Greenbelt, Maryland – A Maryland subcontractor has admitted to a wide-ranging corruption scheme involving bribes to a federal official, pandemic-related financial fraud, and illegal firearm possession.
Christopher Brackins, 51, of Mt. Airy, pled guilty in federal court to charges of conspiracy to bribe a U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) official, wire fraud related to an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), and possession of a machine gun with a defaced serial number.
The plea agreement was announced by U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland, alongside Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Robert Erickson, Deputy Inspector General of the GSA Office of Inspector General (GSA-OIG); FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno; Acting Inspector General Steven A. Stebbins from the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DOD-OIG); and Dr. Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS-OIG).
According to court records, Brackins was the owner of a general construction company that worked as a subcontractor on federal projects managed by the GSA, the agency responsible for overseeing federal government property and buildings. Between 2018 and 2021, Brackins provided roughly $50,000 in bribes to “Public Official A,” a then-GSA contracting officer’s representative, in exchange for favorable treatment in awarding federal project work.
One scheme in late 2018 involved Brackins issuing a fraudulently inflated bonus to an employee, who was then instructed to hand over $8,000 in cash to Public Official A. In another instance in early 2021, Brackins paid $25,000 through a middleman operating an HVAC repair business, at the direction of the same GSA official.
As a result of these actions, Brackins and his company secured GSA project contracts and earned approximately $133,413 in illicit profits, prosecutors said.
Brackins pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal public official, which carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and up to three years of supervised release. In addition, he admitted to wire fraud related to improperly obtained EIDL funds, a charge that carries up to 20 years in prison, and to unlawful possession of a machine gun with an obliterated serial number, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years.
Sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday, September 10, at 2 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman. However, federal judges have discretion in sentencing and typically consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors. As a result, actual sentences may be less than the statutory maximums.
U.S. Attorney Hayes praised the investigative work of multiple federal watchdog agencies, stating, “This case highlights our commitment to holding individuals accountable when they corrupt the public contracting process and abuse financial programs meant to help businesses recover from crises.”
Hayes commended the collaborative effort of the GSA-OIG, FBI, DOD-OIG, and DHS-OIG. She also expressed appreciation for Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Crespo and DOJ Trial Attorney Jonathan E. Jacobson for prosecuting the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and its work in upholding federal law and assisting the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and its Community Outreach page.
Originally reported by United States attorney's Office, District of Maryland.