Judge: Scam at SOCom 'scary'

[DoYouEverWonder]

January 26, 2006

TAMPA - Before sentencing William Burke on federal bribery charges Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Susan Bucklew called his offense scary.

As a former private contractor at Special Operations Command, Burke was no ordinary worker, she noted. He was part of a military unit in charge of national security.

During the 30-minute hearing, Bucklew also hailed Burke, a retired Army lieutenant colonel. "This is a bad thing," she acknowledged, "but he certainly has a past he can be proud of."

That past, and his cooperation with investigators looking into a bribery scam at SOCom, helped Burke get a lighter sentence.

Although he faced a maximum of 15 years in prison, Bucklew sentenced him to three years of supervised probation and six months of home detention. She also ordered him to pay a $4,500 fine and $100 in court fees.

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The bribery scandal at SOCom, which oversees the nation's elite commandos, became public in October, after Burke struck a deal with prosecutors and agreed to cooperate with investigators. He also pleaded guilty to bribery.

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/01/26/Hillsborough/Judge__Scam_at_SOCom_.shtml