Two indicted in Cunningham corruption case
SAN DIEGO – A defense contractor and a former top-ranking CIA official were indicted Tuesday on corruption charges in a case that also involved bribes to disgraced ex-congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham.
Brent Roger Wilkes was charged with bribing Cunningham, R-Calif., and Kyle Dustin “Dusty” Foggo to get contracts for his companies. Until he resigned in May amid a federal investigation, Foggo was the CIA’s third-highest-ranking official, directing the spy agency’s daily operations.
Wilkes, according to the indictment, provided Cunningham with prostitutes, vacations, corporate jet travel, limousine service, cash, meals, furniture and equipment for his boat. The value of the alleged bribes was estimated to be $700,000.
The contractor also reportedly provided Foggo, a childhood friend, with meals, gifts, private jet flights, a helicopter ride and a weeklong stay at a Scottish castle – amounting to $44,000. Wilkes also paid for Foggo to join him in Hawaii for vacations, the indictment said.
Officials said Wilkes and Foggo, both 52, were expected to surrender today for arraignment. Cunningham, who resigned from office after pleading guilty to corruption charges, is serving an eight-year prison term. He admitted taking $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors and others and evading more than $1 million in taxes.
Except for a contract to provide water for U.S. personnel in the Middle East, the indictment does not detail the contracts Foggo and Cunningham allegedly pressured the Defense Department and CIA into awarding to Wilkes’ companies.
In Washington, CIA Director Michael V. Hayden sent an e-mail asking agency employees not to publicly comment on the case.
Hayden noted that the allegations against Foggo first surfaced within the CIA and that the agency’s inspector general launched an investigation that later became linked to the San Diego investigation.
If convicted of all counts, Wilkes and Foggo could face prison sentences in the “hundreds of months,” prosecutors said. The indictment also seeks to force Wilkes to return $12 million to the federal government.
Foggo allegedly used his position at the CIA to pressure subordinates into awarding contracts and also to hide Wilkes’ financial interest in certain ventures. In turn, Wilkes promised to hire Foggo when he retired from the CIA, the indictment says.
Prosecutors allege Foggo and Cunningham helped Wilkes get more than $100 million in contracts. Cunningham, a retired Navy fighter pilot, was a member of House committees that dealt with the defense budget.