Former Navy Civilian Employee Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bribery

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – October 26, 2023

SAN DIEGO – Dawnell Parker of Athens, Alabama, pleaded guilty in federal court today to bribery charges, admitting that while she was a public official at Naval Information Warfare Center in San Diego, she accepted thousands of dollars in free meals from defense contractors in exchange for helping them win and maintain millions of dollars in government contracts.

As part of the conspiracy, Parker received the free dinners at various restaurants, including Ruth’s Chris, De Medici Cucina and the University Club. In return, she took official action to aid her benefactors, like allowing defense contractors to draft government documents and submitting those documents as part of the procurement process and advocating for their selection as defense contractors.

According to Parker’s plea agreement, from approximately March 2016 through at least October 2019, she and a coworker received bribes from the president and CEO of a Fredericksburg, Virginia defense contractor. In return, Parker, acting under the direction of her coworker, used various methods to steer contracts to the contractor. Parker also admitted that she and the coworker separately received bribes from a different defense contractor, with offices in San Diego, California, and Stafford, Virginia, who also gave her things of value including expensive meals.

“Corruption in the defense procurement process wastes taxpayer dollars and undercuts public confidence in government,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “The contracting process must be reliable and honest to ensure our service members receive the best possible support.”

“Ms. Parker selfishly chose to enrich herself at the expense of the Department of the Navy by accepting bribes in exchange for steering contracts worth millions of dollars to certain companies,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS is dedicated to rooting out bribery and fraud that damage the integrity of the Department of the Navy procurement process and threaten warfighter readiness.”

“Ms. Parker’s guilty plea should act as a deterrent for individuals contemplating or attempting to misuse a position of public trust to subvert the integrity of the government’s acquisition process,” said Bryan D. Denny, Special Agent in Charge for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “DCIS remains committed to working jointly with the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to investigate and deter public corruption within the Department of Defense.”

“Bribery as a means to fraudulently access federal programs for personal gain will not be tolerated,” said SBA OIG’s Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King. “Our office will remain relentless in the pursuit of fraudsters who seek to exploit SBA’s vital economic programs. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to seeing justice served.”

“Ms. Parker’s actions directly undermined the fair competition that ensures our warfighters always have the technological advantage over potential adversaries,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “CI is committed to working with our fellow law enforcement agencies and will follow the money, wherever it may lead, to help protect our country.”

DEFENDANT                                               Case Number 23cr2192-TWR                          

Dawnell Parker                                               Age: 54                                   Athens, AL

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Commit Bribery - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371

Maximum penalty: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine

AGENCIES

Defense Criminal Investigative Service

Naval Criminal Investigative Service

Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General

Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation

Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General

If you have information regarding fraud, waste, or abuse relating to Department of Defense personnel or operations, please contact the DoD Hotline at 800-424-9098.