Virginia Beach man charged with bribing Panamanian officials

[Judi Lynn]

Virginia Beach man charged with bribing Panamanian officials
By the Associated Press
WTKR-TV3
December 16, 2009

RICHMOND, Va. - Another Virginian has been charged with bribing Panamanian government officials to obtain contracts for maintenance of lighthouses and buoys.

Federal prosecutors said Wednesday that 63-year-old John Warwick of Virginia Beach is charged with conspiring to make corrupt payments to foreign government officials. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

Last month, 53-year-old Charles Jumet of Fluvanna County pleaded guilty to the same charge, and to making a false statement. He will be sentenced Feb. 12.

According to court documents, Warwick and Jumet were executives of a Virginia Beach engineering firm and a Panamanian subsidiary. They allegedly paid more than $200,000 in bribes to secure $18 million on maritime contracts between 1997 and 2000.

Court papers did not show that Warwick has retained a lawyer.

http://www.dailypress.com/news/wtkr-beach-man-panama-bribes,0,2115759.story