Contractor’s bribery plea details efforts to influence Pentagon officials

The former owner of a large Washington-based Defense firm pleaded guilty Friday to corrupting Defense Department officials who were awarding contracts to his company.

Mitchell Wade also admitted to bribing former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., who pleaded guilty to bribery and other charges last November.

According to court documents, Wade provided "benefits" to an unnamed Pentagon official between February 2002 and June 2004. Those benefits included a job at Wade's company, MZM, for the official's son and eventually one for the official.

In return, that official, a program manager at the Pentagon, recommended MZM for contracts, gave Wade information that helped him shape his contract proposal, and gave MZM a positive performance evaluation.

The official's actions were intended to help Wade win business through a blanket purchase agreement his company had with the Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, according to court documents. The official's actions resulted in a task order through the blanket purchase agreement for $194,000 in October 2002.

Wade also admitted to bribing Cunningham with cash, meals, travel, antiques, yacht club fees and other benefits. According to court documents, Cunningham pressured Defense officials to make contract awards to MZM because of these benefits.

A Justice spokeswoman said details on Cunningham's actions in that regard will not become public until Wade's sentencing, which is not yet scheduled. Cunningham also made recommendations for funding appropriations to benefit MZM, Justice said.

MZM received more than $150 million in Defense contracts since 2002 because of these illegal activities, according to Justice documents.

Wade also pleaded guilty to making illegal campaign contributions to two other members of Congress. He faces up to just over 11 years of prison.

Wade's lawyer said he did not have any comment beyond what he said in court.