The sentence was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

On July 11, 2018, Vertefeuille pleaded guilty to conspiracy (to commit theft of honest services and wire fraud), bribery of a public official, and obtaining and disclosing procurement information.

Vertefeuille was a federal government contracting officer representative for the 96 Test Wing Maintenance Group (96 MXG) at Eglin Air Force Base.  His duties included overseeing maintenance work and initially approving purchases and invoices.

In 2007, Vertefeuille helped Carter, as the owner of TCC Services, Unlimited, LLC, win a paint booth maintenance contract, as well as multiple contract renewals.  Vertefeuille received kickbacks in exchange for approving Carter’s fraudulent invoices and recommending the renewal of TCC’s contract. 

U.S. Attorney Keefe said: “Public corruption is an attack on the rule of law, which is the mission of the Department of Justice and the cornerstone of American government.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, is committed to upholding the public’s faith in honest services and enforcing high ethical standards.”

“Corruption in the government procurement process damages the public trust and ultimately degrades the warfighting mission of the Department of Defense,” commented Special Agent in Charge John F. Khin, DCIS, Southeast Field Office.  “DCIS, along with our investigative partners, remains committed to pursuing and bringing to justice anyone who uses fraud and deception to undermine the critical missions of the Department of Defense and the safety of our communities.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Air Force Audit Agency, and Defense Criminal Investigative Service.  It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.