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Government Corruption
USAID Official & 3 CEO's Plead Guilty In $550 Million Bribery & Fraud Scheme
2025-06-17
[YouTube] A USAID official and three corporate executives, pleaded guilty in a bribery scheme that went on for more than a decade.

It involved 14 prime contracts worth more than $550 million in U.S. taxpayer funds, that were improperly awarded through manipulated processes at the federally funded organization.

57-year-old Roderick Watson of Woodstock, Maryland, a USAID contracting officer, pleaded guilty to bribery of a public official - faces 15 years in prison

Watson spoke with an Investment Company, facilitating a $14 million loan for a business from which Barnes paid himself a $10 million dividend.

In exchange, Watson was showered with lavish bribes and gifts, including:

Cash payments, of more than $1 million in bribes.

Laptops and cell phones.

Tickets to an NBA game suite.

A country club wedding, paid for by the conspirators.

Down payments on two new homes and Jobs for relatives.

46-year-old Walter Barnes of Potomac, Maryland, owner and president of Vistant, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official and securities fraud.

He’s facing 20 years in prison.

64-year-old Darryl Britt of Myakka City, Florida, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official.

-Faces up to 5 years for each count

62-year-old Paul Young, Columbia, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official.

-He aces up to 5 years for each count

Both companies admitted to engaging in a conspiracy to bribe Watson and commit securities fraud. They facilitated payments and benefits to Watson to secure contracts.
Related:
Roderick Watson 06/14/2025 USAID official and 3 company executives plead guilty in fraud and bribery scheme involving at least 14 contracts worth over $550 million


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