Three employees at the Palo Alto VA have been charged with taking $80-thousand dollars in bribes in exchange for steering work to local contractors.
Palo Alto Online reports that three VA employees allegedly accepted cash, plane tickets and other gifts from Jack Stringer, the owner of Aero Drywall Construction. In exchange, the VA workers reportedly awarded Stringer's son a $1 million dollar construction contract, and sent other work to companies that would sub-contract with the drywall company.
U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag said the bribery charges carry potential penalties of up to 15 years in prison if the defendants are convicted.
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