Pa. man pleads guilty to bribery in Iraq contracts

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to bribery and conspiracy to win contracts with the military for Iraq operations.

Justin W. Lee, 33, pleaded guilty to what prosecutors said was a scheme to gain preferential treatment by providing public officials with more than $1.2 million worth of spa visits, cash, plane tickets, jewelry and other valuables.

Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer said bribery was a way of doing business for Lee, former president of Lee Dynamics International. Lee's father, former company chairman George H. Lee Jr., has been indicted and remains at large.

"Private contractors will not be allowed to win business by stacking the deck against the competition and, as this investigation shows, the military officials who participate in such fraudulent schemes will also be held to account," Breuer said.

Prosecutors said four military contracting officials already have pleaded guilty in the case.

Justin Lee's lawyer, Benjamin Sutley of Baltimore, said there is another side to the story that will come out at sentencing, but acknowledged the government had a strong case against his client.

"His side will come out at sentencing," Sutley said. "It will not vindicate him, but people will get a better sense of what transpired."

He said Lee did "the appropriate thing and he's taken responsibility for his actions."

The company obtained Department of Defense contracts to store weapons at warehouses in Iraq and to supply bottled water.

Lee pleaded guilty to four counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. He faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each bribery count and up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy charge.