Kickbacks at SOCOM

On January 25, 2006 Judge U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew sentenced William E. Burke to 3 years probations, a $4,500 fine and six months of home detention. Burke worked for the Sentel Corporation. He was assigned to SOCOM as an analyst. Burke was taken bribes from Thomas F. Spellissy. The latter ran the defense company Strategic Defense International, Inc. Burke was using his SOCOM connections and giving preferential treatment to Spellissy. The brides went through a serious of money transfers. This is a classic kickback scheme.

(9) On or about November 29, 2004, defendants THOMAS F. SPELLISSY
and STRATEGIC DEFENSE INTERNATIONAL, INC. caused an international wire
transfer in the amount of $3,000 to be sent from Nordea Bank Sweden to Bank of
America, Scranton, Pennsylvania.

(10) On or about November 30, 2004, William E. Burke, by and through
Carlisle Bradford Enterprises, sent a invoice for Technical Services in the amount of
$1,500 to defendant STRATEGIC DEFENSE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(11) On or about December 1, 2004, defendants THOMAS F. SPELLISSY and
STRATEGIC DEFENSE INTERNATIONAL, INC. caused a domestic wire transfer to be
sent from Bank of America, Scranton, Pennsylvania to Bank of America, Tampa,
Florida, in the amount of $3,000; $20 of which was deducted as a fee.

(12) On or about December 1, 2004, defendants THOMAS F. SPELLISSY and
STRATEGIC DEFENSE INTERNATIONAL, INC. caused a payment of $1,500 to be
made to Carlisle Bradford Enterprises.

(13) On or about December 21, 2004, defendants THOMAS F. SPELLISSY and STRATEGIC DEFENSE INTERNATIONAL, INC. sent an electronic message to William E. Burke.

(14) On or about January 1, 2005, William E. Burke, by and through Carlisle Bradford Enterprises, sent an invoice for Technical Services in the amount of $3,000 to defendant STRATEGIC DEFENSE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(15) On or about January 3, 2005, defendants THOMAS F. SPELLISSY and STRATEGIC DEFENSE INTERNATIONAL, INC. caused an international wire transfer in the amount of $3,000 to be sent from Nordea Bank Sweden to Bank of America, Scranton, Pennsylvania.
(16) On or about January 5, 2004, defendants THOMAS F. SPELLISSY and STRATEGIC DEFENSE INTERNATIONAL, INC. caused a domestic wire transfer to be sent from Bank of America, Scranton, Pennsylvania to Bank of America, Tampa, Florida, in the amount of $3,000; $20 of which was deducted as a fee.

(17) On or about January 6, 2005, defendants THOMAS F. SPELLISSY and STRATEGIC DEFENSE INTERNATIONAL, INC. caused a payment of $3,000 to be made to Carlisle Bradford Enterprises. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.

The bribes were for Special Forces battlefield equipment. The New York Times reported that Gen. Bryan D. Brown was also under investigation.

The Tampa Tribune's "Breaking News" blog reported today that Burke has been indicted for lying under oath.

“At Mr. Spellissy’s trial, Mr. Burke testified that he had not bribed Mr. Spellissy, although he had testified at his guilty plea hearing that he did in fact bribe Mr. Spellissy,” the statement added.

Burke had a plea agreeement. Spellissy has long since been convicted. Burke already admitted that he took kickbacks from Spellissy. I wonder why they are going after Burke now. Very interesting.