Former National Guard Transportation Officer Pleads Guilty To Accepting An Illegal Gratuity

Officer Awarded Contracts to Freight Shipper in Return for Cash and Plane Tickets

ATLANTA - Keith Glenn, a former Installation Transportation Officer for the Georgia Army National Guard, pleaded guilty to one count of accepting an illegal gratuity for accepting cash and other benefits from a private freight shipper to whom he awarded contracts to transport military equipment.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “This defendant was responsible for ensuring that contracts to move Georgia Army National Guard military equipment were awarded in compliance with federal rules and regulations.   He personally profited from his position by accepting cash and gifts from a freight shipper and will now be held accountable for breaking the law and the public trust.”

“We are fully committed to tirelessly pursuing all those who knowingly attempt to defraud the government or accept bribes with respect to military contracts, particularly while we at war,” said Frank Robey, Director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit. “Our commitment is to ensure taxpayer dollars are not wasted or stolen and we will continue to fully investigate those who think they are above the law. During the last 10 years alone, Army CID Special Agents have been instrumental in recovering and returning millions of dollars to the Treasury and the Army from fraudulent practices involving contractors.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: In 2008, Glenn became the Installation Transportation Officer for the Georgia Army National Guard (the “Guard”) facility located on Confederate Avenue in Atlanta.  As the Installation Transportation Officer, Glenn was a federal employee working in the United States Property and Fiscal Office (“USPFO”).  The USPFO is the primary focal point for federal funds and property allotted to the Guard.  The Transportation Office of the USPFO is responsible for the award and oversight of all commercial transportation contracts (paid with federal funds) for the movement of Guard equipment and personnel.  Glenn’s responsibilities included supervising the Transportation Office’s day-to-day operations and awarding contracts to private freight carriers for Guard freight shipments.

In March 2008, soon after he began working in the USPFO Transportation Office, Glenn met an individual who owned and controlled multiple companies in the freight shipping or brokerage business.  Several months later, the USPFO Transportation Office began awarding business to that individual’s companies to ship Guard equipment and freight.  Glenn selected the individual’s companies and awarded them shipment contracts to move Guard equipment and freight. 

In making these selections, Glenn violated federal rules and regulations governing the selection of freight carriers and the process for awarding freight contracts.  Glenn accepted cash and other personal benefits, including plane tickets, from that individual for or because of the contracts he awarded to the individual’s companies.  On one occasion, the individual placed $5,000 in cash in Glenn’s car while meeting him at a local restaurant.  Shortly before this payment, Glenn awarded multiple shipping contracts to the individual’s companies.

On June 4, 2013, Glenn, 48, of Lilburn, Georgia, was charged in a Criminal Information with one count of accepting an illegal gratuity.  Today he pleaded guilty to the information and could receive a maximum sentence of two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.  In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 27, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. before United States District Judge William S. Duffey, Jr.

This case is being investigated by the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command.

Assistant United States Attorney Doug Gilfillan is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.